Kelley Wargowsky

English 220.010
Instructor: Maya Alapin
21 July, 2014
My Manifesto
As a young adult in the process in getting a college degree, I never noticed how many of
the people I surround myself around that do not go to school until recently. They always talk
about bills, bills, and their shortage of money even when working full time. When finding out as
to why they are not continuing their education they answer by saying they dont have the money,
dont know what to study, or simply because they do not want too. I feel, as far as my education
manifesto goes, if you want an education then go for it. If not, dont feel pressured by others and
keep doing what feels comfortable for you.
For awhile I always thought it was a no brainer to continue beyond high school with my
education, simply because it was expected of me and that I would make more money. I knew
continuing my education would thin out some wallets, but compared to other schools in different
states, going to school in New Mexico helps those wallets from turning into a skeleton.
According to the College Board, the average tuition for a full-time in state student going to
public four year university averages at $8,893, whereas an out of state student paid an average
of $22,203 for the 2013-2014 academic school year (College Board). Here in New Mexico, the
average tuition for a resident amounts to about $5,987 (College Board), though it does not feel
like people are aware of the price difference. For those living here in New Mexico, they think
that if they cannot maintain the Lottery Scholarship, then there is by no means they can attend
school and do not see the prospects of an investment.
A part from money, several people have the mentality of too cool for school. This
relates to what was read in Platos allegory of The Cave, where a prisoner chained his whole life
is set free. He then returns to the cave to teach the other prisoners about what lays beyond the
cave walls. Consequently, the prisoners do not believe the free prisoner and get frustrated when
he does not leave them alone. The freed prisoner also becomes frustrated with the others because
he cannot understand why they do not want to experience life as he had. Both the educated and
uneducated are stuck in their reality thinking that the other needs to change their ways and to
open their eyes. Indeed, each viewpoint is right that eyes need to be opened, but it must include
their eyes as well. As Plato puts it down you must go, therefore, each in your turn to that cave
with the others and accustom yourselves (Plato, 180). He means that we need to understand
where one another is coming from and to not hold yourself so highly above others.
Another aspect of education that people dont realize, it that we are constantly learning,
either by sitting in class or watching a documentary at home. People have a tendency to gravitate
towards what they enjoy and absorb as much of it as possible. In Emile, Rousseau makes the
statement plants are shaped by cultivation, and men by education...this education comes to us
from nature or from men or from things (Rousseau 38). From nature, we learn simple lesson
about our body, such as if we are tired we go to sleep. From men, we learn from our teacher at a
formal institution, a peer, mentor, or someone that has somehow made an impact on us.
Everything that is not our body or another human being that we learn from is the thing, the
experience we have while on a journey. It relates to what people say when learning about a new
culture: the best way to learn about it is to go there and experience the lifestyle for yourself.
However, whether or not if someone is attending a university, economist Robert Lerman
at American University in an interview with PBS provides another option in regards to
education; plenty of youth...dont want to be on the college track, and wont finish if they go
(PBS Newshour). In his mind, an education plan for the youth that do not want to attend a four
year university is that they should take advantage of a trade school, participate in an
apprenticeship. Not only is it more cost effective for them, it will also provide a career for
someone who prefers to working with their hands, an environment they are motivated to work in.
Dont get me wrong, I believe education is important and more people should take
advantage of it, but when push comes to shove you shouldnt make people do what they dont
want too. Not everyone wants a nine to five desk job, and not everyone wants to get their hands
dirty. Education opens doors and enables people to live their dreams. If someone does not want
to attend a four year university, or a trade school, come to terms with it. For if someone is not
happy in what they are doing, if they feel they are wasting their time and money, they lose
motivation and even more goes to waste. Besides, if they have a change of mind, they can always
go back to school in their own time with a newfound sense of passion.












Works Cited

College Board. The College Board, 2014. Web. 16 July 2014.
College Board. The College Board & Annual Survey of Colleges, 2014. Web. 16 July 2014.
Lerman, Robert. Why not all American youth should go to College PBS. PBS News Hour, 13
June 2014. Web. 17 July 2014.
Plato. Republic. Trans. Raymond Larson. Wheeling: Harlan Davidson, 1979. Print.
Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Emile. Trans. Allan Bloom. Basic Books, 1979. Print.