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College Candy Making Success That Much Sweeter Essay

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As the saying goes, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” American college students of the 21st century have been forcefully subjected to highly competitive environments due to a multitude of external factors. As of late, the prescription drug, Adderall has become the drug of choice for ambitious college students, and has earned the title of being today’s college candy and academic steroid. First introduced and approved by the U.S. FDA, Adderall became the common treatment for those suffering from ADHD and narcolepsy. The drug is considered a schedule II stimulant, falling in the same category as cocaine and codeine due to its addictive nature (Tran). Nicknamed “addy” by college students, Adderall and its effects have been proven …show more content…

State budget cuts in California have resulted in class cuts at universities and colleges, decreasing the amount of available enrollment space for students. As a result, students are constantly struggling to register for classes, increasing their chances of retaining for a fifth year. Post-graduates are also further presented with complications, particularly in the job market. Findings show that only half of post-graduates will attain job positions in which will actually utilize their earned bachelor’s degrees. Graduate school has thus become increasingly more necessary than a high school diploma and bachelor’s degree, whereas years ago both seemed sufficient enough to maintain decent livings. As mentioned in the New York Times, “more than sixty percent of those who graduated in the last five years say they will need more formal education to be successful”(Rampell). Thus, college students in California are constantly seeking a competitive edge over their peers in order to keep up with such demands. Students, whom are the primary users, also hold different opinions regarding the issue. Essentially, the majority acceptance or disproval of such abusive behavior determines whether or not the issue is a big deal or not on campus. Students are more prone to trying things with the support of their peers.
So how may a student adapt to such overly competitive environments? Through

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