Re:Welcome, Freshmen. You Don't Deserve to Be Here
by Zancarius on Tuesday October 15, 2013 @10:34PM
(#6557693)
Your first post (and this one) were eye-opening for me, and I wanted to thank you for offering a dose of reality from the other side of the pond.
For years, I've heard musings among Americans that suggest motivational speeches do more harm than good to those present. I've often wondered how true that is, because the other side of the coin seems just as detrimental--if not more so--to young, impressionable minds. More importantly, though, I think you're absolutely right: It's experience that's the real teacher, not some bloviating figurehead whose speech will be forgotten before the end of the day. If someone's not cut out for it, no amount of (de)motivation will help. Sink or swim.
Cheers, my friend.
if you're not gonna make good use of this education, stop wasting tax payer money ASAP
This is your interpretation. Thing is, it doesn't do more than leave people with a bad feeling. My point is: Whatever you say in a welcome-speech doesn't affect the choices of freshmen in the slightest. People will drop out, that's for sure. But not because some smartass Dean or professor holds a self-righteous speech, but because some students find that university (or that particular subject) isn't for them. They'll find out by EXPERIENCE and not by a stupid speech.