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Opinion

Students have lost sight of education

Caitlin Cuppernull
Opinion Columnist I

t's not unusual to glance around a classroom and see a good portion of people sleeping. If they're not curled up during the lecture, fellow classmates are text-messaging friends, whispering to each other or doing any number of things to avoid the one reason they are attending school: to learn.

While socializing is certainly an important part of college, it is not difficult to spend a few hours a day doing nothing but learning. In fact, that should be something to look forward to. College is the one time in a person's life where the main goal is education. In a University that is full of award-winning professors, students should use their time at UH to benefit from this.

Students often claim that they have to go to college to secure a job or that their parents are making them. What was once considered a privilege is starting to be seen as a forced necessity. Those who don't have a desire to learn should not attend college. While it can be argued that a college education is required to have a high-powered career, this fact does not have to take away the pleasure of learning -- one shouldn't regard education as an obligation.

As tuition continues to rise, students should be thankful they have the opportunity to attend school -- no matter the reason they are here. However, that opportunity should not be taken advantage of by wasting time and money sitting through classes one does not want to be in. A passion for learning should be the main reason to attend school, and this passion should extend well beyond classrooms and careers.

Cuppernull, communication freshman and the Opinion editor, 
can be reached at dccampus@mail.uh.edu.