What's college good for?

College is a stepping stone from high school and adolescence into a career and adulthood.  It's a long-term investment in one's life. College is a test of intelligence, it's discovering yourself , and, most importantly, it's a lesson on life.

We all know that everybody's different. Some people are prettier, taller, more atheltic, and more talented. You never really know who the smart ones are at a glance. Although there are IQ tests and many more exams that may measure a person's mental capabilities, you need something more than just a slip of paper. "College is, essentially, a four-year intelligence test (Menand)." Intelligence is measured by much more than 50 or so questions. It's someone's creativity, wittiness, ability to absorb, time management. College brings out all of the traits of intelligence. You must have good time skills, learn fast, and think way out of the box to survive the road to a degree.

Along with a test of intelligence, college is a point in which many people discover themselves. However, according to McArdle, increasingly the time and cash spent to earn a diploma is leaving kids off "worse than they were before." Although this may be true for some cases, it's not true for all. College doesn't just help you master your craft, it also helps you "learn things to enable you to do things with your life, to enable you to find interests and pursuits that may in some way or another expand the way we see things (NPR staff)." College is about finding yourself and what you want to do with your life. I for one think the investment is well worth it.

 Last, but not least, "The first aim of a good college is not to teach books, but the meaning and purpose of life. Hard study and the learning of books are only a means to this end. We develop power and courage and determination and we go out to achieve Truth, Wisdom and Justice. If we do not come to this, the cost of schooling is wasted (President Watson)." College teaches you about life. The good and the bad. You gain power with knowledge, and with great power comes great responsibilty.

All in all, college may not be for everybody and that's fine. We're all different anyway, but if you want to test your intellectual  abilities, learn a little about yourself, and take in all the knowledge and power you can, college is well worth any and everything you put into it.

Why College

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College to some is the true beginning of their life, to others it's to reinvent themselves, and to many more it's to gain a career. There's a vast sea of answers to "why college?" Personally I chose college to advance my knowledge in my chosen craft (french horn playing/band directing), to be a part of something bigger than myself, and to learn to enjoy life.

I wanted to learn what it took to be a professional musician and a band director. Honestly, it's a lot more than was expected. There's theories and techniques and history that I never knew existed. How did I expect myself to teach kids these things without knowing about them myself? I didn't. I chose to expand what I knew so that I could further others in the musical path.

While majoring in music education, I've also become a part of The Marching Southerners. Their tradition of excellence and phenomenal performances are what drew me here to Jacksonville in the first place. I first experienced The Southerners my sophomore year of high school and was aboslutely taken aback just by the sound. I knew that if I wanted to be great, that I had to learn from the greatest.

There was also an extra perk to being in this amazing ensmeble. It's a big family. I craved to have the life that I didn't have in high school. To go be with friends without having a curfew. To go to parties and enjoy myself, responisbly, without fretting about the parental repercussions. Yes I had plenty of friends, but none of them ever got crazy and I was okay with that. I never got these opportunities in the past few years, and now I'm taking life by the reigns and enjoying the ride.

My choice to attend college, especially at JSU, was simple. I'd get the quality education that I desired and needed to follow my dreams. I'd be a part of something that I could be extremely proud of. And, lastly, I'd find friends that would become my family for life.

All About Me

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My name is Tiffane Lynn Taylor Davis. I was born in 1994 in Villa Rica, GA. I guess I should tell you about my interests. I enjoy Harry Potter, Hunger Games, and things similar to that. I love to read, but writing isn't really my strong point. I don't watch a lot of tv, but I do have a few shows: Pretty Little Liars, Glee, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Dr. Phil, and Dance Moms. My real interest is music. I love it all, except rap, country, and dubstep. Old jazz, Frank Sinatra and such, are my absolute loves. I'm a musician. My primary is french horn and my secondary is trumpet, but I also play a little piano, guitar, and pit percussion. I sing occasionally. I can sing everything from bass to soprano, but I'm mostly an alto. I'm majoring in music education, and I love every minute of it. I hope to teach, but would love to play more. I'm a member of The Southerners and the symphonic band here at JSU. Being in ensembles is definitely the highlight of my day. I'm looking forward to this class and getting to know everybody's writing styles!