PlayBelle got into Cleveland State University and their Speech Pathology program. Yay!
I was on the phone with her and she's getting a lot of "A degree don't mean nothin'. It's people working at McDonald's with they Masters degree." That's ok, I tell her, there are people at both ends of the spectrum--Bill Gates dropped out of college. But for most people in the world, a degree is a better shot at life.
I was in Wal-Mart (ugh, I hate that place, but Target doesn't sell cigarettes, so I went to Wal-Mart. That should be a sign to quit right there) and I heard a young Hispanic girl talking to a relative. She was saying that she had one more year to go and then she would have her B.A. She let out a kind of nervous, apologetic laugh and said, "Of course, I won't have a job." Her relative didn't say anything. She continued sheepishly, "But my professor was telling me about this program in India...I could continue my studies in Hindu..." The relative started cracking on her, "What do they even speak over there, chong chang ooga booga?!" and everybody laughed.
I wanted to smack the tattooed ese who was teasing her. But I understand. I get that there really are two Americas, the haves and the ain't-gots. And everybody believes in scarcity. The haves are so busy putting their foot in the ain't-gots face to keep them out away from their prosperity. And the ain't-gots have internalized the negativity of poverty so much that they so that they don't dream for their children anymore. Or they cling to whatever makes them feel better about themselves in this life--guns, bibles, skin color. SMH.
We need Change. And some Hope, too.
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Typically, when Americans think of "class" they think economic class, but there is another "class": college educated and non-college educated. Personal values can be very different for college educated vs. non-college educated. Often if a parent in on one side of the college education divide and the child is on the other side, it makes for a "different" relationship, than if both were on the same side of the divide. A lot of time parents don't want to "lose" their child. Or put differently, parents don't want their child to reject their values.
I have a Ph.D. in economics, my parents never graduated from high school. I read everything, my parents only read the bible. We don't have a lot to talk about when we get together.
But anyway tell Playbelle:
On average, a high school graduate earns $25,900 a year, and a college graduate earns $45,400 a year.
And over a life time, a high school graduates can expect, on average to earn $1.2 million; and those with a bachelor's degree $2.1, almost double the amount.
Here's the Data .
One thing many people do not consider is what jobs will be available and what they pay. Speech Pathology should work out well. My only advice is to not take on too much debt. And avoid, if possible, private student loans.
wow..good for Playbelle...and the area she chose is important and needed....badly...
( is she interested in Autism at all ? because that area needs speech people badly at all levels...there might even be grants and loans through the Autism groups and foundations)...
Anyone that can cling to a goal at this point...that is what matters...that is The Hope...and sometimes that is the Light that gets us through the Dark..
thanks for bringing the Sunday Hope :-)
Congrats! to Playbelle. In her case and in the case of the Hispanic girl at Wally World, it is important that they surround themselves with people who exude positive energy and not those who can jeopardize their dreams with negativity.
PlayBelle should have told her helpful friend "thanks!" because, as I'm sure she noticed, the friend used a double negative in her clever critique: "a degree don't mean nothin'." Thus, this friend clearly meant to express that a college degree means a whole lot!
Yay, PlayBelle!
PS - There are people working at McDonald's who have their master's degree, but they certainly won't be working there forever. They have options, unlike people without degrees. I sold shoes for a year after getting my B.A., but now I’m gainfully employed and making more than the minimum wage.
Congrats to her! I know you both are very pleased. I can't stand folks who try and bring others down because they've never tried to better their own situation.
It's sad indeed.
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