When you are a senior in college you have invested 16 years of your life on education, not even counting pre-school and Kindergarten. It is reasonable to ask, why? What do you want? Not from only from college, but from your life.
You have a much better shot of hitting a target with greater efficiency if you have even a general idea of what your are aiming at.
Think about it, why are you in College? What do you want out of this?
I have asked thousands of college students at campuses all over America this question, and the answer generally comes back like this:
Although these are admiral objectives, they fall far short of a complete answer. I think there is an advantage in getting your thinking up, more strategic if you will.
Your parents suck at answering this question as much as you do. When I ask them why do you send their children to college? They obsessively say something to the effect: “Because I believe they will have a better life with it than without it.”
That is true. All the data suggests that chances are far better to become successful with a college education but that answer too, falls woefully short.
College is here as a tool to help you get to a place in your life. You cannot be expected to know exactly what you want, but in general, with room to navigate as you grow, it is empowering to have a more substantial answer.
Again, after posing the question on many campuses, where students struggle to answer this, I take a shot and it is nearly universally embraced.
But first, imagine that with 16 years on education, there is a struggle to answer WHY.
PS, the faculty struggles for a complete answer as well. So does senior academic administration.
I think that all of that is, at minimum, noteworthy.
Let me give it a shot. You want to:
Why? Because then you will have the discretionary time, and discretionary money to follow you hearts desire.
How do I know this? Because this is what everyone wants.
Notice I did not say, “stop working,” for if you want to work, keep doing so. It is just then work would be at your pleasure. Time to do whatever you want. To live, to be free.
Unfortunately, most do not get to this state. But the odds are in your favor because you are becoming aware of what you want at 20 years old! The caveat on this one is if you become aware and take appropriate action. But, it all starts with awareness.
Finally, the fact that so many struggle for the answer is an illustration that our formal education system is stamping out talent without necessary life strategy, lacking key career/life skills and with little financial acumen.
The answer? Take matters into your own hands:
The Baby Boom is in trouble, don’t let that be you, dream big, start now, take control.
Good Luck!