Other ways the Society discourages college

by TJ - iAmCleared2Land 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  TJ - iAmCleared2Land

  As my daughter prepares for college, I'm discovering other subtle ways the Society discourages college... beyond the "don't go" messages.

  As students apply for college and scholarships, the schools like to see:

  • Volunteer time with community involvement
  • Leadership activities by involvement in school clubs and civic organizations
  • Job experience
  • Sports involvement

  In all of these areas, my daughters are facing handicaps. For each of the above, the Society discourages Witness involvement:

  • Volunteer time should be spent in the ministry, not in community activities. Volunteering for social organizations like Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, hospital volunteering, etc., is viewed as supporting a dying cause--we should use our time to teach people the permanent solution, God's Kingdom.
  • Need I say more on leadership activities? Students are discouraged from any extra-curricular or student leadership / student body activities.
  • Summers should be spent pioneering or working where the need is great--our girls didn't get summer jobs.
  • Sports?! LOL. This has affected not only their application to college, but also their health. They are overweight and don't understand team dynamics very well, tending to be solitary individuals.

  Just makes me sad, and mad, and I needed to vent... we're trying our best to get them in on academic merit.
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  daniel-p

  I understand your predicament. I had all those disadvantages as well, but excelled in college nonetheless. Will they be first generation college students? If so, that's a huge plus, and they'll take that into consideration. The fact is, most colleges want those kids who come from different kind of backgrounds than the mainstream middle-middle-upper class.
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  snowbird

  Just makes me sad, and mad, and I needed to vent... we're trying our best to get them in on academic merit.

  I feel you, Bro.

  My daughter participated in the I-B Programme where she was forced to become involved in community activities. The coordinator explained beforehand that going d2d was not considered a bonafide community activity. Yay!

  My daughter balked at the time, but is now doing very well in her college classes. I believe your daughters will do well, also. College really broadens their minds; I can already the shackles of the WT loosening its hold on her.

  Sylvia
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  TJ - iAmCleared2Land

  Daniel, yes, they are first generation college in our family--nobody in the past 3 or 4 generations has gone.

  Sylvia, we're confident, too. The oldest scored VERY well on her SAT's; 2320 out of 2400. She made National Merit Semifinalist, and if she's selected as a Finalist in February, she should be able to get a full ride. (fingers-crossed)

  It's just that filling out these applications really made me realize how little they've been able to experience.
• 

  snowbird

  Sylvia, we're confident, too. The oldest scored VERY well on her SAT's; 2320 out of 2400. She made National Merit Semifinalist, and if she's selected as a Finalist in February, she should be able to get a full ride. (fingers-crossed)

  Wow! That is impressive.

  My daughter scored high on the SAT and ACT. She was a National Merit Scholar and #2 in her graduating class; she got a full scholarship - the highest the university offered - and is doing well. In fact, she will be graduating early due to taking so man advanced courses in high school.

  I'm happy for your girls. The WT should be ashamed of itself for discouraging kids from seeking higher education.

  Sylvia
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  LovesDubs

  My JW sister in law and her JW husband have been raising their FIVE kids as JWs and at least two of them are at this time baptized. They have been home schooled. They have both always done JWish jobs like Mary Kay and car detailing. None of the kids have ever even seen a dentist. The second childs teeth at 18 are so bad he wont smile....ever. They have filed bankruptcy TWICE already and their house has been on the verge of foreclosure several times. The oldest kid is now 21 years old. He is socially very backwards and food has become his friend. He is at least 6'6" and must weight at least 350. He is working with his father doing car detailing and when he isnt doing that he is eating or playing video games. He and my 20 year old son, his cousin, used to be good friends but I got out when my son was 9 and my son was in public schools and involved in baseball and basketball as he grew up and once the cousin got baptized...he moved away from my son and told him he was "bad association". geeeez. The second son is 18 now and is an INCREDIBLY talented artist. And yet he is sitting at home and also in "the family business". This year because money became desperate...mom finally got a job outside the house, dumped the Mary Kay thing and put her remaining three kids in public school. Can you imagine how those kids are struggling with that completely foreign atmosphere? It just breaks my heart.... But they shun me and they shun their own mother/grandmother because we are "evil"?

  The kids dont aspire to do anything when they grow up...what is there to aspire to when you are so stuck and so pushed down your whole life?
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  snowbird

  That is so heartbreakingly sad, LovesDubs.

  Yet, I've seen it happen again and again.

  Sylvia