Defining your own path…

I constantly hear students say, “ugh, I have to finish my degree in four years; so I am doing this major because it allows me to graduate faster.” Or I hear, “my parents want me to major in this because I can get a job after graduation.” Even worse I hear students really being hard on themselves when their grades aren’t as “good as they were in high school.”

My goal in this post is to tell you a few things:

1. College is not high school. The level of coursework, your academic load, and expectations are completely different. Professors have different expectations than your high school teachers. The coursework itself is much more difficult and requires more critical and analytical thinking and stronger communication and writing skills. You might have a class of 500 where you may just be a number versus in high school where your teacher knew who you were and how you tick. High school was the launching off point for you. And unfortunately, some students have stronger access to college prep than others. Conversely, for you as a student, you may not have had that access. I know I didn’t. I had to go to community college for 3 years just to take classes that would transfer to university.
2. No college student is the same therefore how can every student fit into the standard four year college experience? It is impossible. I get the fact that college is pricey and the sooner you finish the better. I get that, in fact, I totally understand that. College is an expensive investment. But that is just it. It is an investment in you. Students should really take charge of their college years and make them what they want it to be. You only have this small moment in time to really explore and do things you like. It took me 7 years to graduate with my undergrad degree. I’ve said in previous postings I had a “thorough” university experience. In those 7 years, there were still things I didn’t get to experience. Like study abroad, for instance. I know what your thinking as soon as you read that, “I can’t afford a study abroad.” I thought the same, hence, I never went. But you know what, you can afford it. College institutions have scholarships for study abroad. There are certain programs that are geared towards underrepresented students, first gen students, graduate students, etc. I never knew that. If you are reading this, and you want to do something like that– RESEARCH what is out there. Go to your Study Abroad office, scholarship office, advisor and ask them, nay tell them: “I want to do a study abroad, where do I start?” It is as easy as that. Do it.
3. Parents, we love them don’t we? They mean well, or at least, I have to think they mean well. But often times, they aren’t realizing the pressure they put on you, to be something you’re not. I had a parent tell me once, “I read an article on Yahoo that said Liberal Arts students aren’t getting jobs and my son is in liberal arts. Change his mind.” After I stared long and hard at this misguided parent, I proceeded to tell them I have a Liberal Arts degree and I have a job. Parents don’t realize that job markets are changing. Yeah there are some difficulty in describing some degrees, but that is one clarifying answer during your job interview. Major in what you want to major in. It is much, much, much easier and efficient for you to major in something you are strong in and enjoy versus majoring in something you hate.

Okay, I think I am done. I will get off my soap box now. If you only read one line of this blog, read this:
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ACADEMIC AND CAREER PATHWAY, DO IT ON YOUR TIME AND IN YOUR TERMS. THIS IS YOUR INVESTMENT–MAKE IT ABOUT YOU.

 

Finding your mentor…

By now, depending on where you are at in your education you have probably been around campus enough to know certain people. You know the custodians that tell you hello every morning as you stop and get that much needed cup of coffee. Or you have your advisor that requires you to speak with them before you register every quarter or semester for classes. Or maybe you met a senior student who was taking a first or second year class just to get that elective credit. Or perhaps you are getting ready to graduate and you’ve seen your career counselor more times than you’ve gone home to see your parents. Out of all those people that you see on the day to day, pick one of them or pick a couple of them and ask yourself, “what have I learned from them?” What have they taught me about myself, that perhaps I didn’t know?”

“What is a teacher? I’ll tell you: it isn’t someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows.” Paulo Coelho, The Witch of Portobello

Seek out someone that you can call a mentor. Mentoring can be formal or informal. For myself, I have a couple of mentors. First, my colleague, who I have not only learned how to be better at my profession, but I’ve learned how to be more patient, how to be a good friend, and more importantly what it means to be a lady as I never had that guidance growing up from a female figure. Another mentor I have is a professor that stands up for what they believe in. This individual doesn’t just teach what is written in a book. They teach and have taught me to think outside of standardized education–that education isn’t just reading a book and memorizing the text, which goes against everything I had been taught in not only my K-12 schooling but my undergraduate work as well. Finally, this individual has challenged me in ways that I had never been challenged before. And while I must admit in the moment, I was totally against this “new way of teaching” I did learn that I was very lucky I had someone so willing to push me and get through my stubborn thick headed-ness.

The point of all of this: find people that you can learn from. That are going to challenge you to be better than you are in this exact moment in time. These individuals are going to stretch you to your limit and keep pushing you to go past that limit that you set for yourself. Find that person that you can go to for support. If you need to sit in someone’s office and have Cryfest or Ventfest 2014 than do so. These individuals will be there to listen and support no matter what you are saying. And they are people that aren’t going to agree with all that you say, they are going to be supportive enough to tell you things you may not want to hear. (Which from personal experience isn’t the funnest moment, but it is in those moments of you hearing what you don’t want to hear–where you learn the most.)

Be open and willing to open yourself up to someone. It will help you succeed in your first year, it will help you find your pathway in your sophomore year, they will give you the momentum to finish your junior year, and finally they will be there for you on graduation with support and pride as you finish your senior year…if you let them. Trust me, I would not be where I am if it weren’t for people that I let in.

Reduce Student Loans…

Sorry for the delay–was enjoying Spring Break. Which I hope everyone gets the opportunity to step away from their day to day to just enjoy not thinking. Anyways, in my triumphant return, I thought I would post this. REDUCE STAFFORD LOANS–the POTUSwiththemostest told us it was the right thing to do.
#POTUS #Loansuck

What is your education worth?

What is your education worth? Is it worth $25,00 or $50,000 or even $100,000? What is our obsession with putting a price tag on this investment? For some of us, myself included, it is an expensive investment. I am going to challenge you for a second to stop thinking in terms of what is my education or diploma worth. Start thinking in terms of what AM I WORTH? How much do I want to invest in myself.

Ultimately, your college degree will open many doors for you. That is a given. You are learning great skillsets that will help you throughout your professional and academic endeavors. However, it isn’t about just the things you are learning in the classroom. Your investment is in developing strengths and skills outside the classroom that compliment your classroom experience. Build relationships. Develop likes and learn your dislikes. And just spend your time learning new things while being open to new opportunities. Pave your pathway on the road that you want to be on. Do not let someone else’s academic experience dictate what your experience will be. INVEST IN YOURSELF, AND INVEST IN WHO YOU WANT TO BE AND WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

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A thought for the family…

So you know someone in college. Perhaps this person is your son, daughter, granddaughter, grandson, niece, nephew, cousin. They are going to college to get a good degree, which would lead to a better paying career–they have moved over. Over where? They have become “those” people, the ones that look down at you. Those white collar individuals who are too good to where blue.

For many individuals going to college, they face backlash or resentment or relationships with their support system because there is a fear that a significant change has happen. Well a significant change did happen. Your student got a degree, earned a chance at opportunities that may not have been afforded to them without it. That is what has changed.

For families with first gen students, it is important to remember that the student’s core and foundations haven’t changed. They are still the individuals that you love, care for, and want to see succeed. As a family or support system, you should speak to your student about what they are going through. Students speak to your families, explain to them about what is happening! Experience their new experiences with each other. Communication is key. The university experience is amazing, and it is more amazing when everyone can share in the experience.