So, tonight I was talking about the classes I'll be taking this fall at my local community college (one of which is chemistry which I'm a little nervous about since I've never had a chemistry class before) with my wonderful bachelor's degree holding partner who, in an attempt to ease my anxiety makes the comment "Well, it's just at a community college so the class should be pretty easy." Wrong thing to say honey...
It did however get me to thinking about the general attitudes that people have towards not only community colleges but also to vocational/trade schools. That those of us who go to such institutions are intellectually inadequate and wouldn't be able to handle the academic rigors of a 4 year college or university. This attitude is completely inaccurate, after all if my classes were so EASY then the 4 year colleges and universities in my area wouldn't have an articulation agreement which honors the credits I take at the community college. It is a different atmosphere in a community college of course, but that doesn't mean I don't have to learn the material and learn it well in order to pass.
I remember in high school when I decided to enter the Practical Nursing program at the vocational school how I received criticism, statements such as "Well, you need to go to a 4 year college, anything less is for people who are stupid." and even now when I tell people I'm an LPN and that I've been at a community college taking classes I'm greeted with a concerned expression, a half smile, and a polite nod. A voice bubble might as well pop up above their head saying, "Well, since you're a failure at life and this is all you have, I'll be happy for you." after all since I'm going to a community college it means I can't handle REAL academics.
It may sound as though I'm jealous of those who get to receive a university education and have a bachelor's degree or above and are the same age as myself. And, yes, at times I am jealous because I would have loved to have had the same experience. But that simply just wasn't my path, one day I will "pull my time" in a four year college, my path will take me there, just not yet.
I believe no matter your credentials, whether you're doctorate degree holding FNP or a certificate holding CNA that you should be incredibly proud. Whether you're bachelor's prepared RN or a diploma holding LPN you should be proud. Because all levels of education should be revered and respected and valued. I don't feel ashamed of not already being a Registered Nurse or a college graduate nor do I have any regret at first becoming a CNA and then becoming an LPN because I still am helping people and I am still living my dream and that dream was to be independent. If you're a BSN or an ADN be PROUD of it no matter what your credentials are because you earned them.
College graduates face really discouraging odds. Many are unemployed, many more are employed in something other than their field of study, and many still are up to their eyeballs in debt. My partner for instance has a bachelor's degree yet works in job making a little over minimum wage. That is why I chose the path I did. When I was 17 and I enrolled in the LPN program, I knew due to my personal and financial circumstances that I couldn't afford to go to college just yet, I needed to be self sufficient and going to a trade school and later to a community college would allow me to do that. It wasn't the right choice for everyone but it was for me, and because of that I can pay for my school one semester at a time while minimizing and most semesters avoiding student loans, not to mention a few years head start on 401k versus my peers and that feels really good.
A dear friend of mine always wanted to be a mechanic, her family, peers, etc were not supportive "only stupid people do something like that" so instead she got 2 bachelor's degrees, is jobless, and owes thousands of dollars in student loans. All this because her dream was too "stupid" in the eyes of her parents and everyone else. Side not, I know many mechanics who make more money than I do and they're all pretty happy. I think the attitude that you go to college to "make a better life for yourself" isn't always accurate. We shouldn't be telling our children that they have to go to college in order to be considered intelligent or successful. We should be telling them that in this world success isn't defined by your credentials or where you went to school or how much money you make, it's defined by getting out of life what you make of it and what you want from it. Do what you love people, whether you're a CNA or a Medical Doctor, do what you love and love what you do and be proud but above all else never assume that someone is stupid simply because their education is different from yours.
Whew... feels good to get that out.
Oh and my partner quickly apologized for what he said. Probably had something to do with the fact I spouted off this little speech in the course of sixty seconds after his comment.
I myself have 2 degrees from a community college. My first was in education and the second was an ASN. I then completed my BSN through ODU. We all do what we need to do in life to get where we are going. I am not ashamed of one class I have taken at a CC nor should anyone else be. Chemistry was certainly not easy for me there. My husband who has a bachelor's in chemistry and doctorate in pharmacy helped me pass both sections of chemistry. Hold your head up and worry about you not about anyone else:twocents:
General Manager? Of a sports team? You made bucco bucs. And you went GM 2 RN? Eh, you must have done something very bad and now you are making up for it (overcompensation).
I can see how you would get general manager out of GM, but of a sports team? That's some creative thinking.
GM stands for general motors. I quit working there after 21 years and decided to pursue something that required a little intelligence.
Ah, blanked on that one. GM huh? So, obviously, my next question will be............do you drive GM?
Yes, I'm still driving a 1995 Buick Regal Gransport that was purchased before I quit. I have a little more than 253,000 miles on it. I'm more interested, though, in buying American as much as possible than necessarily buying GM.
Um...I think we are just a little off topic though.
Yes, I'm still driving a 1995 Buick Regal Gransport that was purchased before I quit. I have a little more than 253,000 miles on it. I'm more interested, though, in buying American as much as possible than necessarily buying GM.
Um...I think we are just a little off topic though.
No.
U said you quit GM cause you wanted a job that required a little intelligence.
So you had to go to school right?...............................just sayin:cool:
I have a shirt that reads "Community College, Easier than Real College."
Having been to both the course material is pretty much the same. The difference is in class size, particularly at the 100 and 200 level (pretty much the levels that both CC and Universities share.) Class sizes range from 20 to 60 students at the Community College, where at a large university you might have 600 to 700 students in your lecture. The smaller class sizes make it easier to learn and there are more learning opportunities and instructors are more available. Certainly makes it easier to learn. There also are typically fewer distractions at a Community College as well, and the student population is more diverse age wise.
I have a shirt that reads "Community College, Easier than Real College."
Having been to both the course material is pretty much the same. The difference is in class size, particularly at the 100 and 200 level (pretty much the levels that both CC and Universities share.) Class sizes range from 20 to 60 students at the Community College, where at a large university you might have 600 to 700 students in your lecture. The smaller class sizes make it easier to learn and there are more learning opportunities and instructors are more available. Certainly makes it easier to learn. There also are typically fewer distractions at a Community College as well, and the student population is more diverse age wise.
Before getting into my school's nursing program, I was studying Sign Lang. I started off taking it just to get the credits for full time aid one semester (yes, yes......but there was a large grant waiting for me that would not have applied had I not) and then kept taking it.
I loved Sign. I was going to keep taking it, be a nurse who could interpret for the deaf at my hospital. I got an A in all three courses I took, but had to stop because the nursing program started and it overwhelmed me.
My friend from a VERY LARGE and well known University had also taken sign (education major), and he HATED it. Got a C in the first course, and a D in the second and promptly decided it was not for him. I'll throw in the disclaimer there that this person was a better student that I. More disciplined and better at keeping his focus for the entire semester.
At first, we both assumed it was because the curriculum at the University was harder/more advanced. We were comparing notes one day while having breakfast (The ways new words/signs were introduced to your vocabulary, fingerspelling drills, the kinds of presentations we had to do) and it turned out, my classes demanded much more than his. Not going to point out the differences, but it was plainly evident my classes at the CC demanded more from the word "go".
Using "Sign" as an example of how Universities don't always teach "more" or "better" might be cheating. With a class such as this, the smaller class size and more individualized training is more important than any other academic study I can think of. But it is a good example of how Universities do not hold a monopoly on "higher education".
Taking ANY online class is challenging because it requires a lot of discipline that people don't have. Kudos for completing an entire degree that way. =)
I, too, went straight into LPN school at the age of 17, obtained my license at the age of 18, and have been an LPN for the past 34 years. I am now a manager in a free-standing endoscopy center. My administrator has encouraged me to obtain my Associates Degree, and I finally took the plunge this past year, and I am attending our local community college. It is very humbling to be a "student" again at age 52. I hope to have "RN" after my name by the time I am 55. I take issue with anyone that believes that just because I am attending a community college, that I will be any less educated--I will have to pass the same NCLEX as anyone else. Who knows-perhaps after I pass my boards-I'll go for my BSN. The sky is the limit--and I am never "too old" to learn.
it's the opposite here---- University costs LESS than CC/voactional schools... it's an attitude of- if you're smart enough to get in, than you get to pay less... thank god for that! (I hear horror stories about US tuition)
Wrong thing to say honey... 
Palliative Care, DNP
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I myself have 2 degrees from a community college. My first was in education and the second was an ASN. I then completed my BSN through ODU. We all do what we need to do in life to get where we are going. I am not ashamed of one class I have taken at a CC nor should anyone else be. Chemistry was certainly not easy for me there. My husband who has a bachelor's in chemistry and doctorate in pharmacy helped me pass both sections of chemistry. Hold your head up and worry about you not about anyone else:twocents: