If you are reading this article, you are more than likely a college student attending The University of Akron. Though you may have had to work hard to get here and overcome adversity along the way, you should still consider yourself lucky to be here. We all should.

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If you are reading this article, you are more than likely a college student attending The University of Akron. Though you may have had to work hard to get here and overcome adversity along the way, you should still consider yourself lucky to be here. We all should.

The United States is arguably one of the most open societies in the world where everyone is given every possible chance to achieve higher education. High school graduates, drop outs, GED students and adults are all afforded numerous chances to attend universities, just as long as they are willing to put forth the effort and dedication (and often money)to do so. In most of the world, this is not the case; your effort and dedication come second to competition with others.

In countries like China, where the population dwarfs that of the United States, the cut-throat competition is easily noticed. China’s yearly entrance exams have the power to literally change a student’s life and destiny on the basis of just a few points.

Unlike here in the United States, you may not get a second chance, let alone unlimited chances. The anxiety and struggle that international students are faced with should raise a question: are we taking what we have for granted?

The sad fact is yes we are. The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems  Information Center indicates that the college graduation rate for American students is 55.9 percent. This means for every 100 new freshman entering college in 2011, only 56 will actually graduate with a degree. The other 44 simply give up.

The United States is currently undergoing a crisis in education for which we are all responsible. We have fallen behind in nearly every field, and Americans at large have lost their motivation to seek and stick with higher education.

We are all afforded the best opportunities and we must take advantage of every single one. We must strive to be the best at everything we do and in every part of our lives.

Whatever path you’ve taken to get here, be proud of the fact that you are here. College may be only a small percentage of our lives, but it is one of the most important when it comes to shaping our future. Having the privilege of education in the U.S. means that we must also accept the responsibility of education. Be proud of who you are, be proud of being a university student and most importantly put forth your best effort.

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