In college I called myself “busy” and “poor” and “tired.”
I didn’t know “busy”—I wasn’t yet spending time every day with three small people, married, and working a full-time job.
I didn’t know “poor”—I’d not yet been to Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador, Uganda and Ethiopia and visited Brenda’s house.
I didn’t know “tired”—I’d never been up all night with a sick kid, experienced jet-lag or driven across country with a minivan full of kids and Christmas presents.
My life was a lot like today’s American college student’s – and so was my perspective:
College students spend 1.7 hours in class per day, 1.6 hours studying, 2.6 hours at work, 6.8 hours sleeping, and have 11.3 hours of free uncommitted time left over—most of it spent on-line and watching TV.
College students have $287 a month to spend on discretionary items: College students spend $11 billion a year on snacks and beverages, $4 billion on personal care products and $3 billion on music.
They aren’t truly poor or maxed-out busy or tired to the point of exhausted uselessness. And, to their credit, if they’re inspired by a tangible something bigger than themselves, they’re very willing, thirsty even, to reorganize their lives in order to invest their time and money and whole selves into it. “Busy” and “poor” American college students are a powerful bunch—I have to remember this or I’ll underestimate them.
I’ll plug these guys once more – http://www.therebelution.com/blog/
college students – like all people will live up to expectations. We have moved the bar too low – my generation started the real decline (college in the 1960’s). Now it seems college is the HOV lane in a highway extending childhood far beyond youth into the 20’s and 30’s. A real need, sincerely presented and not all glitzed up seems to reach most humans – college students are definitely humans and with more expendable time/energy. Of course – I may be wrong – it might take dumbing it all down and making people wear wet t-shirts -
You make it sound like kids, I mean young adults, go to college to screw off. If college kids are truly spending less than 3.3 hr/day in class and on homework, what are they learning? How much can they absorb when their time spent in class or working on their studies totals less than 20 hr/week (assuming your averages are for weekdays only)? If these numbers are true, then our country is headed for economic ruin, because our most educated people will be stupid relative the rest of the world’s college grads.
MB
1.7 hours per day in class??? That was NOT my college experience!!
Working with college students almost every day (even on the day off), I see what you are saying. They can be so unreliable you tell them to be somewhere 30 minutes earlier than they need to be so they’ll be almost on-time. However, you give them a need greater than themselves and they can go above and beyond what you expect them to do. Sometimes they are the most passionate and giving generation today.
OUCH. That kinda hurt, Shaun. But that is okay…I forgive you. For the most part I would say it is true…for most people…most of the people in the world…but to be on a worldly campus, trying to stand up for Christ..yea…that was just a little off, but I totally understand what you mean. From a college “kid” pray for us. Pray for the few who are willing to stand, pray for wisdom, guidance, and time…time to be in the Word and not studying, time to pour into people, to be a light, and not at work every night, struggling to get off on time wo do our homework. Please guys, really, PRAY FOR US!
Man…I know what you’re saying. I’ve always thought that I was busy.
Then, I’d move into a new stage of life.
From a “busy” college student to a single mother college student who was busier… to a full-time working single mother who was busier… to a stay-at-home married woman who was busier… to a mother of TWO now who wonders what the heck happened to my time?
Even though I carefully guard my schedule, I always feel like I have more going on than I want.
(Sorry for the dissertation…)
Shaun, I’m curious to know where you got your numbers/stats (also keeping in mind the Disraeli/Twain quote about the different kinds of lies). Those numbers sound nearly right for the “average below average” college student, but my experience (and that of most of my friends) was very different. Speaking for myself, my last semester when I took 30 units, I was in class 2.5 hours a day, studying 5 hours a day, sleeping 6 hours a day, working 2-5 hours a day (depending on the week), leaving 5-8 hours a day to eat/hang out with friends/goof off online/play sports. I didn’t watch TV. And I only had about $10 a month to spend on discretionary items.
Overall though, we were not truly “poor”—we did eat 3 meals a day, many took a fourth meal at Starbucks, and some even had Disneyland passes.
Most of us really were “tired”—but only after all nighters of studying/paper writing, usually due to……
Not really being “busy”—As the busyness came into effect for many people after taking the time they should have been working on homework and just hanging with friends (which created the vicious cycle of busy/tired/poor due to Starbucks + Procrastination)
Now I don’t know how it works down on your side of the border but up here (Canada) that wouldn’t work, the vast majority pay for their schooling/living expenses and it’s highly competitive – my first year Chemistry TA explained it this way – the job of any good TA is to make sure you’re not here next semester – the university does not have space for you – if you don’t want to REALLY be here then leave. Yes that is the wonder of a publicly funded university system – while it may be considerably cheaper, it’s not easier.
I was busy – a day could involve everything from 2 hours of class to 8+hrs. Add to that 24-32hours a week of work, yes I shoved shift work in there too and volunteering both on and off campus, never mind the hours logged in the library.
I was poor – ate 2 very small meals – cereal in the morning and rice with cheese and soup for dinner most days – managed to avoid a muffin and tea for lunch when I could
Thankfully now all that has passed and I now combine working full time with a full time class schedule (yes I do distance education) while working on my second degree – so yes I am tired.
But I understand what you’re saying, just wanted to let you know we aren’t all slacking off.
So odd to me that most commenters are focusing on the “negative” statistics – and reacting quite defensively too – and not on the positive assessment of college students and their ability to masterfully reorganize their lives around things that are truly important.
Are we reading the same post?
Whew – I thought I was just being dense – ‘cause I thought this was a good post – whether it is 1 hour or 5 hours a day – nobody is dissing college students – I were one (admittedly Fred Flintstone was in my class but it was college). Thanks Shawannnh (yeah I read BooMama).
Shaun,
It was a surprising statistic, that’s all. I was less surprised that college students can be motivated to do good things…already knew that.
I read your comment about wondering why people aren’t focusing on the good that was mentioned about college students in this entry. I can understand where you’re coming from, but the post did seem to focus on the negative surrounding college students with a positive line at the end. I work with college students and I have to constantly remind myself not to lump them—or anyone else—into one category. The statistics in your blog don’t represent my life or the lives of the college students I work with, but I’m sure they do represent others.
I have 17 credit hours at the moment, and I average 30-35 hours of work a week. I also have a 6 month old son and a wife of almost three years. I can’t afford even cable TV. However, I do sponsor three kids through compassion and tithe to my local church.
By the way, I’m at work right now.
59 days of school ‘til graduation… not that I’m counting or anything…
However, I’m probably not a typical college student nowadays
As one of these college students, I definitely agree. So often I (and my friends) say, “oh, I’m really tired” or “I’m busy”. However, in reality we have eons of time available to us.
Wasn’t it Spurgeon who said that at 21 we should be in the most active part of our lives? I think so…much of what he said was and is spot on. As is your comment, Shaun.
It was a surprising statistic, that’s all. I was less surprised that college students can be motivated to do good things…already knew that.
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Good understanding about college student. But don’t forget they are the future of the country.
College… Personally, I believe that college is really worth the effort, money and time. It may seem that connection is the only thing needed nowadays, but not really. It happens, but i believe college will still prevail. Wouldn’t it be a such a great feeling to be able to finish college? The satisfaction it gives can be immensely great.