Students by choice?

So we're all in college. Every year we do the same meet and greet - Name, year in school, major, etc. Have you ever wondered why we're students? I mean sure we have our reasons but there's a lot more to it.

After reading Becker's article, a funny thought popped into my head - we are all taught to be students from a young age. There are numerous learned behaviors which lead us to our student occupations. I would argue that these behaviors are a consequence of social construction, that is, the process of becoming a student is not natural and is a product of concepts and stimuli within our society. Did you consciously decide to become a student? Did you have a choice to attend school or not when you were younger? Most likely not.

At the age of 5 or so, we're told by our parents that it's time for kindergarten. We get to go shopping for a cool backpack, some new shoes, maybe a sweet lunch box and then it's off to the races. . .for 12 years and then an additional 4 if we decide to go college. We meet friends, we socialize, and we're all in it together. I think that's the kicker! Most everyone goes to school and those that don't aren't part of the group or those who make up the counter-culture - I know I've made a few judgements about people who dropped out of school after 16 or those who didn't continue on to college. But, I have to take a step back and ask myself why?

Continuing along the lines of Becker, there's a culture behind schooling and being a student. Again, we are given a sense of belonging, of forward motion to some goal. But, it takes a few times to get going doesn't it? A few days to make friends, to remember your kindergarten teacher's name, to remember which cubby you have and where your shoes go, to get used to asking for permission to use the bathroom, to get used to lining up single file, the list goes on. Eventually it takes and I don't think it's a far stretch to say that every characteristic of students is learned.

Thanks for reading,

Marcus