discussion #4

1.) I feel as though everyone who takes the challenge to enter college, has a responsibility to themselves to strive for success. To "claim an education" as Rich put it. We either meet the challenge head on and push ourselves to our fullest potential, or we get left in the dust by those who are striving to be the best. It is important for women to work harder, to study longer, and to get better grades than others, because we already just by entering college have succeeded in not becoming another statistic. Men who enter college are expected to succeed. They should push themselves pass the point of doing good enough. If we go through college as most of us did in high school, barely making it then what would be the point of it all? Also those of us who come from low income families, or families of a different culture should not only strive for success within themselves, but they should work harder to prove to those people who feel as though they shouldn't be here anyway, that they have earned this. We all deserve an education, but it is up to us whether we take advantage of our opportunities.

2.) I think that Rich means by the ethical and intellectual contract between teachers and students is that in college, we as students agree to learn. This is not something that is being forced upon us. We want to be successful in life, so we agree to come to class and learn, not as an obligation but a choice. The intellectual part of this is that in the end once we have successfully gained our degrees we will realize that it was worth it. The knowledge we will gain from our professors is a priceless gift and only we have the choice to take advantage of it or not.