This semester, I have been overloaded. Between a busy class schedule, an honors research project, a part-time job, applying for jobs (since I graduate in December) and I have homework on top of all that.
To say I’m busy would be an understatement.
Yet, I am still staying up until 2 a.m. to work on assignments for a mandatory gen-ed I neither care about nor feel I need: my secondary language requirement.
I’ve taken two semesters of an incredibly time-consuming language that I’ve barely used outside the classroom. While the instructors I’ve had have been wonderful, the classes themselves drag and take up a ridiculous amount of time.
Not to mention the ridiculous work load for a 200-level language course; three to four weekly lectures alongside homework and mandatory out-of-class events and tutoring sessions. My senior seminar where I had to write eight pages of creative work weekly took less effort.
I’m bored, I’m exhausted and I’m checked out. I’m just done.
I do not have the mental energy nor motivation to continue taking a class that has no relevance to my major or my desired career path. I’m not trying to be fluent when I graduate. I’m just doing this to get my diploma and get out, which I cannot wait to do.
I understand that this requirement is not uncommon in higher education, but if I’m having to spend hours stressing over how I’m going to pay my tuition and loans and still afford to eat, I feel I should get some more say in what my curriculum should look like.
Taking this many second language classes is mentally exhausting, time consuming, and frankly just not something I can do anymore.
As we transition under a new president who is devoted to creating a well-rounded liberal arts education experience for all students, let’s take a look back and tweak the secondary language requirement.
