An Analysis Of Walker Percy's 'Loss Of The Creature'

Before even crossing the threshold of their new found campus, a college student is bombarded with situations to test their will. Entrance exams, interviews, putting together a portfolio, and before even that, taking one of the most important tests of one 's life in the SATs. This assault is designed to determine the compatibility of a prospective student to their given program. However, as a side-effect, it also weeds out some of those students who aren 't committed. The ones who make it through are determined to take their educational success into their own hands. Walker Percy supports this ideology in his essay “Loss of The Creature” by consistently referencing his concept of “sovereignty.” Percy uses numerous examples of sightseers missing out on experiences by hiring a guide or going on a tour to emphasize the importance of taking hold of experiences for yourself. The tourists ' experiences were diminished because they surrendered what sovereignty they had over the situation to someone else. You can 't be a “tourist” in college; you have to be proactive and make the most of it for yourself.

Students need to be well versed in researching and a style of independent learning not often found in a high school setting. Many students will initially be lost in the new academic foundation that they are unwittingly thrust into without much introduction. As they try to get a steady foothold, the work is already starting to pile up, making the metaphorical mountain-side steeper and steeper. This method of transitioning students into a college setting isn 't working. In fact, the majority of students take longer than the projected finish-date to complete their degree. “About 59 percent of students who began seeking a bachelor 's degree at a 4-year institution in fall 2007 completed that degree within 6 years” says