Mark Edmundson's Essay 'Who Are You Doing Here'

Students enroll in college every year confused on how to go about the whole college thing. They’re not sure what major to choose, what classes they should take, and how to get their money’s worth. Mark Edmundson’s article “Who are You and What are you doing here” is an article meant for incoming freshmen college students who still haven’t figured out who they are yet and what they want to do. Throughout his article Edmundson is questioning what college is all about. He persuades us that college is about fulfilling yourself. Learning what you want to learn, getting the education you want and to follow your interests.
He begins the article very bluntly by stating that hard work, good grades, and listening to your teachers isn’t going to magically

Their biggest fear are lawsuits, bad publicity and dissatisfying their students. Teachers are too afraid to confront students of cheating or bad behavior. They fear kicking students out of college. Teachers fear putting their own perspective on their teaching because they do not want to get sued.
The article then begins to turn and talk about self-realization. He says priest, teachers, family, and friends tell us who we are and who we should be. They tell us what is right and wrong, and we just go along on what he has to say. He tells us how much he admires Sigmund Freud and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson has shown him the way of self-realization and learning to trust himself, even if nobody agrees. Freud has inspired him by taking his own insights and interpretations and putting them out in the world.
Edmundson then brings up his father again. He tell us about the talk they had during dinner. His dad persuades him to put his own knowledge and thoughts onto the concepts he was learning. Ask the professors questions to get insight on what you are learning. If you don’t agree argue with your professors, give them your thoughts and your feelings. Instead of agreeing with philosophers become your own philosopher. Edmundson’s father persuades us to trust