Despair
Analysis: One of the greatest American disparities directly
correlates to the false notion that the American dream can be achieved through
hard work alone. This is because unfortunetly, due to the worlds rapidly
increasing population, the American dream has become something of a myth. It seems
as if in todays economy, the only way to achieve the American dream is to pursue
a college degree. More and more, students find themselves pursuing professional
occupations with hopes of one day being able to achieve this white picket fence
dream; only left to find themselves graduating from an institution that has
left them in crippling debt. In this picture, graduating college students use
their grad caps to express not only their frustration, but also potentially a
feeling of remorse. Which really leaves to me question, is a college education
really set out to be as essential as predicted?
Hope
This
particular image evokes hope to me in a way that I find to be truly human. For
centuries, religion has been depicted as a beacon of hope not only for Americans,
but the entire world. Although I myself am an atheist, I respect and accept the
idea of an almighty higher being because of the hope that it has represented to
many including me in desperate times. Whatever representation of hope religion has on a person, whether it be hope for a loved one, being able to live another day, or enable the ability to start fresh, religion has served to be a positive reinforcement of the human brain for centuries.
I agree with your despair image response. The frustration of the student's is obvious by their demonstration to show their debt on their cap on graduation day. The question if a college education is really essential to achieve the "American Dream" is very interesting and got me thinking if a college education is even necessary for someone to achieve the "American dream" of a better life.
ReplyDeleteI think this image also shows how among all the students that obtain a degree from college are actually cheated from having a better life because they have put themselves in so much debt that it seems almost as if the " only way" we can have a better life is to put our financial stability in jeopardy.
Thanks for your comment, it really means a lot to me. I also find myself often questioning my education road map. I do hope that we as community college students find our right place to be and that our actions don't become regrets. But that's what I really enjoy about community college, it provides a future that you can ultimately write for yourself. I also question whether taking all these classes and receiving letter grades is a true representation of your ability to problem solve and survive in the real world.
DeleteI really enjoy the image of the soldier. It shows that even in the worst of situations many people find hope in their religion to give them some motivation to push on in life. Even if not in war, many people who face hardship here in the U.S. often turn toward religion to give them some hope for better days. The graduation picture was also very thought provoking. I find it rather ironic how these students who are graduating from this institution are supposed to be prepared for the work force in which they can get rich but are instead leaving with substantial amounts of debt which would severely cripple them financially for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you because last quarter I read a book called 50 Jobs in 50 States by Daniel Seddiqui, the author wrote about his journey doing typical jobs in each state because he couldn't find a job after graduating from USC majoring in economics.Most of the job he did was not related to his major and it shows that majoring in one a certain major doesn't mean you get a job related to it.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with about the religion "as a beacon of hope not only for Americans , but the entire world." Because whenever something bad happen such as natural disaster, many people pray to someone almighty higher being to make things better.