Faith on the Quad Finals

Dec 9, 2008

It’s that dreaded time of year when our slacking ways early in the semester result in the stressful cramming of forgotten information. Late nights of begrudged studying clearly demonstrate our lack of preparation for particular classes on our schedule.

 

Finals are upon us.

 

It is during this time that college can seem to be the most terrible privilege we have ever been given. I often hear comments (and make them myself) about how certain classes will never pertain to future careers. Many students are ready to throw education out the window to avoid a math or history class required for graduation. However, it is this vast array of classes which we are most privileged to attend.

 

In order to become well-formed citizens able to impact our culture, we must not assume that a shallow understanding of science, history, language and the arts will do. As college students, are we not preparing to enter a work force filled with corruption, ill-formed philosophies and materialistic, greedy motives?

 

Today, as Catholic college students, we face two major challenges: 1) manipulation in the form of consumerism and 2) Catholic prejudice.  The first will enslave us if not overcome and the second is a major hindrance to helping others to rise above the first challenge.  However, both can be battled with the knowledge learned in college.

 

Each citizen in our country is granted the freedom to choose his or her way of living, but major companies have narrowed our choices.  Only certain lifestyles are promoted by the chief fashion, music, entertainment and food corporations of our day. Colleges and universities have responded approvingly to this movement by gearing their programs first and foremost towards making their students as marketable as possible. Education in a specialized field is required for this end, but is often not the end itself. If we are not careful, we can become like robots undergoing an intense programming in order to complete certain tasks in the future, not only for our own benefit, but to continue the manipulative corporate machine oiled by mindless consumers.

 

It is this machine that indicates which fields of study are necessary, and which are superfluous. However, all majors can prepare us to creatively make an impact on our culture. I often receive looks of concern when I name philosophy and art as my fields of study. Others majoring in theology, sociology, math, or any major which does not send a person down a specific job chute, are often told their line of study is risky and impractical.

 

The second challenge, that of a Catholic prejudice, can hinder us in our battle against this trend. In our universities and colleges this prejudice is already loud and clear. It will remain equally prevalent in many job locations. Therefore, when working towards a goal contrary to our current culture of materialism and death, we will face intense critique and criticism. The more educated we are in our field of study and equipped with general knowledge of how things work, politically, scientifically or economically, the more successful we will be in gaining the trust of doubting co-workers, customers, readers, and citizens.

 

The naïve attitude with which some battles are approached are properly criticized by our culture. We cannot successfully oppose, and convince others to oppose an issue, candidate or policy if we cannot back up our arguments with consistent facts and answers to possible rebuttals. Knowing something is wrong is highly important, but in order to convince others of its evil we must understand why it’s wrong and be able to explain it in many different ways.

 

College is a time we are given to focus on obtaining these tools. Taking advantage of the plethora of knowledge available will benefit us greatly in our future battles. We must continue to grow not only spiritually, but also intellectually, in order to effectively carry out the plan God has for us and our culture.