Katie O’Reilly ’14: At Episcopal, the community seems to judge a student’s success solely on his or her college acceptance. And that is just wrong. A college acceptance is particularly one-dimensional. In the current era of higher education, legacies, millionaire parents, and connections into the admissions department are at some level significantly more valued than good character, merit, and let me mention the necessary qualifications for a particular institution. That being said, to some people, a college education has become an undeserved accessory.
So how is it that at EA we as a community see college acceptance as a be all and end all of an 18-year-old individual’s success? This is a clear problem. However it has a quite simple solution: start to look at the bigger picture. Success at Episcopal should be viewed through such a more meaningful lens.
College acceptance in some respects has little substance. Something like life experience, however, has much more substance. An acceptance does not make you a good, intellectually engaged, and kindhearted person. It is simply an added bonus. Ultimately, at EA we should look at the character of a student and see that as so much more valuable than a one way ticket to an Ivy League school. What college you go too will not determine how good of a person you are. Life has so much more to offer than grade point averages and SAT scores.
A truly successful EA student should be one who has outstanding character, perspective, a creative and curious nature, and most importantly determination. A ticket to Harvard is far outweighed by a legacy of someone who engaged in school academically, athletically, artistically, and through other passions. That well-rounded individual is the picture of success. And that student may not be heading to a “prestigious” institution after he or she graduates from Episcopal.
As the financial bubble over college education tuitions has increased since the 1970’s, college has become increasingly less valuable due to the fact that it is almost entirely necessary for a sustainable position in the workforce. College has become such a minor detail in the greater scheme of life, because so many people have degrees nowadays. However, only one person can lead your life, and that is so much more unique. So take advantage of that.
A lot of EA students spend the majority of high school complaining and or stressing about college
Photo courtesy of Toni Radcliffe ’14
It is really that easy. Episcopal offers us, the student body, the opportunity to become truly great people, who are culturally and globally literate, active in our communities, and well-rounded to say the least. That has so much more value than high SAT scores. High scores are wonderful things don’t get me wrong, but they do not determine whether I want to have a conversation with you or not. Holding a conversation and being aware socially are such greater life skills than your score on a test.
High school in the long run for the Episcopal student should not be as stressful as it is often made out to be. It is an exciting time where individuals for the first time in their lives are forming their own thoughts and opinions about the world. That should truly be the highlight and emphasis of your career at Episcopal instead of where you end up at college.
I would rather drive away with Episcopal in my rearview mirror, knowing that I found out what I love to do, built strong relationships, and become a better person here, rather than knowing that the Episcopal machine shot me into my next educational institution. To me, that would really have no value at all. A college acceptance should be well deserved and honestly, an extra bonus to the ride that is your time at Episcopal.