Josh Cassaro & David McCormack
Importance for Society
As we’ve seen in this class education is very important and has a big impact on society. We have seen how education has helped improve the lives of others and be a form of social justice. We have also seen how it has been a form of oppression and has created more barriers. We see the potential for this project to be an important form of social justice. Education can improve one’s standing in society. We also see that in this situation, there has been a disproportionate number of students of color who are not attending this university even though they live nearby. These students are not seeing the University of Illinois as a potential future, but they can. These resources can help them become more aware and see the University as a potential future or have them think about college in general. Having more students, especially those of color who are underrepresented, can help improve their standing in society and help them get a quality education within their county.
Outside the Classroom
Throughout primary school, college is a topic that is talked about and is looked highly upon by the school system. Although it is talked about, there is a lack of support relating to the variety of options when it comes to choosing your path beyond high school. There is an abundance of college preparation in the curriculum, but not so much relating to the financials and diversity of college. Providing resources for a realistic evaluation of college for all students is crucial for a successful education system.
Education vs Schooling
An advantage of attending the University of Illinois is to get both your degree and an education. Many people in Champaign County will get their high school diploma which is just finishing off a list of requirements. They may leave for other schools if they decide to go to college. However, the University of Illinois is within the county and offers an education instead of just schooling. Schooling is a system of moving through school, but education is learning in more aspects than one. Education can happen outside of the school and many experiences at the University of Illinois can be education even if they are not in the classroom. This an advantage of attending the University along with getting a degree and only 4% of students doing this are from Champaign County.
Why it Matters to Us?
When looking back on our paths to the University of Illinois we have seen some privileges that have helped us here. For example my (David) high school had a counselor meet with every student one on one every year and examine their grades and future plans. Even though we had almost 3,000 students, everyone received individualized attention. After a rough first semester my counselor told me what I would have to do in order to be admitted to the University of Illinois among other schools. I was aware of what I needed to do specifically which was a big advantage and now i’m here. Other schools might not have this privilege and we saw this as an opportunity to make students more aware of opportunities they have in their future and potentially at the University of Illinois. Local students in Champaign County can use resources from our website to be aware of exactly what they need and can do to attend the University.