Technical Colleges
Telling my parents that I intended to go to a Northwest
technical College was one of the hardest things that I have
ever had to do. You see, my folks are quintessential academics.
They believe above all in education for educations sake. They
are suspicious of the sciences, and downright hostile to
technical schools. Humanities is the most important thing for
them because they view it as the source of all culture and
knowledge.
In this respect, I couldn't be more different from my
parents. I have always been extremely practical minded,
something that has irritated other members of my family to no
end. It isn't that I am not creative, but my creativity tends
to take a less verbal form. I have always loved designing and
making things, especially concrete and physical things. I know
that I can get a more complete education in a science degree
program at a University, but I am eager to get into the real
world and work in a career field. Going to the technical college will let me do
just that. I want as much hands-on experience as I can have as
early as I can so that I can get my life going. I have been
waiting for for years to be done with high school and I don't
want to dillydally in a university.
Talk like this is tantamount to heresy in my family. My
parents couldn't figure out why I would not see the virtue of
spending four years studying the great works of history and
literature. Although I do like reading, it is not the central
passion of my life like it is for them. I felt like I could
read on my own whereas I couldn't get a technical education
without professional assistance. This is my rationale for
technical colleges.
Of course, I could have gone off to the Northwest technical
College without bothering with their approval, but I didn't
want to do it that way. Although I disagree with them on many
things, my parents opinions still matter to me a great deal. It
was a long struggle, but finally I got to them to agree to me
going to a technical school. They even helped me to pay for the
Northwest technical College, an act of generosity that I hadn't
expected. All in all, things turned out pretty well. I am now
entering my second semester, and having more fun than I had
ever imagined possible.
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