hey everybody this has been quite fun everybody coming out and just kind of
everybody coming out and just kind of
everybody coming out and just kind of get a chance to sort of talk about their
get a chance to sort of talk about their
get a chance to sort of talk about their passions it’s kind of nice um I want to
passions it’s kind of nice um I want to
passions it’s kind of nice um I want to talk to you about getting a degree
talk to you about getting a degree
talk to you about getting a degree actually I want to talk to you about
actually I want to talk to you about
actually I want to talk to you about your degree but I don’t just want to
your degree but I don’t just want to
your degree but I don’t just want to talk to you I want to talk to everybody
talk to you I want to talk to everybody
talk to you I want to talk to everybody the administrators the advisors your
the administrators the advisors your
the administrators the advisors your support network probably your parents
support network probably your parents
support network probably your parents because the simple fact is you’re
because the simple fact is you’re
because the simple fact is you’re getting the wrong one now I’m not saying
getting the wrong one now I’m not saying
getting the wrong one now I’m not saying that to be pejorative I’m not saying
that to be pejorative I’m not saying
that to be pejorative I’m not saying that to be insulted I’m saying that
that to be insulted I’m saying that
that to be insulted I’m saying that because that’s what the numbers tell us
because that’s what the numbers tell us
because that’s what the numbers tell us there’s been a raft of research that’s
there’s been a raft of research that’s
there’s been a raft of research that’s been done it all sort of arrives at the
been done it all sort of arrives at the
been done it all sort of arrives at the same point and what that point is is
same point and what that point is is
same point and what that point is is that within five years of graduating
that within five years of graduating
that within five years of graduating sixty percent of you certainly better
sixty percent of you certainly better
sixty percent of you certainly better than half will not be employed in
than half will not be employed in
than half will not be employed in whatever it is you studied if you’ve
whatever it is you studied if you’ve
whatever it is you studied if you’ve gone into law you won’t be a lawyer if
gone into law you won’t be a lawyer if
gone into law you won’t be a lawyer if you’ve gone into music you won’t be a
you’ve gone into music you won’t be a
you’ve gone into music you won’t be a musician if you’ve got into education
musician if you’ve got into education
musician if you’ve got into education you won’t be a teacher now there is some
you won’t be a teacher now there is some
you won’t be a teacher now there is some wiggle room it depends on what your
wiggle room it depends on what your
wiggle room it depends on what your actual discipline is but that trend
actual discipline is but that trend
actual discipline is but that trend continues and it continues out to about
continues and it continues out to about
continues and it continues out to about a decade and at a decade it finally
a decade and at a decade it finally
a decade and at a decade it finally levels off and what it tells us is is
levels off and what it tells us is is
levels off and what it tells us is is that a decade out sixty-six percent two
that a decade out sixty-six percent two
that a decade out sixty-six percent two out of three of you will not be employed
out of three of you will not be employed
out of three of you will not be employed in whatever you studied and that’s kind
in whatever you studied and that’s kind
in whatever you studied and that’s kind of a damning thing because let’s be
of a damning thing because let’s be
of a damning thing because let’s be honest couch is kind of expensive it’s
honest couch is kind of expensive it’s
honest couch is kind of expensive it’s kind of expensive it’s about twenty-five
kind of expensive it’s about twenty-five
kind of expensive it’s about twenty-five to fifty thousand dollars now once again
to fifty thousand dollars now once again
to fifty thousand dollars now once again there’s some wiggle room in that I know
there’s some wiggle room in that I know
there’s some wiggle room in that I know depends on whether we’re talking about
depends on whether we’re talking about
depends on whether we’re talking about in-state or out-of-state it depends on
in-state or out-of-state it depends on
in-state or out-of-state it depends on whether we’re talking about private
whether we’re talking about private
whether we’re talking about private versus public college on average this
versus public college on average this
versus public college on average this next year when we graduate 1.9 billion
next year when we graduate 1.9 billion
next year when we graduate 1.9 billion people that’s just this coming spring
people that’s just this coming spring
people that’s just this coming spring they are going to have an average debt
they are going to have an average debt
they are going to have an average debt load of about thirty thousand dollars to
load of about thirty thousand dollars to
load of about thirty thousand dollars to pay for their degree the good news is
pay for their degree the good news is
pay for their degree the good news is that’s all in right that’s that’s
that’s all in right that’s that’s
that’s all in right that’s that’s tuition and room and board and books and
tuition and room and board and books and
tuition and room and board and books and travel a little bit of miscellaneous
travel a little bit of miscellaneous
travel a little bit of miscellaneous expense thrown it all in it’s about 30
expense thrown it all in it’s about 30
expense thrown it all in it’s about 30 grand that’s the average benchmark now
grand that’s the average benchmark now
grand that’s the average benchmark now it seems at this point that I kind of
it seems at this point that I kind of
it seems at this point that I kind of have a downer on getting a college
have a downer on getting a college
have a downer on getting a college degree and I don’t I actually advocate
degree and I don’t I actually advocate
degree and I don’t I actually advocate you do this
you do this
you do this a college professor actually believe it
a college professor actually believe it
a college professor actually believe it or not right I advocate you getting it
or not right I advocate you getting it
or not right I advocate you getting it and I do that for one reason which sort
and I do that for one reason which sort
and I do that for one reason which sort of comes in and mixes up this discussion
of comes in and mixes up this discussion
of comes in and mixes up this discussion that we’ve had just a little bit that
that we’ve had just a little bit that
that we’ve had just a little bit that reason is the single largest indicator
reason is the single largest indicator
reason is the single largest indicator as to how well you will do in life how
as to how well you will do in life how
as to how well you will do in life how much money you make how well you rate
much money you make how well you rate
much money you make how well you rate your job a host of quality of life
your job a host of quality of life
your job a host of quality of life metrics is single largest indicators if
metrics is single largest indicators if
metrics is single largest indicators if you get that piece of paper or not and
you get that piece of paper or not and
you get that piece of paper or not and that’s by the way not you versus
that’s by the way not you versus
that’s by the way not you versus somebody else that’s over it you know
somebody else that’s over it you know
somebody else that’s over it you know east coast or west coast somebody else
east coast or west coast somebody else
east coast or west coast somebody else know that you versus every other
know that you versus every other
know that you versus every other iteration of you you with a high school
iteration of you you with a high school
iteration of you you with a high school diploma you with a GED you with an
diploma you with a GED you with an
diploma you with a GED you with an undergrad even the break between
undergrad even the break between
undergrad even the break between undergrad and postgraduate degrees none
undergrad and postgraduate degrees none
undergrad and postgraduate degrees none is so significant as if you just get
is so significant as if you just get
is so significant as if you just get that slip of paper and that can only
that slip of paper and that can only
that slip of paper and that can only lead us to one conclusion it doesn’t
lead us to one conclusion it doesn’t
lead us to one conclusion it doesn’t matter it doesn’t matter what you get it
matter it doesn’t matter what you get it
matter it doesn’t matter what you get it doesn’t matter what you get it matters
doesn’t matter what you get it matters
doesn’t matter what you get it matters that you get see the world that you’re
that you get see the world that you’re
that you get see the world that you’re stepping into is different from what
stepping into is different from what
stepping into is different from what those of us that are the status quo what
those of us that are the status quo what
those of us that are the status quo what we are preparing you for and I’d like to
we are preparing you for and I’d like to
we are preparing you for and I’d like to change that let me give you a little bit
change that let me give you a little bit
change that let me give you a little bit of an example on that right see what we
of an example on that right see what we
of an example on that right see what we termed the greatest generation those
termed the greatest generation those
termed the greatest generation those people that came of age in the 30s and
people that came of age in the 30s and
people that came of age in the 30s and 40s and sort of hit their professional
40s and sort of hit their professional
40s and sort of hit their professional stride through the 50s 60s and 70s they
stride through the 50s 60s and 70s they
stride through the 50s 60s and 70s they could expect to change jobs twice on
could expect to change jobs twice on
could expect to change jobs twice on average two point three times if you’re
average two point three times if you’re
average two point three times if you’re really sort of on the numbers they could
really sort of on the numbers they could
really sort of on the numbers they could expect to change jobs twice in their
expect to change jobs twice in their
expect to change jobs twice in their professional career linkedin did a
professional career linkedin did a
professional career linkedin did a survey Millennials those are people that
survey Millennials those are people that
survey Millennials those are people that came of age in the 90s and knots and are
came of age in the 90s and knots and are
came of age in the 90s and knots and are currently in the workplace by the time
currently in the workplace by the time
currently in the workplace by the time they’re 32 will have changed jobs four
they’re 32 will have changed jobs four
they’re 32 will have changed jobs four times most of them with a career change
times most of them with a career change
times most of them with a career change at each job this is a world that is
at each job this is a world that is
at each job this is a world that is inconceivable to the people that have
inconceivable to the people that have
inconceivable to the people that have set the system in motion
set the system in motion
set the system in motion to the institution’s you are now
to the institution’s you are now
to the institution’s you are now beholden to and what I’m trying to tell
beholden to and what I’m trying to tell
beholden to and what I’m trying to tell you is i can tell you two things about
you is i can tell you two things about
you is i can tell you two things about the world you’re stepping into we as a
the world you’re stepping into we as a
the world you’re stepping into we as a planet are addicted to technology we
planet are addicted to technology we
planet are addicted to technology we just are right that phone in your pocket
just are right that phone in your pocket
just are right that phone in your pocket I don’t think I’m throwing stones
I don’t think I’m throwing stones
I don’t think I’m throwing stones because by god I love mine because of
because by god I love mine because of
because by god I love mine because of that we’re a skills-based economy if you
that we’re a skills-based economy if you
that we’re a skills-based economy if you have an itch if you have a skill you
have an itch if you have a skill you
have an itch if you have a skill you will have a job and that job doesn’t
will have a job and that job doesn’t
will have a job and that job doesn’t have to make sense to those that are
have to make sense to those that are
have to make sense to those that are teaching you that cell phone in your
teaching you that cell phone in your
teaching you that cell phone in your pocket has removed so many barriers to
pocket has removed so many barriers to
pocket has removed so many barriers to entry gives you so much information
entry gives you so much information
entry gives you so much information gives you so much opportunity that once
gives you so much opportunity that once
gives you so much opportunity that once again those that put the system in place
again those that put the system in place
again those that put the system in place didn’t even account for and as someone
didn’t even account for and as someone
didn’t even account for and as someone who prides themselves on living a life
who prides themselves on living a life
who prides themselves on living a life that let’s be honest wasn’t very linear
that let’s be honest wasn’t very linear
that let’s be honest wasn’t very linear I think I can speak to this fact see
I think I can speak to this fact see
I think I can speak to this fact see when I was an undergrad I was given a
when I was an undergrad I was given a
when I was an undergrad I was given a little bit of advice I was always told
little bit of advice I was always told
little bit of advice I was always told don’t follow your passion follow what
don’t follow your passion follow what
don’t follow your passion follow what makes sense as have you don’t follow
makes sense as have you don’t follow
makes sense as have you don’t follow your passion follow what makes sense and
your passion follow what makes sense and
your passion follow what makes sense and so I was always a double major now I
so I was always a double major now I
so I was always a double major now I knew what I wanted to do I wanted to
knew what I wanted to do I wanted to
knew what I wanted to do I wanted to make action movies like Jackie Chan once
make action movies like Jackie Chan once
make action movies like Jackie Chan once again there were some barriers to entry
again there were some barriers to entry
again there were some barriers to entry for that I don’t speak Chinese I don’t
for that I don’t speak Chinese I don’t
for that I don’t speak Chinese I don’t make movies I don’t take martial arts
make movies I don’t take martial arts
make movies I don’t take martial arts and I’m not into gymnastics but other
and I’m not into gymnastics but other
and I’m not into gymnastics but other than that I knew exactly what I wanted
than that I knew exactly what I wanted
than that I knew exactly what I wanted to do so I always was a double major
to do so I always was a double major
to do so I always was a double major that first one was the logical one and
that first one was the logical one and
that first one was the logical one and the second one was the passion project
the second one was the passion project
the second one was the passion project for me see the first one was there when
for me see the first one was there when
for me see the first one was there when the second one didn’t line up and so
the second one didn’t line up and so
the second one didn’t line up and so over the course of my undergraduate
over the course of my undergraduate
over the course of my undergraduate degree I was a math major and an
degree I was a math major and an
degree I was a math major and an accounting economics and accounting and
accounting economics and accounting and
accounting economics and accounting and education and philosophy and psychology
education and philosophy and psychology
education and philosophy and psychology and creative writing and encode you can
and creative writing and encode you can
and creative writing and encode you can see where the sweat right logic doesn’t
see where the sweat right logic doesn’t
see where the sweat right logic doesn’t really apply to passion and that’s why I
really apply to passion and that’s why I
really apply to passion and that’s why I graduated with a theater pre med degree
because you need something to fall back
because you need something to fall back on when med school doesn’t line up
on when med school doesn’t line up
on when med school doesn’t line up fortunately it was there i took that
fortunately it was there i took that
fortunately it was there i took that theater degree and i ran away and join
theater degree and i ran away and join
theater degree and i ran away and join the army and i spent several years of my
the army and i spent several years of my
the army and i spent several years of my life jumping out of airplanes putting my
life jumping out of airplanes putting my
life jumping out of airplanes putting my communication skills to good use and
communication skills to good use and
communication skills to good use and when I got done with that gig I ran away
when I got done with that gig I ran away
when I got done with that gig I ran away and join the circus for the last math
and join the circus for the last math
and join the circus for the last math two decades or so I’ve traveled the
two decades or so I’ve traveled the
two decades or so I’ve traveled the world flying people on wires for a
world flying people on wires for a
world flying people on wires for a living and from the outside looking in
living and from the outside looking in
living and from the outside looking in that career path doesn’t really make
that career path doesn’t really make
that career path doesn’t really make sense but from the inside looking out
sense but from the inside looking out
sense but from the inside looking out that career path really doesn’t make
that career path really doesn’t make
that career path really doesn’t make sense I don’t try and explain it I just
sense I don’t try and explain it I just
sense I don’t try and explain it I just did it and that’s what i want to put
did it and that’s what i want to put
did it and that’s what i want to put onto your shoulders today you have a
onto your shoulders today you have a
onto your shoulders today you have a responsibility as do we we that are the
responsibility as do we we that are the
responsibility as do we we that are the status quo that are in charge of the
status quo that are in charge of the
status quo that are in charge of the institutions of higher learning we have
institutions of higher learning we have
institutions of higher learning we have a responsibility to prepare you for the
a responsibility to prepare you for the
a responsibility to prepare you for the world you are stepping into it might not
world you are stepping into it might not
world you are stepping into it might not necessarily make sense to us but it
necessarily make sense to us but it
necessarily make sense to us but it doesn’t have to you by the way have a
doesn’t have to you by the way have a
doesn’t have to you by the way have a responsibility in this dialogue you have
responsibility in this dialogue you have
responsibility in this dialogue you have to play an active part as well because
to play an active part as well because
to play an active part as well because and I’ll paraphrase Will Rogers even if
and I’ll paraphrase Will Rogers even if
and I’ll paraphrase Will Rogers even if you’re on the right track you’re going
you’re on the right track you’re going
you’re on the right track you’re going to get run over if you just sit down and
to get run over if you just sit down and
to get run over if you just sit down and wait long enough good luck with it I’m
wait long enough good luck with it I’m
wait long enough good luck with it I’m bill all good day
bill all good day
bill all good day [Applause]
”
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