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July 22nd, 2008
With many high school graduates on their way off to college and incoming seniors beginning to think about next steps, it got me thinking about all that must go through the minds of these young people.
People constantly ask you “Have you chosen a college?,” “What’s your major going to be?,” “How are you paying for college?”
It’s scary. Sometimes it’s so scary that it’s just easier not thinking about it.
There are more than 4,000 degree granting institutions in the United States each with their specialities, democraphics, strengths and weaknesses. And their costs are going up each year.
There are exponentially greater numbers of majors to study for each with their own starting salaries and their own strengths and weaknesses.
If you’re looking for a place to start, perhaps the JA Student Center might be a great place to go. Visit http://studentcenter.ja.org and look at different careers, colleges, scholarships, and other resources for getting that job of your dreams. It’s actually easier than you think.
May 29th, 2008
Seeing teenagers in caps and gowns near the Metro Center today made me wonder about the paths that area high school graduates are taking. I have talked to quite a few high school students in Junior Achievement with high ambitions: they want to be nurse practitioners, famous authors, business owners, professional athletes . . I am thrilled that the students have goals that inspire them. However, some of these same students have difficulty staying in school, following directions, fulfilling committments, or being respectful to others.Â
Whether a high school grad plans on joining the military, starting a business, or pursuing a medical career, their success depends in part on this question:
Are their actions aligned with their aspirations?
To help your student succeed, talk to him or her about the following:
-The skills that your student has or will need to pursue their goal.
- The connection between academic achievement and economic success.
- What does your student truly enjoy doing? What do they not like doing?
- The quality of life that your student prefers:Â what kind of schedule, income, and location do they hope to have?
- The customs and behaviour that are used in the work world.
These are all themes from the “Economics for Success” and “Success Skills” curriculums that Junior Achievement has for middle and high school students. Encouraging students to pursue their goals is so important, but you are doing them a diservice if you don’t help them understand the risks, challenges, and realities of their goals. This doesn’t mean that you should discourage your student; it means that if your student wants to be a professional baseball player, ask him if he has the grades for a college sports scholarship.
May 22nd, 2008
In Tuesday’s Register Star, there was a great article talking about East High School students working with the city and other groups to plant trees around their campus. I’ll bet there were several students that came out of that experience with a little more interest in careers in forestry or plants.
It’s amazing how much hands on learning can influence the lives of our youth. I majored in journalism in college after having an experience with TV news when I was a grade schooler. What influenced you to do the job you do today?
May 6th, 2008
Recently, I have been hard at work preparing my son (and my wife and I) for his going off to college. As a junior, he is deep in the midst of taking the big step, although right now he thinks it is light-years away, which means I am doing much of the initial work.
As I began to register on a website which provides resources for students looking to enter college, I came across an interesting option you could sign up for:
“Receive information regarding college and scholarship-related products and services, such as student loans, test preparation, essay help, credit cards, and discount textbooks”
It made me think. Are credit cards considered as college or scholarship-related products or services? So does this mean that our high school junior and seniors are getting pushed for credit cards before they even enter the hallowed halls of their university?
First, a few tidbits of information:
-More than 48% obtained their first credit card prior to entering college
-By the Sophomore year of college, more than 55% of students possess one or more credit cards in their own name
-Students are more than three times as likely as adults to be at least 90 days delinquent on their credit card payments
I agree that a credit card can often be helpful for a college student looking for ways to purchase $200 biology text books, but we must provide them with the tools needed to use this credit wisely. Otherwise, textbooks and emergency food will be competing for socializing and “emergency” beer.
Teach your kids now. Let them know these skills before the big need and want decisions are in front of them. The first day after college is hard enough without a mountain of debt greeting you at the start.
May 1st, 2008
Our community must have a strong hiring pool in order to remain strong. Our youth must have the knowledge necessary to reach the future of their dreams.
Can you help solve both?
Whether you are a carpenter or chiropractor, fisherman or farmer, mayor or mechanic, each comes with required training which is integral to success.
Visit our website at http://rockford.ja.org and click on the “Share Your Job” link and tell us what it takes to be successful at your job! We are looking for ALL jobs so don’t be shy. We will share them here in the future.
April 28th, 2008
Last Thursday, Junior Achievement held our Rockford Area Business Hall of Fame. It was a great opportunity to honor Jon Lundin and Dave Rydell for their many contributions to the community.
In particular, many attendees were blown away by the essays read by the winners of the Rockford in 20 contest. Students were able to let community leaders know where they saw Rockford in 20 years. A great opportunity to see that our youth are ready to be our future leaders and become future members of the Rockford Area Business Hall of Fame.
April 17th, 2008
Starting soon, the Preparing our Future blog will occasionally feature individuals representing the wide variety of fields in the Rock River Valley region. We want to find out “What it Takes” to get a job like yours.
So many of our youth have great ideas of what they want to do as a career. Some just struggle to find the pathway to the future of their dreams. Maybe you can help. How did you do it?
We are looking for ALL careers. If you’d like to take part, email me at lmessing@jarrv.org.
April 15th, 2008
In the last month or so, we have been preparing for April 24th’s Rockford Area Business Hall of Fame honoring Jon Lundin and Dave Rydell. As part of this, we are interviewing many of Rockford’s leaders who have come in contact with these men.
At the same time, we have been going through the judging process of this year’s Rockford in 20 essay contest, where we ask local youth “Where do you see Rockford in 20 years?”
Putting the two together, you can really see where the future leaders of Rockford are coming from. Some of these students are providing some of the most inspiring messages of where they see their hometown in 20 years.
There is no doubt, that many of these will be part of the Hall of Fame in the future.
March 31st, 2008
A pull-out guide to Money Smart Week was published in Sunday’s paper (yesterday). Same size as the Go section, look for Ben Franklin.
Check it out for classes, events, and a listing of local partners.
March 27th, 2008
Did any of you happen to see Ben Franklin walking around the streets of Rockford last weekend? Or at the Ice Hogs game?
Ben was here helping to promote “Money Smart Week.” From April 6-12, the entire Rockford area will be treated to a week of free classes and workshops on financial topics as a part of Illinois’ first-annual Money Smart Week, sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Local partners are hosting an impressive number of events for kids, teens, adults, and senior citizens of every financial background.
There are some wonderful workshops being offered for kids and teens:
 Would you like your 4th grader to learn about saving money? Take her to “AMKIDS - The Importance of Saving Money” - April 9, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm, at Liberty Baptist Church.
Does your high school student need to open a checking account, or start looking for college loans?  The workshop “Teens and Money” will get him started - Thursday, April 10th, two sessions at Ellis Heights United Center.
 Do you have a young artist or scientist in the family? She’ll make some real-world connections with money at ”The Art & Science of Money” - Sunday, April 6 - Friday, April 11, at the Discovery Center Museum.
Visit the website below to access the full calendar of events for Money Smart Week, and to see a listing of local partners.  Take advantage of these opportunities to help your kids become more financially savvy, and don’t forget to look for workshops that you’d like to attend: anyone interested in “Conquering Credit” ?
 http://www.moneysmartweek.org/illinois
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