Creating an allegory of the college may seem abstract at first, but the comparison is fairly easy.

After reflecting on my first semester, I relate Platos Allegory of the Cave to the journey an upcoming freshman in college makes upon transitioning from high school to college. College freshmen are generally very impressionable and often rely on perception and feeling rather than intelligent thinking and knowledge, which is why I relate the two topics through the different characters and elements of the story. First, the dark cave is relatable to the outside perceptions of college that one hears in high school and leading up to college. For me, I was told college was fun and mainly about the social aspect. At this point, a freshman doesnt know enough to form his or her own opinion, so he or she is relying on the impressions, the shadows, of others. Some people may tell you that school is more difficult, while others may tell you that you can slack off and still make decent grades (Cs get degrees). However, these interpretations are solely based off senses and perceptions of others. Next, the chained people represent college freshmen upon arriving on campus. The first week we are fed information and recommended to join different organizations without really knowing much about the campus. We are fed these ideas in the form of shadows because we may be familiar with certain programs and classes, but not completely educated. Freshmen are held down by the chains of youth, inexperience, and ignorance, but can break these chains with experience and maturity over time. I relate the wall and fire to the temptation and freedom that college presents, as this often proves to be a hindrance to college success. Temptations of parties, alcohol, and drugs may fill one with illusions of grandeur and fun, blocking one from being

successful academically and individual achievement. Overcoming this temptation is being able to fully enjoy college by having fun socially and achieving in the classroom. Thus, enlightened students reach the outside world by hard work and commitment to academics and intelligence. Just as Plato was a proponent of intelligence, college is a time where intelligence should overrule impulses of temptation. There are times to have fun and go out, but there are also times to stay in and study. In my experience so far, I have found that preparation, and lack of preparation, are very noticeable in schoolwork. Ive also learned that some people never climb the wall of temptation and dont succeed in the outside world; people have to figure out the way to success on their own. College is a time for one to stop leading by perception and start leading by intelligence; when a student successfully does this, he or she is maximizing his or her college experience and is able to see the outside world.