What I got from the reading by Spelic this week was that it is very important on how we talk about or use metaphors when discussing higher education. Yeah, of course, many people could describe a College degree as a “ticket to the middle class” but at that same time, someone else could use a different metaphor and say that a college degree requires “fighting for” or “enduring long hardships” to acquire. I resonated very well with the part that as stated in the passage, “The United States is investing less in colleges at the same time that the globalized, digital economy has made that education more important than ever.” What I also got from this was that if this is true then also as stated in the passage, we are creating gaps, we are restricting opportunities and creating poverty, right? 

When it comes to family, I’m the first in the family to attend college, for my parents, it was huge and great news. My parents didn’t force me to go to college, neither did they say I had to because it would be hard, expensive, time-consuming, BUT, worthwhile. 

As I wasn’t pressured to attend college I didn’t feel pressured to do anything. However, my parents told me to do whatever made me happy, but gave recommendations that I study something that will go a long way, such as medical studies like a nurse, physician, pharmacist, dental hygenist, things in the science category. While they didn’t force me to choose anything in that area, I felt like I was obligated to choose something within that field of study. But then again it was mostly my decision. A Dental Hygienist? a Pharmacist? a Nurse? sounds like a ticket to a better life, right? At least that’s what most people would think. 

Education as a public good, doesn’t seem clear to me. From what I understand, education as a public good is supposed to advance goals. Ensuring equal opportunity to all students. I think what this means to me is that Education is a public good that can help students advance, help those students become doctors, lawyers, carpenters, do whatever they want, as long as it benefits the community. I could be wrong, but that’s what I think about the word. 

In other words, I did find Spelic’s article interesting and I agree with some points that are made in the passage. The metaphors we use and the way we talk about higher education is important.

In my opinion, the part that resonates with me most is when Michael Morris begins listing the challenges and risks that students may have to take because of COVID-19. When I had realized that the students who rely on working at the campus can no longer work because of closures it shocked me even more. How could students find jobs in less than a week? What if those jobs don’t “resonate” with the student’s schedule? Some students have no option but to work and study. I guess that what Michael Morris is saying about this issue that relates to “Higher Education” is that, most if not a wide majority of professors haven’t been trained in leading a class online. This tying in with the fact that we have been discussing Higher and Lower Ed throughout the semester. If I could ask Michael Morris anything I would more than likely ask “Why have teachers not been trained to teach classes online?”, And it is something that I have noticed even with some of my professors. However, our professors are not the only ones anxious about this, as said by Michael Morris (Michael Morris P.1) I think that this is a first for almost anyone. Nobody would have expected that a deadly pandemic would change their lives and the history of the world as we know it. Everyone is in a state of panic. Just life Michael Morris stated I think we should be patient. Many students have a problem learning online whether they can’t focus, or they just can’t comprehend as well in the classroom. Once the Pandemic became serious everyone who didn’t choose online classes was forced to take online classes. But then again, we, as students, are offered the chance of withdrawing. But at what cost? What if the student’s financial aid is affected? Those who can’t study as well online? This has caused a huge problem for not only the professors but mostly the students. Although most of the content in this article isn’t surprising, it was bound to happen eventually.