很多人都认为那些身处象牙塔的大学生们过得很安逸,其实不然.他们每天也要面临着很多压力：高额学费带来的经济压力,父母要求过高所带来的精神压力…

　　CollegePressure

　　Iseetwokindsofpressureworkingoncollegestudentstoday:economicpressure,parentalpressure.Itiseasytolookaroundforrebels—toblamethecollegesforchargingtoomuchmoney,theparentsforpushingthemtoofar.Buttherearenorebels,onlyvictims.

　　Thepressureisheavyonstudentswhojustwanttograduateandgetajob.IfIwereanemployerIwouldratheremploygraduateswhohavethisrangeandcuriositythanthosewhonarrowlypursuedsafesubjectsandhighgrades.Iknowincalculablestudentswhoseinquiringmindscheerme.Iliketoheartheplayoftheirideas.Idon’tknowiftheyaregettingAorC,andIdon’tcare.Ialsolikethemaspeople.Thecountryneedsthem,andtheywillfindsatisfyingjobs.Itellthemtorelax,buttheycan’t.

　　NorcanIblamethem.Theyliveinabrutaleconomy.Todayitisnotunusualforastudent,evenifheworksparttimeatcollegeandfulltimeduringthesummer,toincreaseto5,000inloansaftergraduation.Encouragedatcommencementtogoforthintotheworld,heisalreadybehindashegoesforth.Howcouldhenotfeelunderpressurethroughoutcollegetoprepareforthisdayofreckoning①?

　　Alongwitheconomicpressuregoesparentalpressure.Inevitably,thetwoaredeeplyintegrated.

　　Poorstudents!Theyarecaughtinoneoftheoldestwebsofloveanddutyandguilt.Theparentsmeanwell:theyaretryingtosteertheirsonsanddaughterstowardasecurefuture.Butthesonsanddaughterswanttomajorinhistoryorclassicsorphilosophy—subjectswithno“practical”value.Where’sthepayoffonthehumanities?It’snoteasytopersuadesuchlovingparentsthatthehumanitiesdoindeedpayoff.Theintellectualfacultiesdevelopedbystudyingsubjectslikehistoryandclassicsarejustthefacultiesthatmakecreativeleadersinbusinessoralmostanygeneralfield.

　　Luckilyforme,mostofthemgotintotheirfieldbyanindirectroute,totheirsurprise,aftermanyroundaboutways.Theycanhardlyconceiveofacareerthatwasnotpreplanned.TheycanhardlyimagineallowingthehandofGodorchancetonudgethemdownsomeunforeseentrail.