edtechdev/chatbotfiles · Datasets at Fast360

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lives, and they are both connected to their families in ways that can influence their commitment to this pursuit.
What they don’t know just yet—because they haven’t started their classes—is that they will have even more in
common as they move through each term, focus on a major, and plan for life after graduation. And they have a

Access for free at openstax.org

1.1 • Why College?

lot in common with you as well because you are in a similar position—starting the next chapter of the rest of
your life.
In this chapter, you will first learn more about identifying the reason you are in college. This is an important
first step because knowing your why will keep you motivated. Next, the chapter will cover the transitions that
you may experience as a new college student. Then, the chapter will focus on how you can acclimate to the
culture and meeting the expectations—all of which will make the transition to a full-fledged college student
easier. Finally, the chapter will provide you with strategies for overcoming the challenges that you may face by
providing information about how to find and access resources.

1.1 Why College?
Estimated completion time: 22 minutes.
Questions to consider:
• Why are you in college?
• What are the rewards and value of a college degree?
• Why this course?
This chapter started with the profiles of two students, Reginald and Madison, but now we turn to who you are
and why you are in college. Starting this chapter with you, the student, seems to make perfect sense. Like
Reginald and Madison, you are probably full of emotions as you begin this journey toward a degree and the
fulfillment of a dream. Are you excited about meeting new people and finally getting to take classes that
interest you? Are you nervous about how you are going to handle your courses and all the other activities that
come along with being a college student? Are you thrilled to be making important decisions about your future?
Are you worried about making the right choice when deciding on a major or a career? All these thoughts, even
if contradictory at times, are normal. And you may be experiencing several of them at the same time.

7

8

1 • Exploring College

Figure 1.2 Decision-making about college and our future can be challenging, but with self-analysis and support, you can feel more
confident and make the best choices.

Why Are You in College?
We know that college is not mandatory—like kindergarten through 12th grade is—and it is not free. You have
made a choice to commit several years of hard work to earn a degree or credential. In some cases, you may
have had to work really hard to get here by getting good grades and test scores in high school and earning
money to pay for tuition and fees and other expenses. Now you have more at stake and a clearer path to
achieving your goals, but you still need to be able to answer the question.
To help answer this question, consider the following questioning technique called “The Five Whys” that was
originally created by Sakichi Toyoda, a Japanese inventor, whose strategy was used by the Toyota Motor
Company to find the underlying cause of a problem. While your decision to go to college is not a problem, the
exercise is helpful to uncover your underlying purpose for enrolling in college.
The process starts with a “Why” question that you want to know the answer to. Then, the next four “Why”
questions use a portion of the previous answer to help you dig further into the answer to the original
question. Here is an example of “The Five Whys,” with the first question as “Why are you in college?” The
answers and their connection to the next “Why” question have been underlined so you can see how the
process works.
While the example is one from a student who knows what she wants to major in, this process does not require
that you have a specific degree or career in mind. In fact, if you are undecided, then you can explore the “why”
of your indecision. Is it because you have lots of choices, or is it because you are not sure what you really want
out of college?

Access for free at openstax.org

1.1 • Why College?

The Five Whys in Action
Why are you in college?

I am in college to earn a degree in speech
pathology.

Why do you want to earn a degree in speech
pathology?

I want to be able to help people who have trouble
speaking.

Why do you want to help people who have trouble
speaking?

I believe that people who have trouble speaking
deserve a life they want.

Why do you feel it is important that people who
have trouble speaking deserve a life they want?

I feel they often have needs that are overlooked and
do not get treated equally.

Why do you want to use your voice to help these
people live a life they deserve?

I feel it is my purpose to help others achieve their
full potential despite having physical challenges.

Do you see how this student went beyond a standard answer about the degree that she wants to earn to
connecting her degree to an overall purpose that she has to help others in a specific way? Had she not been
instructed to delve a little deeper with each answer, it is likely that she would not have so quickly articulated
that deeper purpose. And that understanding of “why” you are in college—beyond the degree you want or the
job you envision after graduation—is key to staying motivated through what will most likely be some

lives, and they are both connected to their families in ways that can influence their commitment to this pursuit.

What they don’t know just yet—because they haven’t started their classes—is that they will have even more in

common as they move through each term, focus on a major, and plan for life after graduation. And they have a

Access for free at openstax.org

1.1 • Why College?

lot in common with you as well because you are in a similar position—starting the next chapter of the rest of

your life.

In this chapter, you will first learn more about identifying the reason you are in college. This is an important

first step because knowing your why will keep you motivated. Next, the chapter will cover the transitions that

you may experience as a new college student. Then, the chapter will focus on how you can acclimate to the

culture and meeting the expectations—all of which will make the transition to a full-fledged college student

easier. Finally, the chapter will provide you with strategies for overcoming the challenges that you may face by

providing information about how to find and access resources.

1.1 Why College?

Estimated completion time: 22 minutes.

Questions to consider:

• Why are you in college?

• What are the rewards and value of a college degree?

• Why this course?

This chapter started with the profiles of two students, Reginald and Madison, but now we turn to who you are

and why you are in college. Starting this chapter with you, the student, seems to make perfect sense. Like

Reginald and Madison, you are probably full of emotions as you begin this journey toward a degree and the

fulfillment of a dream. Are you excited about meeting new people and finally getting to take classes that

interest you? Are you nervous about how you are going to handle your courses and all the other activities that

come along with being a college student? Are you thrilled to be making important decisions about your future?

Are you worried about making the right choice when deciding on a major or a career? All these thoughts, even

if contradictory at times, are normal. And you may be experiencing several of them at the same time.

7

8

1 • Exploring College

Figure 1.2 Decision-making about college and our future can be challenging, but with self-analysis and support, you can feel more

confident and make the best choices.

Why Are You in College?

We know that college is not mandatory—like kindergarten through 12th grade is—and it is not free. You have

made a choice to commit several years of hard work to earn a degree or credential. In some cases, you may

have had to work really hard to get here by getting good grades and test scores in high school and earning

money to pay for tuition and fees and other expenses. Now you have more at stake and a clearer path to

achieving your goals, but you still need to be able to answer the question.

To help answer this question, consider the following questioning technique called “The Five Whys” that was

originally created by Sakichi Toyoda, a Japanese inventor, whose strategy was used by the Toyota Motor

Company to find the underlying cause of a problem. While your decision to go to college is not a problem, the

exercise is helpful to uncover your underlying purpose for enrolling in college.

The process starts with a “Why” question that you want to know the answer to. Then, the next four “Why”

questions use a portion of the previous answer to help you dig further into the answer to the original

question. Here is an example of “The Five Whys,” with the first question as “Why are you in college?” The

answers and their connection to the next “Why” question have been underlined so you can see how the

process works.

While the example is one from a student who knows what she wants to major in, this process does not require

that you have a specific degree or career in mind. In fact, if you are undecided, then you can explore the “why”

of your indecision. Is it because you have lots of choices, or is it because you are not sure what you really want

out of college?

Access for free at openstax.org

1.1 • Why College?

The Five Whys in Action

Why are you in college?

I am in college to earn a degree in speech

pathology.

Why do you want to earn a degree in speech

pathology?

I want to be able to help people who have trouble

speaking.

Why do you want to help people who have trouble

speaking?

I believe that people who have trouble speaking

deserve a life they want.

Why do you feel it is important that people who

have trouble speaking deserve a life they want?

I feel they often have needs that are overlooked and

do not get treated equally.

Why do you want to use your voice to help these

people live a life they deserve?

I feel it is my purpose to help others achieve their

full potential despite having physical challenges.

Do you see how this student went beyond a standard answer about the degree that she wants to earn to

connecting her degree to an overall purpose that she has to help others in a specific way? Had she not been

instructed to delve a little deeper with each answer, it is likely that she would not have so quickly articulated

that deeper purpose. And that understanding of “why” you are in college—beyond the degree you want or the

job you envision after graduation—is key to staying motivated through what will most likely be some