Thanks we excited yeah I’m excited
we excited yeah I’m excited
we excited yeah I’m excited um as iboard said I’m an English
um as iboard said I’m an English
um as iboard said I’m an English professor I teach academic writing
professor I teach academic writing
professor I teach academic writing creative writing literary analysis and
creative writing literary analysis and
creative writing literary analysis and poetry I have my PhD from the City
poetry I have my PhD from the City
poetry I have my PhD from the City University of New York but before all
University of New York but before all
University of New York but before all this I was a teenage mom I remember when
this I was a teenage mom I remember when
this I was a teenage mom I remember when I stopped her started college I just
I stopped her started college I just
I stopped her started college I just wanted to get through those 15 weeks I
wanted to get through those 15 weeks I
wanted to get through those 15 weeks I had no big plan for the future
had no big plan for the future
had no big plan for the future I just wanted to survive this semester
I just wanted to survive this semester
I just wanted to survive this semester but after a few classes I gained some
but after a few classes I gained some
but after a few classes I gained some confidence and I thought okay maybe I
confidence and I thought okay maybe I
confidence and I thought okay maybe I can do this you know maybe I can succeed
can do this you know maybe I can succeed
can do this you know maybe I can succeed in college and I thought okay maybe I
in college and I thought okay maybe I
in college and I thought okay maybe I want to teach so when a professor called
want to teach so when a professor called
want to teach so when a professor called me into his office and asked Christine
me into his office and asked Christine
me into his office and asked Christine what are you going to do with your
what are you going to do with your
what are you going to do with your future what are you going to do after
future what are you going to do after
future what are you going to do after you leave college I had my answer I said
you leave college I had my answer I said
you leave college I had my answer I said well I think I want to go to graduate
well I think I want to go to graduate
well I think I want to go to graduate school get my PhD and become a professor
school get my PhD and become a professor
school get my PhD and become a professor like you now this professor was really
like you now this professor was really
like you now this professor was really smart he had a lot of data in his head
smart he had a lot of data in his head
smart he had a lot of data in his head and he knew he knew I’d been a teenage
and he knew he knew I’d been a teenage
and he knew he knew I’d been a teenage mom and he also knew that 66 percent of
mom and he also knew that 66 percent of
mom and he also knew that 66 percent of mothers who begin their families as
mothers who begin their families as
mothers who begin their families as teenagers live in poverty and it was
teenagers live in poverty and it was
teenagers live in poverty and it was true my son and I did live below the
true my son and I did live below the
true my son and I did live below the poverty line at the time and he also
poverty line at the time and he also
poverty line at the time and he also knew that 52% of teenage moms live with
knew that 52% of teenage moms live with
knew that 52% of teenage moms live with the help of some kind of federal
the help of some kind of federal
the help of some kind of federal assistance and that was also true my son
assistance and that was also true my son
assistance and that was also true my son and I were getting food stamps and we
and I were getting food stamps and we
and I were getting food stamps and we were part of a federal program so with
were part of a federal program so with
were part of a federal program so with these statistics in mind he said to me
these statistics in mind he said to me
these statistics in mind he said to me well Christine I get this be all you can
well Christine I get this be all you can
well Christine I get this be all you can be attitude it’s very positive it’s very
be attitude it’s very positive it’s very
be attitude it’s very positive it’s very admirable but you have to be realistic
admirable but you have to be realistic
admirable but you have to be realistic graduate school is expensive and it’s a
graduate school is expensive and it’s a
graduate school is expensive and it’s a long haul you can’t go through years and
long haul you can’t go through years and
long haul you can’t go through years and years of graduate school and then come
years of graduate school and then come
years of graduate school and then come out with a degree and you may or may not
out with a degree and you may or may not
out with a degree and you may or may not get a position you just need a job to
get a position you just need a job to
get a position you just need a job to pay the bills
pay the bills
pay the bills so I thanked him I left his office and I
so I thanked him I left his office and I
so I thanked him I left his office and I thought okay he knows his data but he
thought okay he knows his data but he
thought okay he knows his data but he doesn’t know real teenage moms real
doesn’t know real teenage moms real
doesn’t know real teenage moms real teenage moms like Sacagawea she was 17
teenage moms like Sacagawea she was 17
teenage moms like Sacagawea she was 17 when she had her son she was a
when she had her son she was a
when she had her son she was a translator for Lewis and Clark
translator for Lewis and Clark
translator for Lewis and Clark she took her infant with him with it
she took her infant with him with it
she took her infant with him with it with her on the expedition to the
with her on the expedition to the
with her on the expedition to the Pacific coast and back she’s the only
Pacific coast and back she’s the only
Pacific coast and back she’s the only woman on that expedition
woman on that expedition
woman on that expedition I thought he doesn’t know teenage moms
I thought he doesn’t know teenage moms
I thought he doesn’t know teenage moms like Maya Angelou she had her son when
like Maya Angelou she had her son when
like Maya Angelou she had her son when she was 16 and as you know right she
she was 16 and as you know right she
she was 16 and as you know right she went on to become a celebrated even
went on to become a celebrated even
went on to become a celebrated even historic writer and he didn’t really
historic writer and he didn’t really
historic writer and he didn’t really know me and I thought back to even
know me and I thought back to even
know me and I thought back to even before I started college started taking
before I started college started taking
before I started college started taking classes to the orientation and I
classes to the orientation and I
classes to the orientation and I remembered you know the professor’s
remembered you know the professor’s
remembered you know the professor’s coming in and out of that lecture hall
coming in and out of that lecture hall
coming in and out of that lecture hall they were giving us information and
they were giving us information and
they were giving us information and details and just the tools we needed to
details and just the tools we needed to
details and just the tools we needed to be successful in college but I
be successful in college but I
be successful in college but I specifically remember the last professor
specifically remember the last professor
specifically remember the last professor to come into that room because he said
to come into that room because he said
to come into that room because he said look around you 80% of you will not be
look around you 80% of you will not be
look around you 80% of you will not be walking down that aisle and graduation
walking down that aisle and graduation
walking down that aisle and graduation at graduation four years from now
at graduation four years from now
at graduation four years from now I remember thinking really you mean this
I remember thinking really you mean this
I remember thinking really you mean this program has a 20 percent success rate I
program has a 20 percent success rate I
program has a 20 percent success rate I was really sort of daunted but I
was really sort of daunted but I
was really sort of daunted but I physically did look around me at the
physically did look around me at the
physically did look around me at the students in that lecture hall and I
students in that lecture hall and I
students in that lecture hall and I thought what’s wrong with you people I
thought what’s wrong with you people I
thought what’s wrong with you people I don’t know where you’re going to be in
don’t know where you’re going to be in
don’t know where you’re going to be in four years but I’m gonna be walking down
four years but I’m gonna be walking down
four years but I’m gonna be walking down that aisle with that diploma in my hand
that aisle with that diploma in my hand
that aisle with that diploma in my hand I was 22 I was already divorced of a
I was 22 I was already divorced of a
I was 22 I was already divorced of a single mother of a four-year-old and I
single mother of a four-year-old and I
single mother of a four-year-old and I was on welfare but I was determined I
was on welfare but I was determined I
was on welfare but I was determined I knew I was going to be part of that 20
knew I was going to be part of that 20
knew I was going to be part of that 20 percent success rate but I was wrong
percent success rate but I was wrong
percent success rate but I was wrong I was the 80 percent and the reason I
I was the 80 percent and the reason I
I was the 80 percent and the reason I was the 80 percent had nothing to do
was the 80 percent had nothing to do
was the 80 percent had nothing to do with natural talent or intelligence or
with natural talent or intelligence or
with natural talent or intelligence or IQ or determination or grit or any of
IQ or determination or grit or any of
IQ or determination or grit or any of those success factors that we like to
those success factors that we like to
those success factors that we like to talk about today but it had everything
talk about today but it had everything
talk about today but it had everything to do with my personal journey as having
to do with my personal journey as having
to do with my personal journey as having been a former team Jane
been a former team Jane
been a former team Jane teenage mom and a single mom I had two
teenage mom and a single mom I had two
teenage mom and a single mom I had two jobs I was raising a son so I actually
jobs I was raising a son so I actually
jobs I was raising a son so I actually did get my a degree of course after 11
did get my a degree of course after 11
did get my a degree of course after 11 semester so it took me 11 semesters
semester so it took me 11 semesters
semester so it took me 11 semesters instead of 8 but still I couldn’t be
instead of 8 but still I couldn’t be
instead of 8 but still I couldn’t be part of that 20 percent success rate I’d
part of that 20 percent success rate I’d
part of that 20 percent success rate I’d like to take a look at some data for
like to take a look at some data for
like to take a look at some data for this college Westchester Community
this college Westchester Community
this college Westchester Community College and this study follows the 2012
College and this study follows the 2012
College and this study follows the 2012 student cohort so that’s the 2012 body
student cohort so that’s the 2012 body
student cohort so that’s the 2012 body of incoming students so in 2012 we had
of incoming students so in 2012 we had
of incoming students so in 2012 we had two thousand and two hundred and
two thousand and two hundred and
two thousand and two hundred and thirty-one students coming into the
thirty-one students coming into the
thirty-one students coming into the college and over of those two thousand
college and over of those two thousand
college and over of those two thousand two hundred and thirty one 330 graduated
two hundred and thirty one 330 graduated
two hundred and thirty one 330 graduated with their associate’s degree within
with their associate’s degree within
with their associate’s degree within three years so that’s a 14 point 8
three years so that’s a 14 point 8
three years so that’s a 14 point 8 percent success rate now fourteen point
percent success rate now fourteen point
percent success rate now fourteen point eight percent that’s a little scary if
eight percent that’s a little scary if
eight percent that’s a little scary if you’re an incoming freshman right
you’re an incoming freshman right
you’re an incoming freshman right because that means you have an eighty
because that means you have an eighty
because that means you have an eighty five point two percent chance of not
five point two percent chance of not
five point two percent chance of not getting your degree within three years
getting your degree within three years
getting your degree within three years but wait the study expands that notion
but wait the study expands that notion
but wait the study expands that notion of the successful student a little bit
of the successful student a little bit
of the successful student a little bit the study includes also the transfer
the study includes also the transfer
the study includes also the transfer students so these are students who come
students so these are students who come
students so these are students who come to the two-year college with the idea of
to the two-year college with the idea of
to the two-year college with the idea of getting the associate’s degree but then
getting the associate’s degree but then
getting the associate’s degree but then decide to transfer to the four-year
decide to transfer to the four-year
decide to transfer to the four-year college so they’re still engaged in the
college so they’re still engaged in the
college so they’re still engaged in the academic process they’re still on a
academic process they’re still on a
academic process they’re still on a track to get their degree they’ve just
track to get their degree they’ve just
track to get their degree they’ve just transferred a bit early so we’ve got
transferred a bit early so we’ve got
transferred a bit early so we’ve got three hundred and ninety eight of the
three hundred and ninety eight of the
three hundred and ninety eight of the transfer students for a total of 17.8%
transfer students for a total of 17.8%
transfer students for a total of 17.8% so now we can add together those to
so now we can add together those to
so now we can add together those to success percentages for a total of
success percentages for a total of
success percentages for a total of thirty two point six percent total
thirty two point six percent total
thirty two point six percent total success rate so that’s a little bit more
success rate so that’s a little bit more
success rate so that’s a little bit more heartening but wait the study expands
heartening but wait the study expands
heartening but wait the study expands this idea of the successful student even
this idea of the successful student even
this idea of the successful student even further to include the so called
further to include the so called
further to include the so called persisters I was a persister this is a
persisters I was a persister this is a
persisters I was a persister this is a student who comes to the college but
student who comes to the college but
student who comes to the college but doesn’t get the degree within three
doesn’t get the degree within three
doesn’t get the degree within three years but they’re still taking college
years but they’re still taking college
years but they’re still taking college classes so you’re still on that track
classes so you’re still on that track
classes so you’re still on that track there’s still active students maybe they
there’s still active students maybe they
there’s still active students maybe they change their major and they still need
change their major and they still need
change their major and they still need to take classes but you know for
to take classes but you know for
to take classes but you know for whatever reason they’re still ink
whatever reason they’re still ink
whatever reason they’re still ink even though it’s more than three years
even though it’s more than three years
even though it’s more than three years so if we include the persisters at 464
so if we include the persisters at 464
so if we include the persisters at 464 20.6% and add all those percentages
20.6% and add all those percentages
20.6% and add all those percentages together now we have a 53.2%
together now we have a 53.2%
together now we have a 53.2% total success story in the 2012 cohort
total success story in the 2012 cohort
total success story in the 2012 cohort so that’s a big difference that’s more
so that’s a big difference that’s more
so that’s a big difference that’s more than half right so that’s a big park
than half right so that’s a big park
than half right so that’s a big park ride from the 14.8% that we were
ride from the 14.8% that we were
ride from the 14.8% that we were initially started with but what about
initially started with but what about
initially started with but what about that forty six point eight percent that
that forty six point eight percent that
that forty six point eight percent that are not part of the total success story
are not part of the total success story
are not part of the total success story who are those students well these could
who are those students well these could
who are those students well these could be students who leave college to raise
be students who leave college to raise
be students who leave college to raise families because of illness or to earn
families because of illness or to earn
families because of illness or to earn money to pay for college but they come
money to pay for college but they come
money to pay for college but they come back they take their courses and they do
back they take their courses and they do
back they take their courses and they do eventually get their degree it could
eventually get their degree it could
eventually get their degree it could also include students who come to the
also include students who come to the
also include students who come to the college take a few classes and then
college take a few classes and then
college take a few classes and then decide they have enough information to
decide they have enough information to
decide they have enough information to go on with their careers maybe they
go on with their careers maybe they
go on with their careers maybe they start up their own business or they
start up their own business or they
start up their own business or they engage in a trade in some ways this you
engage in a trade in some ways this you
engage in a trade in some ways this you know 53.2%
know 53.2%
know 53.2% total success story misrepresents those
total success story misrepresents those
total success story misrepresents those students who don’t fit in statistics as
students who don’t fit in statistics as
students who don’t fit in statistics as a college professor I tell my students
a college professor I tell my students
a college professor I tell my students you have to back up your details right
you have to back up your details right
you have to back up your details right you have to back up your claims with
you have to back up your claims with
you have to back up your claims with surveys with facts and with statistic
surveys with facts and with statistic
surveys with facts and with statistic statistics statistics like forty percent
statistics statistics like forty percent
statistics statistics like forty percent of teen mothers finish high school or
of teen mothers finish high school or
of teen mothers finish high school or only 1.5 percent of us will get our BA
only 1.5 percent of us will get our BA
only 1.5 percent of us will get our BA by the time were 30 according to these
by the time were 30 according to these
by the time were 30 according to these statistics that Professor was likely to
statistics that Professor was likely to
statistics that Professor was likely to be right it wasn’t likely that I would
be right it wasn’t likely that I would
be right it wasn’t likely that I would get a graduate degree it wasn’t likely
get a graduate degree it wasn’t likely
get a graduate degree it wasn’t likely that I would get a job as a professor
that I would get a job as a professor
that I would get a job as a professor and it’s not likely they’d be standing
and it’s not likely they’d be standing
and it’s not likely they’d be standing on the stage delivering this
on the stage delivering this
on the stage delivering this presentation to you now but statistics
presentation to you now but statistics
presentation to you now but statistics are useful if we’re going to use them to
are useful if we’re going to use them to
are useful if we’re going to use them to channel resources to where they need
channel resources to where they need
channel resources to where they need them but they’re not so useful if we’re
them but they’re not so useful if we’re
them but they’re not so useful if we’re going to label people with statistics or
going to label people with statistics or
going to label people with statistics or limit their hopes or dreams or
limit their hopes or dreams or
limit their hopes or dreams or aspirations with statistics when I think
aspirations with statistics when I think
aspirations with statistics when I think back to that conversation I had with the
back to that conversation I had with the
back to that conversation I had with the professor
professor
professor I don’t feel very good about it in fact
I don’t feel very good about it in fact
I don’t feel very good about it in fact I don’t think I handled it very well I
I don’t think I handled it very well I
I don’t think I handled it very well I should have told him about Sacagawea I
should have told him about Sacagawea I
should have told him about Sacagawea I should have told him about Maya Angelou
should have told him about Maya Angelou
should have told him about Maya Angelou I should have told him about Ann Dunham
I should have told him about Ann Dunham
I should have told him about Ann Dunham she started her college education as a
she started her college education as a
she started her college education as a teenage mom and then she went on to get
teenage mom and then she went on to get
teenage mom and then she went on to get her PhD in anthropology from the
her PhD in anthropology from the
her PhD in anthropology from the University of Hawaii while raising her
University of Hawaii while raising her
University of Hawaii while raising her son Barack Obama I should have told him
son Barack Obama I should have told him
son Barack Obama I should have told him about me I should have told him that you
about me I should have told him that you
about me I should have told him that you can’t use statistics to put people into
can’t use statistics to put people into
can’t use statistics to put people into a box
a box
a box or to label or define them it’s not
or to label or define them it’s not
or to label or define them it’s not right you can’t use statistics to limit
right you can’t use statistics to limit
right you can’t use statistics to limit their goals in life so I guess if
their goals in life so I guess if
their goals in life so I guess if there’s any message here for you it’s
there’s any message here for you it’s
there’s any message here for you it’s this that it said if someone tries to
this that it said if someone tries to
this that it said if someone tries to use a statistic to define you whether it
use a statistic to define you whether it
use a statistic to define you whether it be a statistic about your race your
be a statistic about your race your
be a statistic about your race your ethnicity your sexual preference your
ethnicity your sexual preference your
ethnicity your sexual preference your gender or whether or not you speak
gender or whether or not you speak
gender or whether or not you speak English as a first language don’t give
English as a first language don’t give
English as a first language don’t give them a pass tell them don’t look at me
them a pass tell them don’t look at me
them a pass tell them don’t look at me as a statistic look at the unique person
as a statistic look at the unique person
as a statistic look at the unique person standing in front of you look at me look
standing in front of you look at me look
standing in front of you look at me look at me
”
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