It's a sobering thought, realizing that you're a senior. Perhaps "sober" isn't the right word - after all, everyone's over 21, so we're finally allowed to drink ourselves silly without posing as siblings or altering our driver's licenses. But the thought remains; seniors stand at the brink of a lifestyle evolution. Most of us grow teary-eyed when recalling our vandalistic days waiting for the bus on South Campus, and midnight trips to hUBies are but a nostalgic memory. If you were to peek into a senior's closet, you'd see that the ties are finally winning the war against the baseball hats. Ironically, instead of enjoying our last two semesters at UB, most of us are mildly panicked about determining what we will be doing in the "real world." Resumes and cover letters consume our time, as do applications, references and standardized test scores.
If you're a senior, you're experiencing what's called "pre-college-withdrawal" symptoms. I made that up. But you know you have them. You have a desperate need to feel lost again, or to skip a class, just for the heck of it. You reaffirm old friendships, even with people you never really liked. Your IM profile probably has something dopey like, "one more year baby!!!11:o),"and your parents are contacting you almost as much as they did at the beginning of freshman year. Ultimately, you're dreading the May 9 Commencement / Mother's Day Fiesta, the final day of your undergraduate life.
But, looking back, I begin to wonder if the education wasn't so great at UB. I'm not referring to the professors, classes, programs or activities. I'm talking about the big picture. I had another sobering thought the other day: I've been pretty darned selfish in my education. Ever since Dad said, "study what you like," every decision I've made has been purely for my own benefit. Let's face it: College is an inherently selfish activity. Either you're here to learn, to find a fulfilling job, to make a bunch of money upon graduation, or all three. And I find a problem with that.
College, the "American Way," prepares us to work smart, hard and efficiently. It does not, however, prepare us to be better citizens. Within institutions of higher education, it's certainly true that change is inevitable and growth is optional. Students can survive through four years of physics yet be unaware of even how to register to vote. Somewhere on the desks of the UB Planning Committee "math" was added to the DARS requirements and "basic citizenship" was left off. I propose a course be developed to better prepare seniors to give back to the society that has supported them through 13 years of public education, not to mention four years at a hugely-subsidized state university.
The course will focus on the basics: students will be asked to read the newspaper every day and write opinions on current events. They will revisit geography and learn about the international hotbeds of conflict and growth. Community leaders - political, business and charitable - will speak to the class about their duties and contributions. Students will volunteer locally at organizations of their choosing, and learn about the many options they have in donating their free time after graduation. Tests will reward those students who show an understanding of news, politics and issues facing the local, American and global societies.
Skills will also be covered; students will learn to manage their finances and gain a basic appreciation for personal investing and saving. Bargaining and negotiating will be covered, as will professional relationship management. Students will be immersed in the skills they need to know, as conscientious citizens, before they find their place in the "real world."
What I find most appealing about this idea is that it's never really been tried; it's too different, too contentious. It will, however, challenge seniors to become better citizens, which is a truly lofty goal. In reality, it would be nearly impossible to create such a course (although our administrators have certainly been successful in implementing UB 101, another transition-minded class).
As things stand, my fellow seniors, we don't have this course. It's wishful thinking to hope that UB will create one, but it's certainly too late for us. I urge all of you to become involved and seek out those opportunities you have missed since you became a freshman. Whether you intend to stay in Buffalo or not, there's a vibrant community that can benefit from your actions. Now is the time to give back. Start following the presidential debate, mark CNN.com as your homepage, donate at a blood drive, register to vote, volunteer for something you care about. And above all, remember you can make a difference. I'll see you in 247 days, let's make a great run out of our final shot at college excellence.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
