Rachel Holle

Claiming an Education

 

 

“The difference between a life lived actively, and a life of passive drifting and dispersal of energies, is an immense difference” (24-25). This excerpt from “Claiming an Education” is the main focus of this article. Choosing to live a life that is bold and challenging or taking the easy route to avoid conflict. Although this speech is mainly directed at a women’s college, I believe that men can greatly benefit from this as well. Societal expectations for women have changed over the years, but in many ways remain the same. Stepping out of the societal norms and being different will lead you to a meaningful life that you created. Being a feminist, this article speaks loudly to me for several reasons; it encourages women to break free from societal pressure, gives them courage to speak up, and changes their thinking.

            Society has such a hard stronghold on women. They are taught to think many things about themselves instead of living as they please. This article makes the point that women should start “resisting the forces in society which say that women should be nice, play safe, have low professional expectations, drown in love, and forget about work, live through others, and stay in the places assigned to us” (16-18). Breaking free of these expectations will drastically impact your outlook on life. Be bold and daring. Make a point to show that society is no longer in charge of the way you live your life.

            Standing up for your self is one of the many qualities women over the years are taught not to have. They are raised to do what they are told. Now, women are speaking out about what they believe and gaining control of their lives. They are getting the chance to become affected by the world instead of sitting back and taking the easy way out of everything. Applying this to college, as the author did, this means not “taking ‘gut’ courses instead of ones you know will challenge you, bluffing at school instead of doing solid work” (13-14). Do not let yourself take the easy route. Challenging yourself to work hard and always do better will have a significantly better outcome.

            Changing your outlook on life changes everything. Your attitude and how you perceive the world around you can either be positive or negative. Sitting back and not stepping out of the box means playing it safe. The safe route may have secure outcome, but being different and letting the world move you is undeniably one of the greatest feelings. It is powerful and unknown. It creates a bond between you and the world. Allowing yourself to commit and take responsibility will shape your view to something vastly different. “Once we begin to feel committed to our lives, responsible to ourselves, we can never again be satisfied with the old, passive way” (26-27). This new life will surprise you and make you wonder why you were ever sitting back and taking the easy path in the first place.

            This author made a point to make certain women know the means in changing their lives; especially in the life of a college student. Speaking out and informing women that they are in fact able to improve their lives is something that has needed to be said. It gives them the chance to no longer waste themselves away.