The Miseducation of the College Student
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Posted By: Ladel Lewis on August 02, 2017 The Miseducation of the College Student "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today" - Malcom X That quote used to resound over the loud speaker after the morning announcements during my high school years. Wise words. Many interpreted that as "Going to college and getting a degree will unlock endless opportunities and afford me a life that my Baby Boomer parents only dreamed of." Being a first generation college graduate was about to put me on the fast track to success. But as I received those degrees, it became apparent that I was foreign to the "education" Brother Malcom spoke about. Looking at student loan debt pile up and job rejection letters being dealt to me like a bad hand of cards, I noticed that tomorrow didn't belong to me. Was my passport incomplete? Or was it invalid? Revoked even? Being young, educated and black, I was supposed to be able to write my own ticket. Maybe my pen has invisible ink. Let me explain. The more I did as my late grandmother used to say and "Kept on living," the more I noticed the disconnect. It wasn't the lack of a STEM major or a low GPA, but it was a lack of social capital. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 80% of jobs are found through social capital. Yes, knowing the right people in the right places to help you out. You know, not the hand out but that firm hand up that many of our white and third and fourth generation college graduates enjoy. In the age of the "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" mentality, my blue collar parents were not privy to these types of connections. Nor did they fully understand the importance of them. They came along on the tail end of the civil rights era when many agencies and corporations were hiring them directly off the street with minimum education, sustainable wages and generous pensions. To their dismay, their offspring, highly educated Generation X'ers and Millennials , must tap into these financial reserves in order to live. What can we do to level this playing field and get in the game? How can those with little to no social connects tap into the network of possibility? Here are some of my recommendations: 1) Acknowledge you can not do it alone. The only person that claimed to be a self made man was Mr. Johnathan Hart (from the 80's television series Hart to Hart). If you're not him, you need people along this journey. 2) As you select a college to attend, check out their alumni network and the department you may want to study in. Do they have an active alumni group? But most importantly, when people graduate with a degree from this department, what do they do and where do they go? More often than not, you will end up in a similar occupation 3) Join social clubs and volunteer. College as well as your post collegiate career is about the connections you make. The person you meet In the "you fill in the blank club" or "volunteering" may be very instrumental in introducing and referring you to an opportunity than you trying to "man the ship" yourself. Somehow your resume may make it to the top of the pile. Moreover, volunteering (yeah, free services) puts you in the presence of high profile people that you ordinarily wouldn't be around or meet on the job. You may not share occupations, but you all meet because of shared similar passions. 4) Be approachable. Smile. No matter how many organizations you join, no one wants to approach a sour puss. Remember, "relationships reap rewards." 5) Take webinars/workshops on relationship building such as my free teleconference/webinar on Conversations Tactics. These webinars will definitely equip you with the tools to compliment your educational passport and to come out a WINNER. A native of Flint, Michigan, Dr. Ladel Lewis is a Senior Research Strategist and an Engagement Guru in the Washington DC Metropolitan area. You may reach her at ladel_lewis@yahoo.com If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Ladel Lewis
Research Associate, Western Michigan University Western Michigan Univ class of 2012 Member Since October 2006 |
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