Gen Eds

As a requirement for my major (Biological Anthropology), I must take the course ANTH 45, Cultural Anthropology. With the intent of studying the more general-science-oriented version of anthropology, I was not expecting to apply much of what I learned in this class to my studies or, frankly, to my everyday life. However, over the course of the last few weeks, I have had a revelation about how much this topic has actually impacted all of my past knowledge.

Those of you who read my post entitled “Travel” a few weeks ago understand my opinions on how studying abroad and seeing the world enlighten a person and given a whole new dimension to life for those individuals. Well, this class has provided me with an even further breadth to my knowledge and understanding of others, without me even realizing that it was happening!

So far, this course has taught me to have a different outlook on mundane topics like learning, race, religion, gender, and more. I now feel that I can be more understanding of others and a better communicator of issues that take precedence in our lives today. I have realized how incredibly stupid so many aspects of our lives in the United States are and how important we think they are, when in reality they are only concepts invented in our minds in order to keep group solidarity in our nation. Had I never taken this course, I never would have discovered these things, formed new opinions about government and society, nor would I have achieved such a sense of connection to other humans of the world.

In revelation, I told my boyfriend (who I definitely don’t think has a strong conception of how others’ lives are so different from his and could benefit greatly from the influx of knowledge he would gain from ANTH 45) to take this course because he needs three more GS credits in order to graduate, and this course would be a great fit for him. But all I got was a curt response, expressing that he did not think any course not directly involved in his major was worth the time taking.

I told him he was crazy. If he went through his entire college career only taking courses in engineering or the like, what advantage would he have over other engineers entering the same field? The purpose of taking general education courses is to provide students with a broad range of knowledge in order to make them well-rounded and prepared for almost anything they may experience within their future careers and just in life in general. If this was not a necessary thing, then Penn State and all other schools and universities across the nation probably would have ditched the idea by now, but they haven’t.

It is incredibly important to expand your knowledge base while here at Penn State, and so I charge you all to do so to your full capacity. If you have the opportunity to take ANTH 45, I highly recommend it. Otherwise, take a class on a random topic that you have interest in, it will definitely be worth it in the long run.