Omar El Karhat Lucas Peters
English Composition 1301

October 12th, 2012

Insatiableness, Materialism and Boastfulness
“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” Jesus The Christ, A study of the messiah (1915)

The idea that wealth and happy lifestyle coexist, mainly, among Moroccan AUI students is really widespread. This knowledge has affected the thoughts, behaviors and the perspectives of AUI students when the majority of them had become more materialistic and snobs rather than being realistic and spiritual, nowadays. Of course, most students from our university come from rich and wealthy families regarding the expensiveness of the tuitions. Thus, they do not care about how hard parents are working for their sake. Their affluence has made their lives comfortable, indeed, nevertheless, what is this wealth really costing parents of AUI’s students- especially AUI learners? Moroccan Capitalism begun to appear in late 60s and the political system reformed and encouraged more the economical trades and ownerships. The idea of wealth grew out of the capitalism concept which is according to Comp² “Our Wealth: Where it is Taking Us?”, “capitalism is a largely system based on consumerism.”

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The principle goal of investors that invest in AUI College, such as Sodexo and Newrest serving meals, is to produce many goods and services as, I think it would be better to describe its prices as “cheaxpensive” (which is the mixture between not too cheap but expensive,) as possible and have these products purchased on a continual basis. AUI University is, actually, an unaffordable college for most of Moroccan citizens. Some of the parents are really battling and striving day after day to get money in order to pay their son’s tuitions. Even worse, there are some of the parents that enable themselves to have a loan from the bank in order to pay college for their sons. Indeed, putting a big amount of money each semester for one’s kid is not an easy task. However, some of the AUI students –because of materialism- do not care about the endeavor done by the parents hoping for their kids to earn a better degree. But what really wealth is costing to AUI students? We are living in a century full of natural –especially economic turmoil and crises. According to the book Comp² in the essay wrote by the student Henry Veldoom, “it is not the case that children are getting caught in marketing set for adult; rather, kids are being targeted.” By replacing here kids by teenagers AUI students, it becomes truer. To illustrate that, corporations and entities targeting AUI campus –therefore targeting AUI students- have a great concern about this wealthy community because they are the ones that have less ability to hinder themselves from expanding goods and services even if the prices are unsuitable.

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Do Sodexo and Newrest corporations and AUI administration share the responsibility to properly use wealth of AUI students’ families and direct the economy of the University and their bank accounts? I think, yes they certainly do. Nevertheless, individuals (each AUI student) must as well examine and rethink about their own financial management accountability. The effects of intensive consumerism in AUI campus on AUI undergraduates students in Morocco are exhibited in a wide range not only of financial problems but also of health troubles. “At first glance, the relationship between consumerism and children’s heath may appear to be coincidental. However, much research shows a direct link between marketing to children and their health.” Henry, Veldboom. “Our Wealth: Where is It Taking Us?” Comp². This phenomenon that Mr. Henry spoke about has proved its existence during these previous semesters in Al Akhawayn University. To simplify that, students of AUI could be categorized into three main types where the first type might be seen everywhere that are extremely critical. Aditionnaly, they could be often trouble makers and pain to be around when it comes to discussing some ideas with them that are, most of the time, about other people. Those losers –as I call them- are merely seen as haters. Furthermore, the majority of students belonging to this characteristic kind are freaks and geeks.

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The second type, I think, is the Marlboro-Mercedes ones. Those ones are really indoctrinated by this concept of materialism, which has become a big issue nowadays because of globalization. Sometimes when I see a fancy car with a –simple- human being inside, - I personally claim that an important number of Moroccan families are struggling to cope with college costs and it really is not an easy task. Even worse, the thing that make begetters sad about their students in AUI, is that their AUI kids do not see oversees towards their future, degrees of knowledge and social class in their future own society. In contrast, they would willingly make sure to have the most conspicuous things and items such are driving fancy fictional cars, wearing white gold bracelets and hanging out with super sexy girlfriends. Overall, being materialistic is not that defective, however, it could have some egregious consequences on not only mental health of apprentices but also their capability to succeed in their academic career. How others see you is not so important. How you see yourself means everything because seeing inwardly makes one enlightened and able to locate himself –defining precisely- your mission on earth. In my point of view, as an AUI student, I don’t give much attention to what other AUI students think of me. At least, mosquitos find me attractive.

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Works-Cited Eds: Vander Mey, Rendell, et al. Comp² Wadsworth: Boston, 2013.Print.

Veldboom, Henry. "Our Wealth: Where Is It Taking Us?" Wadsworth. Eds: Vander Mey, Rendell, Et Al. Comp² Wadsworth: Boston, 2013.Print., n.d. Web. 2010. .

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