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Show OPINIONS A7 Trickle-up education: A letter from the editor College may seem expensive, but it's not that bad By JONATHAN BOLDT D Editor-in-Chief jonboldt@jmail.com eath, taxes and inflation. In this current economy, those three things are what we can all bank on and must be ready for. The biggest culprits aside from the Grim Reaper and the government (it can be hard to differentiate the two at times) are thought to be the demonized group of Bilderbergers that meet in secret star chambers using skulls and crossbones to determine our economic fate. Big oil, Wall Streeters and evil doctors that would prefer to amputate for an ingrown toenail just to pad their wallets are those most commonly targeted. Yes, oil prices are on the rise, enough to limit our traveling plans, even. The housing bubble burst due in large part banks giving undocumented loans to people who lied about their income. And the evil doctors raised their costs at a higher clip than either of those two. But there is one sector that has increased in cost at a rate more than double any of those three. Education. Millions of jobs have been lost with this current recession and many of those who can't find work have turned to the university system to try and better themselves to become more attractive to potential employers. The influx of students and the rising cost of education should give us pause and a chance to take a look in the mirror. Ronald Reagan made the phrase "trickle-down economics" a household term during the recovery following the disastrous recession of the 1970s. The thought was that giving tax breaks, among other things, would help the job creators create more jobs, allowing the extra money to trickle down to more people. Having more people earning money then allows more money to be spent in communities, adding to the larger economy nationwide. As I have been thinking about all of these factors, a phrase has popped into my random thought processes: trickle-up education. Basically, in the world we now live in, you have to have an education of some kind to have even the slightest possibility of landing a decent-paying job. The bachelors degree is the new high school diploma and high school has turned into a do-or-die battleground training for the rest of your life. Gone are the days of hanging out with friends after school and procrastinating on your homework. One blown AP class can be the deciding factor of being accepted to an Ivy League school or Montana State. You have to have that baseline level of education for any hopes of trickling up so that you can trickle down on everyone else someday. It's no wonder that Sunday evening anxiety about going back to school after a fun weekend has now turned into a full blown disorder along with soaring Prozac sales. I guess if you're struggling in the stock market you can always buy up as many shares of Pfizer as you can. One thing I have learned in my life is that in the face of adversity you have to find what you are grateful for just to stay sane. As a student at UVU that's not too difficult. August 15 appears daunting: All that tuition money is due and there isn't one student that can honestly say they look forward to that transaction. When you take a step back, however, and take things into perspective, our tuition gives us th e most bang for our educational bu ck that you can find. I'm not a math whiz by anyone's definition but I have come up with what I believe to be a pretty solid mathematical equation. $2,500 is less than $10,000. If you don't believe me you can give Stephen Hawking a call. He may not answer, but if he did, he would agree with me. As mind blowing as it may seem, not only is $10,000 possible but it's about average for what most universities can require per semester. Again, my math is shaky, but according to my calculations, that adds up to $80,000 for a four-year degree. That doesn't include the cost for books and room and board. Also, that's assuming Murphy's Law stays in hiding and life doesn't happen. It's not unheard of for an undergraduate education to total a figure north of a hundred grand. With the housing market in the shape it's in now, that could buy you a good sized piece of land or a nice little starter home. If you aren't motivated by selfimprovement and pride in the work you do, maybe thinking of how much money you have invested in your education might help you to focus a little more and get good grades. Also, remember that just because you have student loans and the money isn't coming out of your pocket yet, it doesn't mean you aren't paying for it. With student loan interest rates skyrocketing, that $80,000 could easily turn out to be double that by the time you have it paid off. So while you whine about tuition, how mean your professor is or not having enough time to sleep, or play Xbox and stay up all night with your honey, just remember that you will get out of this experience what you put into it. It's true you are only oun once, but what I would add to that is you will be old forever. As mind blowing as it may seem, not only is $10,000 possible but it's about average for what most universities can require per semester. What we do know lays the foundation for what we can do when know about ir".• College Tuition & Fees Medical Care Housing Transportation ■ ••• you, but I would rather goof around when I actually had some money. My math may be iffy but trust me when I say it would be more fun to take your boat out on the lake, visit every major league ballpark or take a cruise around the Mediterranean than pull an all-nighter playing Halo with that dude from down the hall. I can feel it in my bones that this will be an amazing year to be a part of this university and the UVU Review. Not because of anything that will be handed to me or that I deserve it, but because I'm going to make it happen. So when things get tough this year, and they will, just remember to cowboy-up and git-er done. Increase 100% 1 --..._.— —— — , 1 r 1 r i r— I I i — ,■ -- - No •• .., •• I 1 50% , I I I ,t I I , --.". t .. i r /0 ..- • ° .. I0 ...e Ye S. `00 '01 '02 '03 `04 '05 '06 '07 `08 '09 '10 '11 2012 Break your borders by studying abroad Studying abroad can be a harrowing, and rewarding experience By AARON MCCARTER Staff Writer acmccarter@gmail.com I recently returned from a trip that changed my life. I experienced a completely different side of the world I never before imagined. Prior to embarking on this particular trip, I enjoyed the familiarity of my American upbringing, accustomed to clean tap water and fast food. I took for granted the concept of freedom and the opportunity to pursue a lifestyle of my personal choosing. This trip made me realize that I lived in the comfort of a bubble, and that bubble was quickly broken. I never realized how different cultures can be until I experienced it for myself. This summer I had the opportunity to visit China during a study abroad trip that was organized by UVU's International Center and Department of Languages. As my first study abroad trip and first experience in China, I did not know what to expect during my stay in this foreign land. These unknowns created feelings of both uneasiness and excitement for me. No longer in safe and good ol' Utah, but in China, a country with 1.3 billion people and a vastly different place than America. I am truly grateful for being born an American, however, deep down inside me I feel that there is something missing Not a feeling of sadness or depression, but an unsatisfied wonder to what lies outside these borders. To meet new and interesting people who have lived completely different lives than me, to taste the common food they eat every day, to visit the most obscure places where only the locals know, and to simply embrace each moment abroad as a wonderful and amazing experience. St. Augustine once said, "The world is a book and those who don't travel only read one page." On May 30, I boarded a plane that took me on my first trip to China. Arriving at the Shanghai airport, I was faced with a myriad of foreign sights and sounds, experiencing everything from fear to amazement. After leaving the airport, I eventually found my way, a three hour journey that should have only taken one, to the hotel where I had a room booked, and was faced with a unique situation. I could either retreat to the safety of my hotel room until the rest of the group arrived, or I could explore the new and unfamiliar environment around me. Of course there were risks involved, just like anywhere else in the world, but this was a rare opportunity to experience a side of the world I'd never seen before. If I stayed in the protective bubble of my hotel room, I would have remained exactly the same person as before. There I was, alone in a foreign land, faced with an opportunity that could be either taken advantage of, or sadly wasted due to fear. At that moment, I decided not to be scared of the unknown Many people lie on their deathbeds full of regret, of "what ifs" or "why nots" to what could have been. and perceive this trip as an oncein-a-lifetime adventure. With that perception in mind, it made all the difference on that trip in China. The two months I spent in China inspired me to think more deeply of the many differences there are in this world. I learned that Chinese people are more subtle yet meaningful with their actions and that paper is stapled like a book, rather than in the top left corner. I saw both the good and bad in people as I met many sincere and honest local people, but I was also scammed due to freely giving my trust to people I'd just met. My comprehension of the Chinese language greatly increased, and I now plan to study in China for a year after I graduate next April. I now aspire to pursue a career that specializes in Chinese-American relations. All those lessons and changes happened because I was willing to break my comfort zones, see what life would be like for me after this experience. Many people lie on their deathbeds full of regret, of "what ifs" or "why nots" to what could have been. These people chose a life of security and stability rather than passion and ambition. They lived a life based on the opinion and needs of others and rarely stopped to think twice of what made them truly happy. Before this happens to you, I challenge you to write down a list of realistic things you would like to someday accomplish and experience. From there, create a serious plan on how to initiate and accomplish those goals. A dream is only a dream, while a goal is a dream with a plan for success. Don't expect anyone to help you. It is your sole right and responsibility to have a life you desire. If these goals require you to leave your comfort zone, try not to hesitate or give up. Break your borders, and it may change your life in ways that you've never imagined. International Study Programs Australia Costa Rica Haiti Cuba Italy $1,195 $1,595 $1,895 $2,995 $3,295 *2012 summer costs International Center, WB147 www.uvu.edu/international/isp CLARK GOLDSBERRY/UVU REVIEW |