few of us really know how college works I know this from my own experience as a
I know this from my own experience as a
I know this from my own experience as a college student and now a college
college student and now a college
college student and now a college professor it seems that every job out
professor it seems that every job out
professor it seems that every job out there now requires a college diploma and
there now requires a college diploma and
there now requires a college diploma and we think the point of college is that
we think the point of college is that
we think the point of college is that piece of paper called a diploma so we
piece of paper called a diploma so we
piece of paper called a diploma so we have to go to college to get a job and
have to go to college to get a job and
have to go to college to get a job and we think that all we need to do while in
we think that all we need to do while in
we think that all we need to do while in college is raised to the finish line to
college is raised to the finish line to
college is raised to the finish line to get that diploma now I know about the
get that diploma now I know about the
get that diploma now I know about the rising cost of education I also know
rising cost of education I also know
rising cost of education I also know that many of us race through college to
that many of us race through college to
that many of us race through college to keep those costs to a minimum but and
keep those costs to a minimum but and
keep those costs to a minimum but and this is very important when all we do is
this is very important when all we do is
this is very important when all we do is race to the Diploma we lose out on what
race to the Diploma we lose out on what
race to the Diploma we lose out on what College has to offer and end up not even
College has to offer and end up not even
College has to offer and end up not even getting what we paid for an education
getting what we paid for an education
getting what we paid for an education now I am no exception in the race to the
now I am no exception in the race to the
now I am no exception in the race to the Diploma it’s exactly what I did when I
Diploma it’s exactly what I did when I
Diploma it’s exactly what I did when I went to college I went to college
went to college I went to college
went to college I went to college because that’s what I was supposed to do
because that’s what I was supposed to do
because that’s what I was supposed to do I took classes and met the requirements
I took classes and met the requirements
I took classes and met the requirements because that’s what I was supposed to do
because that’s what I was supposed to do
because that’s what I was supposed to do I earned a diploma because that’s what I
I earned a diploma because that’s what I
I earned a diploma because that’s what I was supposed to do the entire time I was
was supposed to do the entire time I was
was supposed to do the entire time I was convinced the point of it all was that
convinced the point of it all was that
convinced the point of it all was that college degree which would then just
college degree which would then just
college degree which would then just magically push open doors to really
magically push open doors to really
magically push open doors to really exciting and very well-paying
exciting and very well-paying
exciting and very well-paying opportunities I had no idea how college
opportunities I had no idea how college
opportunities I had no idea how college was supposed to work I was what experts
was supposed to work I was what experts
was supposed to work I was what experts in education call a non-traditional
in education call a non-traditional
in education call a non-traditional college student I was an immigrant from
college student I was an immigrant from
college student I was an immigrant from a working-class family I didn’t speak a
a working-class family I didn’t speak a
a working-class family I didn’t speak a word of English just six years before
word of English just six years before
word of English just six years before starting college and I graduated at the
starting college and I graduated at the
starting college and I graduated at the ripe old age of 28 for me not knowing
ripe old age of 28 for me not knowing
ripe old age of 28 for me not knowing how college worked meant that I studied
how college worked meant that I studied
how college worked meant that I studied for the test and forgot most of what I
for the test and forgot most of what I
for the test and forgot most of what I learned when the semester ended I just
learned when the semester ended I just
learned when the semester ended I just did when my professors told me and
did when my professors told me and
did when my professors told me and rarely showed initiative or asked
rarely showed initiative or asked
rarely showed initiative or asked questions about my classes I figured it
questions about my classes I figured it
questions about my classes I figured it would all become clear when the diploma
would all become clear when the diploma
would all become clear when the diploma landed on the wall
landed on the wall
landed on the wall and while my GPA and my diploma looked
and while my GPA and my diploma looked
and while my GPA and my diploma looked as if I had actually succeeded
as if I had actually succeeded
as if I had actually succeeded I failed my education in a really
I failed my education in a really
I failed my education in a really fundamental way I never saw my classes
fundamental way I never saw my classes
fundamental way I never saw my classes as opportunities I needed to take active
as opportunities I needed to take active
as opportunities I needed to take active advantage of instead I saw them as hoops
advantage of instead I saw them as hoops
advantage of instead I saw them as hoops I had to jump through before starting my
I had to jump through before starting my
I had to jump through before starting my career I saw them as obstacles between
career I saw them as obstacles between
career I saw them as obstacles between me and my future so I ended up paying
me and my future so I ended up paying
me and my future so I ended up paying for busy work instead of paying for an
for busy work instead of paying for an
for busy work instead of paying for an education as a result I still often feel
education as a result I still often feel
education as a result I still often feel like a strange sort of creature I’ve
like a strange sort of creature I’ve
like a strange sort of creature I’ve gone from not knowing the first thing
gone from not knowing the first thing
gone from not knowing the first thing about college and having to spend many
about college and having to spend many
about college and having to spend many postgraduate years figuring it out to
postgraduate years figuring it out to
postgraduate years figuring it out to teaching students who may be just as
teaching students who may be just as
teaching students who may be just as clueless as I was now looking at college
clueless as I was now looking at college
clueless as I was now looking at college college classes as obstacles is rather
college classes as obstacles is rather
college classes as obstacles is rather common for those of us from backgrounds
common for those of us from backgrounds
common for those of us from backgrounds where education isn’t a given we come to
where education isn’t a given we come to
where education isn’t a given we come to college but we’re not prepared for it
college but we’re not prepared for it
college but we’re not prepared for it and we don’t understand what people want
and we don’t understand what people want
and we don’t understand what people want from us we don’t feel entitled to
from us we don’t feel entitled to
from us we don’t feel entitled to college and were confused about the
college and were confused about the
college and were confused about the point of it all I was an immigrant who
point of it all I was an immigrant who
point of it all I was an immigrant who knew next to nothing about higher
knew next to nothing about higher
knew next to nothing about higher education and a first-generation college
education and a first-generation college
education and a first-generation college student who could not navigate college
student who could not navigate college
student who could not navigate college whose family could not help navigate
whose family could not help navigate
whose family could not help navigate college or even help me do so
college or even help me do so
college or even help me do so financially I didn’t know how to talk to
financially I didn’t know how to talk to
financially I didn’t know how to talk to my professors I didn’t know there was a
my professors I didn’t know there was a
my professors I didn’t know there was a difference between adjunct instructors
difference between adjunct instructors
difference between adjunct instructors and tenured professors I didn’t know why
and tenured professors I didn’t know why
and tenured professors I didn’t know why I had to take classes outside of my
I had to take classes outside of my
I had to take classes outside of my major sometimes I was even afraid to
major sometimes I was even afraid to
major sometimes I was even afraid to approach my professors I didn’t really
approach my professors I didn’t really
approach my professors I didn’t really see them as regular human beings to me
see them as regular human beings to me
see them as regular human beings to me there were people who had it all figured
there were people who had it all figured
there were people who had it all figured out there were the keepers of knowledge
out there were the keepers of knowledge
out there were the keepers of knowledge which I had no right to question I
which I had no right to question I
which I had no right to question I thought my job as a student was to pass
thought my job as a student was to pass
thought my job as a student was to pass my classes and let the Diploma do the
my classes and let the Diploma do the
my classes and let the Diploma do the rest now in the face of it and I’d be
rest now in the face of it and I’d be
rest now in the face of it and I’d be the first to admit it
the first to admit it
the first to admit it College works in mysterious the
College works in mysterious the
College works in mysterious the bureaucratic ways there are also many
bureaucratic ways there are also many
bureaucratic ways there are also many different ways to make sense
different ways to make sense
different ways to make sense of what it offers one thing however is
of what it offers one thing however is
of what it offers one thing however is absolutely certain diplomas are less
absolutely certain diplomas are less
absolutely certain diplomas are less important than what they stand for they
important than what they stand for they
important than what they stand for they are less important than the knowledge
are less important than the knowledge
are less important than the knowledge skills and experience we gain as we work
skills and experience we gain as we work
skills and experience we gain as we work to earn them so today I’d like to offer
to earn them so today I’d like to offer
to earn them so today I’d like to offer 10 tips for how to make the most out of
10 tips for how to make the most out of
10 tips for how to make the most out of college 10 equally important tips to
college 10 equally important tips to
college 10 equally important tips to help ensure that when diplomas land on
help ensure that when diplomas land on
help ensure that when diplomas land on your walls they actually stand for the
your walls they actually stand for the
your walls they actually stand for the new things you learn and the old things
new things you learn and the old things
new things you learn and the old things you learned to do better 1 don’t sign up
you learned to do better 1 don’t sign up
you learned to do better 1 don’t sign up for classes because you’ve heard they’re
for classes because you’ve heard they’re
for classes because you’ve heard they’re easy stay away from easy classes if you
easy stay away from easy classes if you
easy stay away from easy classes if you see them coming run the other way if you
see them coming run the other way if you
see them coming run the other way if you think you’re a terrible writer take
think you’re a terrible writer take
think you’re a terrible writer take classes where you have to write all the
classes where you have to write all the
classes where you have to write all the time if you’re afraid of public speaking
time if you’re afraid of public speaking
time if you’re afraid of public speaking take Speech and Debate classes if you
take Speech and Debate classes if you
take Speech and Debate classes if you can’t make sense of statistical data
can’t make sense of statistical data
can’t make sense of statistical data take a math class take the fool take the
take a math class take the fool take the
take a math class take the fool take the fullest possible advantage of every
fullest possible advantage of every
fullest possible advantage of every single class to improve yourself and
single class to improve yourself and
single class to improve yourself and your skills even when you don’t see how
your skills even when you don’t see how
your skills even when you don’t see how these classes are related to anything
these classes are related to anything
these classes are related to anything you’re doing right now a lot of what we
you’re doing right now a lot of what we
you’re doing right now a lot of what we learn in college becomes obvious only
learn in college becomes obvious only
learn in college becomes obvious only much later in our careers and on a
much later in our careers and on a
much later in our careers and on a second related point learn to think
second related point learn to think
second related point learn to think critically solve complex problems and
critically solve complex problems and
critically solve complex problems and design solutions study to become a
design solutions study to become a
design solutions study to become a professional adult employers aren’t
professional adult employers aren’t
professional adult employers aren’t looking for job robots to mechanically
looking for job robots to mechanically
looking for job robots to mechanically perform assigned tasks they need
perform assigned tasks they need
perform assigned tasks they need creative and innovative people who work
creative and innovative people who work
creative and innovative people who work as part of the team 3 learn how to learn
as part of the team 3 learn how to learn
as part of the team 3 learn how to learn take classes that will teach you how to
take classes that will teach you how to
take classes that will teach you how to absorb and manage new information it’s a
absorb and manage new information it’s a
absorb and manage new information it’s a surprise for us for those of us who
surprise for us for those of us who
surprise for us for those of us who think diplomas get jobs but the
think diplomas get jobs but the
think diplomas get jobs but the knowledge and skills we develop are
knowledge and skills we develop are
knowledge and skills we develop are usually more important than what we
usually more important than what we
usually more important than what we major in now there are some pre
major in now there are some pre
major in now there are some pre professional majors where decision
professional majors where decision
professional majors where decision necessarily the case but statistics show
necessarily the case but statistics show
necessarily the case but statistics show that generally speaking there’s not much
that generally speaking there’s not much
that generally speaking there’s not much connection between your majors and the
connection between your majors and the
connection between your majors and the various jobs you will have over the
various jobs you will have over the
various jobs you will have over the course of your careers for get to know
course of your careers for get to know
course of your careers for get to know your peers and your professors these
your peers and your professors these
your peers and your professors these don’t have to be people on your majors
don’t have to be people on your majors
don’t have to be people on your majors find those who are willing to listen and
find those who are willing to listen and
find those who are willing to listen and understand what you’re going through
understand what you’re going through
understand what you’re going through fyz connect with faculty mentors don’t
fyz connect with faculty mentors don’t
fyz connect with faculty mentors don’t wait for someone to be assigned to you
wait for someone to be assigned to you
wait for someone to be assigned to you seek out professors whose teaching and
seek out professors whose teaching and
seek out professors whose teaching and personalities inspire you chances are
personalities inspire you chances are
personalities inspire you chances are you will end up with more than one
you will end up with more than one
you will end up with more than one mentor and their combined advice will
mentor and their combined advice will
mentor and their combined advice will help guide your education and they’ll be
help guide your education and they’ll be
help guide your education and they’ll be very glad to write your recommendations
very glad to write your recommendations
very glad to write your recommendations 6 don’t believe the hype there are
6 don’t believe the hype there are
6 don’t believe the hype there are stupid questions but when these
stupid questions but when these
stupid questions but when these questions come out of a genuine
questions come out of a genuine
questions come out of a genuine curiosity they’ll help you learn don’t
curiosity they’ll help you learn don’t
curiosity they’ll help you learn don’t be afraid of being embarrassed or wrong
be afraid of being embarrassed or wrong
be afraid of being embarrassed or wrong the best kind of learning happens
the best kind of learning happens
the best kind of learning happens through trial and error college is the
through trial and error college is the
through trial and error college is the perfect time and place to practice what
perfect time and place to practice what
perfect time and place to practice what I call the who cares mantra someone
I call the who cares mantra someone
I call the who cares mantra someone laughs who cares shake it off and move
laughs who cares shake it off and move
laughs who cares shake it off and move on 7 don’t study for the test study to
on 7 don’t study for the test study to
on 7 don’t study for the test study to make the information your own learn how
make the information your own learn how
make the information your own learn how to value knowledge for its own sake
to value knowledge for its own sake
to value knowledge for its own sake study to better understand yourself the
study to better understand yourself the
study to better understand yourself the people around you and the world we live
people around you and the world we live
people around you and the world we live in
in
in think about what you’re learning discuss
think about what you’re learning discuss
think about what you’re learning discuss it in class argue with your friends
it in class argue with your friends
it in class argue with your friends about it when knowledge becomes our own
about it when knowledge becomes our own
about it when knowledge becomes our own no exam will be difficult and you will
no exam will be difficult and you will
no exam will be difficult and you will carry it with you into the future 8
carry it with you into the future 8
carry it with you into the future 8 study foreign languages all of us need
study foreign languages all of us need
study foreign languages all of us need to know how to navigate the multilingual
to know how to navigate the multilingual
to know how to navigate the multilingual and multicultural world we live in
and multicultural world we live in
and multicultural world we live in studying a foreign language will help
studying a foreign language will help
studying a foreign language will help you learn about other cultures and it
you learn about other cultures and it
you learn about other cultures and it will improve your proficiency in English
will improve your proficiency in English
will improve your proficiency in English it will also make you stand out on the
it will also make you stand out on the
it will also make you stand out on the job market 9 do internships employers
job market 9 do internships employers
job market 9 do internships employers look for self-motivated knowledgeable
look for self-motivated knowledgeable
look for self-motivated knowledgeable and experienced candidates
and experienced candidates
and experienced candidates almost every college has a Career Center
almost every college has a Career Center
almost every college has a Career Center go there early and often to find out how
go there early and often to find out how
go there early and often to find out how they can help now my tenth and final
they can help now my tenth and final
they can help now my tenth and final observation might be just a little bit
observation might be just a little bit
observation might be just a little bit controversial there is no such thing as
controversial there is no such thing as
controversial there is no such thing as a boring professor part of my job is to
a boring professor part of my job is to
a boring professor part of my job is to review course evaluations as you might
review course evaluations as you might
review course evaluations as you might imagine students opinions about their
imagine students opinions about their
imagine students opinions about their professors are all over the place but
professors are all over the place but
professors are all over the place but they all have something in common the
they all have something in common the
they all have something in common the same student who thinks that one
same student who thinks that one
same student who thinks that one professor is boring enough to put her to
professor is boring enough to put her to
professor is boring enough to put her to sleep it’s it’s the same professors then
sleep it’s it’s the same professors then
sleep it’s it’s the same professors then praised by another student as
praised by another student as
praised by another student as life-changing now I’ve read enough of
life-changing now I’ve read enough of
life-changing now I’ve read enough of these evaluations to know this has a lot
these evaluations to know this has a lot
these evaluations to know this has a lot to do with students interest and
to do with students interest and
to do with students interest and investment in what they study in my very
investment in what they study in my very
investment in what they study in my very very long and very labor-intensive
very long and very labor-intensive
very long and very labor-intensive journey from not knowing how college
journey from not knowing how college
journey from not knowing how college works to becoming a college professor I
works to becoming a college professor I
works to becoming a college professor I learned something very important when we
learned something very important when we
learned something very important when we believe that what we are learning is our
believe that what we are learning is our
believe that what we are learning is our own to make sense of our own to use and
own to make sense of our own to use and
own to make sense of our own to use and our own to challenge we won’t need to
our own to challenge we won’t need to
our own to challenge we won’t need to have entertaining professors don’t
have entertaining professors don’t
have entertaining professors don’t forget people not college diplomas get
forget people not college diplomas get
forget people not college diplomas get jobs start careers and live meaningful
jobs start careers and live meaningful
jobs start careers and live meaningful lives
”
Be First to Comment