By NOLAN SPONSELLER
Tippecanoe Valley High School Graduate

“Valley didn’t prepare me at all for college.” This has been the statement I have heard from numerous of my past classmates and from others that had graduated before me.

The question I had to ask myself was: Is this an excuse or a valid statement?
Shifting the blame to someone else or something else is almost always the easiest thing to do when success isn’t the result.

I experienced this multiple times when I would hear my fellow classmates complain about a test score or assignment. Is it really the teacher’s fault that you didn’t do well on the test? I believe that there should be a significant amount of responsibility placed on the student. In almost every case a student could have studied more or dare I even say; ask questions. What has been lost is a sense of pride in one’s work.

No longer do students care about learning as much as they care about their grade. Students groan to teachers about assignments and argue about minute points marked off just so that their GPA can rise.

Having been able to talk about this subject with some of my graduating class and even some of my fellow Taylor University students I have drawn a few conclusions.

First, there is only so much that a public school can do for its students. If being prepared for college means increased work load in high school then there would be an uproar among the students and parents in high school about having too much homework. I am not endorsing possible incompetence by a public school due to the fact that they are a public school, but what I am acknowledging is that TVSC tries to make everyone happy while doing as much as they can do to provide a quality education.

Second, from talking to other public school graduates I have concluded that almost every single one of them feels like they weren’t prepared for college in at least one aspect. Part of college is overcoming the step-up in difficulty of classes and rigor of studying. I am not condoning the fact that as public school students we aren’t prepared for college, but can a high school completely prepare you for college?

Finally, I am a proud graduate of a public high school. I would have it no other way. The opportunities are there to learn and excel. I whole-heartedly believe that the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation has set me up for success in life.

I know this will more than likely not change the fact that excuses are given when academic performance is poor. I know this won’t change the stubborn minds of parents that believe the reason their child is failing is because of the school. However, I hope this challenges the critics to look for a better option than simply complaining.

If change is needed, change can be made. Next time you don’t excel, question whether or not you, yourself could have done anything about it.