You hear the question all the time, "What do you want to be?" I'm even guilty of asking it myself. This is how we start advising our youth when they are considering colleges.
It's the wrong question. And it's part of a pervasive thinking causes kids to spin through multiple majors and spend more time in school than is necessary. We are programmed to think of university study as job training. It's not. And if you think I'm wrong, ask the most successful people you know if they are working in their field of study (very possibly not). Then ask them if college was a waste of time (most definitely not).
Instead, college is where we go to broaden our knowledge. It's where we sharpen communication skills. It's where we learn how to work independently; it's where we learn to work with others (and no, those aren't mutually exclusive). It's an opportunity to explore topics in depth because it interests us, rather than because we have to. And more importantly, it shows future employers that we can set a long range goal, work hard, and finish it successfully.
The right question then, is "what do you want to learn?" If the person already knows what she wants to be, then she probably already knows what she wants to learn. More importantly, though, if the thought of learning a subject is distasteful, then that career choice is not wise.
Now here's the tricky part for us adults giving guidance: how do we respond when the young man answers our question with "Literature" or "Philosophy"? Typically, the thought is "what kind of job can you get with that?" That is wrong thinking.
Literature? What business or agency couldn't benefit from a person who has deep knowledge of communication?
Philosophy? What business or agency couldn't benefit from a person who has deep understanding of how people are motivated?
Most importantly, though, when a student considers what they want to learn; And when they spend time exploring that subject; they will find ways to apply that knowledge to other areas. Their new knowledge will guide them into an appropriate career. So as crazy as it may seem, the study of the oceans can help a person with a later career in sales. Or the study of music can help enrich one's later family life.
So next time you are congratulating a high school senior on their graduation, ask the right question. Ask them, "so now what do you want to learn."
It's the wrong question. And it's part of a pervasive thinking causes kids to spin through multiple majors and spend more time in school than is necessary. We are programmed to think of university study as job training. It's not. And if you think I'm wrong, ask the most successful people you know if they are working in their field of study (very possibly not). Then ask them if college was a waste of time (most definitely not).
Instead, college is where we go to broaden our knowledge. It's where we sharpen communication skills. It's where we learn how to work independently; it's where we learn to work with others (and no, those aren't mutually exclusive). It's an opportunity to explore topics in depth because it interests us, rather than because we have to. And more importantly, it shows future employers that we can set a long range goal, work hard, and finish it successfully.
The right question then, is "what do you want to learn?" If the person already knows what she wants to be, then she probably already knows what she wants to learn. More importantly, though, if the thought of learning a subject is distasteful, then that career choice is not wise.
Now here's the tricky part for us adults giving guidance: how do we respond when the young man answers our question with "Literature" or "Philosophy"? Typically, the thought is "what kind of job can you get with that?" That is wrong thinking.
Literature? What business or agency couldn't benefit from a person who has deep knowledge of communication?
Philosophy? What business or agency couldn't benefit from a person who has deep understanding of how people are motivated?
Most importantly, though, when a student considers what they want to learn; And when they spend time exploring that subject; they will find ways to apply that knowledge to other areas. Their new knowledge will guide them into an appropriate career. So as crazy as it may seem, the study of the oceans can help a person with a later career in sales. Or the study of music can help enrich one's later family life.
So next time you are congratulating a high school senior on their graduation, ask the right question. Ask them, "so now what do you want to learn."
