March 5 homework

Logos (logic):

• "College means a higher lifetime earnings and there is plenty of research to back it up."

I think this fits in this category because it is a fact to think that if you have a degree in your field you will be paid more than someone who does not due to the worlds views of having more education.

• "The average education in computer science, engineering and medicine is partly obsolete within 18 months."

With how fast our advances in technology are coming, it only makes sense that before you are able to put your knowledge to use that some part of that is out dated. That is why we have continuing education, so we can stay up to date.

• " She understands that the chances of anyone having a single career for life or even a decade are asymptotically approaching zero."

It is likely that you can stay in the same field, but the probability of staying in the same position with the same company with the same people is unlikely. You may even move to a different field over time. I think a basic survey could prove this point. Most people expect to have a change at some point in there life.

Pathos (emotion):

• "It is true that sometimes college is the best way for them to discover their passion but I have seen way too may people traumatized to tell their parents that after 3 years of pre-med they are switching to something else."

We are always worried about not meeting the expectations of those around us that mean the most to us that often we will opt to be unhappy to help make them happy.

• "The reason this matters to me now is because I am right in the middle of it. I've been watching Dori with some envy."

When we see something that we are looking forward to being able to do with our children it is only natural to feel like you are missing out on that when your child decides to do something else, even though it really doesn't have anything to do with you at all.

• "Skyler believes that life is too short to spend that many years on something you don't love."
  

I agree with Skyler because if you don't have a passion or a love for what you are doing then you are not going to have as much success at it then if you did have that passion there.

Ethos (credibility):

• PBS documentary and book. "One of the central questions about why we are not looking to closely at what happens between admission and graduation."

The reason I placed this example in this category is because PBS is someone who does research on what they show and produce before it is released to the public.

• "I've watched the wildly conflicting comments on the future of IT/programming as a profession between Dori Smith on "don't do it" and Robert Scoble on "how Microsoft can't find enough programmers".

They are both in the field debating the same topic from different views. If you are going to publicize a strong opinion you usually make sure you know what you are talking about.

• "...why we spend so much time railing against the decline in public schools K-12 in the United States while higher educations practically gets a free pass. The only major complaints you hear are about the rising costs, when to me-that may be the least of it."

The reason I find this credible is by taking 5 minutes out of my day to watch the news with all of the problems going on with Jordan School District and tax hikes/budget cuts/program cuts/layoffs. And we wonder why our kids have a hard time thriving in college like other countries do.



I think that this brings up some very interesting points, especially since technology has a way of changing faster than we do. You could start your education in that field, and possibly, half way through your schooling have what you have learned be obsolete. That being said, the basics that you learn in that field are more likely to stay the same and still be useful than to change and make your entire education useless.

Just as a doctor who has been in the medical field for 20 years as a heart surgeon can still practice medicine because of continuing education and staying up to date on the latest developments in technology. He doesn't have to quit his practice unless he is not willing to put forth the effort to stay on the edge of his field. Technology will always be changing, but just because we continue to progress doesn't mean that your knowledge is going to be useless. It is a great platform that you can use to advance your knowledge of the upcoming technology and life that is in our future.

It doesn't always have to be a four year degree that you have to receive to make a great living in this world, but it could be a trade school or a two year degree that gets you started on the path with the knowledge that you need to be happy in the field that you want to be in. As we all know, it doesn't matter how much money you make, it should be how happy you are in doing what you are doing and that is what really matters. You do not have to be the richest person in the world to be happy, but you also do not have to be the smartest person in the world to be the richest.
Many people have the idea that unless someone attends a 4 year university and obtains a degree they will not make much of a impact in their field or in the world. Lots of family and friends that I know have let the criticism of others weigh heavy on their choices, and are not entierly happy with what they are doing. Something along the lines of a trade school or applied degree or just life in general would be better for them, but they feel such a pressure to comply to the atypical view that is expected that is expected in our society.

While I do see the perspective of the author in the article, I cannot see any amount of education being deemed insignificant or useless. If some people feel the need for a "learning vacation", that is fine, let them take it. Everyone goes at their own pace. I am 28 and just starting college.