Does College Promote Individualism or Not Essay Example

The term individualism first occurred as a political and social philosophy which emphasized the moral importance of an individual. The terminology may seem straightforward or rather appear simpler but different people have different understanding towards it. There are different ways of understanding it, both in the philosophical and actual practice domain. Generally, the term is all about being concerned with your interest. It looks at the uniqueness and the self-reliance of a person. In college, students from different backgrounds come together united by a similar purpose. The purpose of acquiring education and going back to society to solve some of the existing challenges. It is through the process of acquiring education that they come to meet and interact with people from different backgrounds, in most cases, people whose backgrounds may be greatly distinct from each other and try to cope as brothers and sisters. The process is usually coupled with different challenges. Some of the challenges may be opined from the dimension of academics; others may be viewed regarding finances, while some may be looked at from the perspective of searching for one's true identity.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

The argument about academic challenge may be opined with the view of a student coming from a different locality struggling to adapt to the academic environment of a college. Let's argue, for example, a student who is from China but studying in the United States. Such a student may find it difficult blending with the learning environment because of the language barrier. The primary language used in teaching in the United States is English, but the student comes from a locality where the primary language for communication is standard Chinese. As such, he or she may require help to adapt. On the grounds finances a person may come from a poor background hence may face challenges with upkeep while others may come from well-off families but may have a problem with financial management, all the cases requires thorough planning so that college life does not become difficult (Triandis, 2018). The other issue which was highlighted was on the search of a true identity. College life comes at a stage between adolescent and adulthood hence most people find themselves trying to experiment things to know who they truly are. Some may experience many changes in their lives, an issue which may cause others to join companies with the aim of knowing themselves through other people.

However, even as these issues define some of the everyday experiences in college, one major issue that remains of interest is individualism in college. One of the primary questions is on whether the life experiences and challenges in college shape people to adapt to the individualism ideology or not. The question takes us back to the main concern on whether college promotes or discourage individuality. The argument is two-phased. In one phase, college promotes individuality, in the next phase, it does not. We will look at both the arguments then settle on one who has made a stronger case.

One of the arguments that confirms college to promote individuality is based on the determination of a real identity. As noted earlier, the people who are in college are mostly in their late teens or early twenties, a period in which much occurs in their environment. Many at times, such people would find themselves struggling to know who they are and as such may end up keeping to themselves and setting clear goals of life. It is also in college where people pursue different careers, and it is from the pursuit that other people choose to keep to their goals and themselves as they prepare to become adults. It also promotes individuality by giving a person some of the survival techniques (Triandis, 2018). Such techniques are mostly influenced by the background where an individual is coming from. Individualism comes into picture where all a student requires is to survive with the little he has and pursue the primary objective which is education and not any other thing. It is also worthwhile to note that the general goal of education is on being beneficial to every learner. The benefit is experienced by each student based on the effort they are applying in their studies. This situation shows that education by itself promotes individualism because it gives you the opportunity of increasing your worth and value at an individual level.

Considering that college is the institution in which education is offered, it automatically becomes urgent of individualism. The promotion of individualism may also be viewed from the academic dimension when people are given individual assignments to go and work on. Such assignments may be in the form of projects or researches to mention but a few. Learners may decide first to conduct a thorough analysis of their course materials while seeking solutions for the given projects or opt for individual researches in the college libraries. The assignments train students to be self-reliant and focus on concentrating on their work. College also presents people with all the necessary tools and materials they need to express themselves. In college, there is a challenge, there is change, and there is also growth. Based on the sizes of the colleges, conquering these issues may not be difficult, the conquering is also essential because it helps a person find or determine who they indeed are. Even though there are people who may compromise themselves by trying to be who they are not because of their involvement in different activities, the result is noted on an individual trying to fit in and making sense of his or her life. The result presents you as your person, something which proves individuality as far more important than a person's involvement in any group or organization in college. All is needed is a little involvement in clubs and other organizations because they play a pivotal role when it comes to assisting a person know their identity. It is essential for people to note that their identity should not be wrapped in something which they are a part of.

Equally notable, the college also discourages individuality to some extent. In most cases, the discouragement comes in where students are encouraged to work in groups. Such scenarios may include group work assignments and projects. In the group sessions, the students get to meet and learn from people from different diversities. The group assignments and projects also prepare the learners for future teamwork and participation. The case which was given earlier about a student from China going to study in the U.S. may also discourage individuality. Such a situation will call for teamwork from other colleagues and in some cases intervention by the course lecturer or professor.

In consideration of the two sides of the argument, it is explicit that college encourages individuality as opposed to people working as a team. There are many points which have been used to justify the case with some of the leading examples being on the acquisition of identity, personal assignments in college, and being good financial managers to mention but a few (Yu et al. 2015). The points on college not promoting individuality are also useful but are not convincing enough to take the part of the leading discussion or rather an argument. Individuality also has certain utilities which may impact the life of a college student positively. Such include; allowing creativity and contribution of great ideas within the society and to the world. The example is drawn from the uniqueness of every person, a situation which makes one think outside the box and in a creative format. Individuality also removes the fear which may accompany the life of a person thus offering one the opportunity of facing his challenges with courage. It also gives a person the mantle of leading the way and allowing other people to follow. It gives priority to the individual student's wishes and aspirations. Lastly, it also allows a person to inspire people to live their life passionately.

Conclusion

Even though there exist points that attempt to depict college as not being able to promote individualism, there are valid points that confirm that it indeed promotes individualism. Such points have been noted by the things which directly affects the life of the college students and the conflict they find themselves in a while trying to understand their identity.

References

Triandis, H. C. (2018). Individualism and collectivism. Routledge.

Yu, Q., Chen, J., Zhang, Q., & Jin, S. (2015). Implicit and explicit self-esteem: The moderating effect of individualism. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 43(3), 519-528.