2008 Woodie Awards
Ignatian Corner: Intellectuals out of the classroom
Andrew McNamara
Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Features
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What does it mean to have intellect? I always thought intellect to be synonymous with intelligence.
However, intelligence is defined as our capacity for learning, while intellect is our faculty of thinking and acquiring knowledge. In other words, intelligence is our ability to learn and intellect is our willingness to learn.
Here at Saint Joseph's, we care as much about intelligence as we do about the desire to learn more and grow in knowledge. I know that in high school more emphasis is placed on grades. Good grades equals good college which equals good job which equals happiness.
News flash, people: Grades do not purely reflect intellect, nor do they guarantee success. If you only got a 3.0 in your first semester here but you took difficult classes, participated in community service, pursued leadership roles on campus, and discovered yourself along the way, you are a great student.
If your roommate scored a 3.5 and did nothing but drink, party, and hook up, that does not mean you are a worse student than your roommate. That means your roommate is a fool. Think about it this way-who do you think has greater value to society?
God calls each of us to use our individual talents and abilities to become an asset to society, to realize our vocations.
Maybe you feel like time is going by too fast and you do not know what you want to do with your life.
That's OK.
Even after a year of college, I feel like I am still discovering my talents and abilities and learning to accept my limitations as well. I find the best way to learn about yourself is through others.
Concentrate on someone else for a change and, surprisingly, you may discover yourself along the way.
As a freshman, I took a year-long service learning philosophy course. The goal of the course was to incorporate the material learned in class with a weekly visit to St. Columba's House in Philadelphia's inner city. St. Columba's is entry-level housing for the poor and homeless.
However, intelligence is defined as our capacity for learning, while intellect is our faculty of thinking and acquiring knowledge. In other words, intelligence is our ability to learn and intellect is our willingness to learn.
Here at Saint Joseph's, we care as much about intelligence as we do about the desire to learn more and grow in knowledge. I know that in high school more emphasis is placed on grades. Good grades equals good college which equals good job which equals happiness.
News flash, people: Grades do not purely reflect intellect, nor do they guarantee success. If you only got a 3.0 in your first semester here but you took difficult classes, participated in community service, pursued leadership roles on campus, and discovered yourself along the way, you are a great student.
If your roommate scored a 3.5 and did nothing but drink, party, and hook up, that does not mean you are a worse student than your roommate. That means your roommate is a fool. Think about it this way-who do you think has greater value to society?
God calls each of us to use our individual talents and abilities to become an asset to society, to realize our vocations.
Maybe you feel like time is going by too fast and you do not know what you want to do with your life.
That's OK.
Even after a year of college, I feel like I am still discovering my talents and abilities and learning to accept my limitations as well. I find the best way to learn about yourself is through others.
Concentrate on someone else for a change and, surprisingly, you may discover yourself along the way.
As a freshman, I took a year-long service learning philosophy course. The goal of the course was to incorporate the material learned in class with a weekly visit to St. Columba's House in Philadelphia's inner city. St. Columba's is entry-level housing for the poor and homeless.
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