Apathy on College Campuses

We live in a world where we expect everything to be handed to us, earning nothing. Today's rising youth and college students are overwhelmed with the idea that a person does not have to work to earn what they want or desire. What causes this lack of motivation or apathy in today's society?

Apathy is defined as the lack of passion or emotion for something; whereas, motivation is defined as the incentive to do something. Why do we have such a hard time finding passion or incentive? It is so easy for anyone to ignore their responsibilities and procrastinate. Perhaps our responsibilities are just too boring and America has become the land of the lazy. The ideal job has become that of a desk job, and we still wonder why we gain weight.

The lack of apathy in America starts with the generations still in school. Since the invention of the Internet and cell phones, our generations have sought a quick way out of everything. We always want the easy way out. Staples commercials are one example of this with their "easy button." The media, internet and other influences have taught today's rising generations that it's okay to be lazy and lack motivation. We want everything for free when we should be earning it.

Cheating has become a bigger problem in schools since cell phones and the Internet became popular. Kids prefer to cheat their way through school instead of earning their diplomas.

According to a study done by Caveon, an organization created to stop cheating in academia, 85% of college students believe it's necessary to cheat to get ahead in academia, 70% have cheated on an exam, and 45% admitted to collaborating inappropriately on written work. These statistics, taken in nine universities, are part of an increase in a cheating trend, stemming from the foundation of apathy.

Even the use of Wikipedia for research is laziness. It's too easy to go to Wikipedia for a quick answer. Students have also abandoned libraries to do their research online. However, many students have been caught plagiarizing using online research by copying and pasting. The only time many students go to the library to research now is when the teacher requires book research.

Students have also found it unnecessary to attend classes on a daily basis. After the first day of school, students do not feel it's required to go to class every day. The lack of attendance is consistent with the lack of motivation to go to class. Students end up burning out or getting tired of the daily routine.

According to Christopher Payette, a Shepherd student, "Students tend to skip class when they feel they will be getting more from skipping than from going to class, like skipping to finish a paper, or skipping to go hang out with friends and relieve stress." Once in a while a day off is necessary, but when does it become too much?

What causes students to skip class or to turn in assignments late or not at all? There are many factors associated with this. Many students on campus have jobs. Whether it is an on-campus job or an off-campus job, these students have a hard time making it to class or completing assignments because of these jobs. We are poor college students who feel that making money is essential for paying for college. Many students choose to go to work instead of going to class, especially if they could lose their jobs over it. Most jobs are not flexible with hours students are available to work. Deadlines are hard to meet when a student has to work, as well as finish homework.

Sleep deprivation is another major factor of the apathy of students. Jobs can lead to the loss of sleep as well as many other factors. Students often stay up too late doing homework, working, partying, hanging out with friends, or other various activities. Going to class becomes much more difficult when sleep deprived. The will to attend class disappears and the ability to think becomes non-existent. A person needs approximately eight hours of sleep per night in order to properly function throughout the day. Most college students do not acquire eight hours. On average, a student will receive 6 hours a night if they are lucky. Late night assignments, stress, jobs, friends, and distractions in general can prevent one from getting enough sleep.

Alcohol and drugs can also affect a student's ability to think and attend classes. Homework becomes tougher to complete and sleep becomes harder as well. While partying may be fun in a short term sense, in the long-term, it can ruin GPA's and a student's chances of having an opportunity to have a decent job upon graduation. Many people make it a habit to purchase alcohol or drugs on a regular basis because they believe it's necessary. Once stressed, the use of stimulants becomes a tough habit to break.

Depression, stress, and anxiety can also factor into the apathy on campus. Stress and anxiety can lead to depression, sometimes resulting in a complete lack of motivation. Many factors in our lives can also lead to depression because they cause us stress and anxiety. Even teachers giving us too much homework can lead to depression because we cannot have time off to relieve stress.

"Sometimes I find it hard just to find motivation to get out of bed in the morning due to the stress and depression I'm facing," says one Shepherd student who wishes to remain anonymous.

TV, video games, and many other forms of entertainment also create a distraction. They prevent a student from completing responsibilities. We become so absorbed in entertainment that we forget what is important. Many students, especially in the Fireside Bistro, will become so absorbed in a game such as "Magic the Gathering" that they will completely lose track of time or forego class altogether. We let ourselves become immersed in distractions and completely lose motivation to perform our responsibilities. We will even spend hours at a time playing video games or watching a movie instead of getting our homework done. We procrastinate with everything.