College Life According to Nathan

The two chapters I elected to read from My Freshman Year by Rebekah Nathan were chapters 2 and 4, respectively titled "Life in the Dorms" and "As Others See Us". I found both these chapters to be eye-opening and relateable in the drastic contrast between how media and the first week of class makes college out to be versus how it is in reality. Below I will discuss what I found to be the most interesting points made in these two chapters. I will also attempt to relate the chapters to a past theorist we have read in class, specifically Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

One of the concepts I found most interesting in chapter 2 was the fact that students, according to recall-based interviews and activity logs, not only studied less than past students but also relaxed/had fun less. Instead, modern students use their time working. I found this particularly interesting because it contradicts the theme of "we are here for a degree" and "school comes first". At the same time, however, I can see how this occurs as prices keep increasing and students feel more pressure to avoid or pay off loans. Another factor that could contribute to this phenomena is the idea that work experience is crucial to finding a job after college. Or, less responsibly, that students need to work to keep up with their spending habits.

In chapter 4, I found it intriguing how different American culture is to other cultures. Having grown up American and being accustomed to the traditions and customs, I never noticed how confused and ostracized foreigners must feel when we are friendly to them but not interested in being more than that, in being true friends. This superficiality reminded me of Plato's Allegory of the Cave when the people merely saw shadows of reality. There was a deeper reality but all the people in the cave were interested in was the surface of their world, that is, the shadows. I found it interesting how people from other countries are close to their classmates, to the point of going out to eat with them after class if the timing is appropriate, as well as to their friends' families. It occurred to me that part of the reason we are so lonely is due to the emphasis on individualism. In part because of this, we do not make the time to forge bonds with others. Instead, we focus on ourselves and our goals. We are friendly to others but we have no friends.