Center for Business and Economic Research - Ball State University


CBER Data Center
Projects and PublicationsEconomic IndicatorsWeekly CommentaryCommunity Asset InventoryManufacturing Scorecard

About

Commentaries are published weekly and distributed through the Indianapolis Business Journal and many other print and online publications. Disclaimer

RSS Feed

Disclaimer

The views expressed in these commentaries do not reflect those of Ball State University or the Center for Business and Economic Research.

Recent

The 2023 ForecastThe reason for worry about a recession is the Federal Reserve’s response to high inflation.

Some Labor Market Facts You Won’t Read ElsewhereIndiana is simply not producing a 21st century workforce.

Three Types of Public DebtAll types of public debt are effectively transfers of wealth from the future to our present selves.

Remote Work Is Indiana’s Biggest Opportunity and RiskThere are now more Hoosiers in remote work than there are in manufacturing and logistics combined.

View archives

Top Tags

jobs and employment 225
economics 173
education 144
economic development 141
taxes 122
state and local government 119
finance 107
recession 100
budget and spending 98
indiana 96
Browse all tags
Reporter / Admin Login

August 17, 2014

Embrace the College Experience

This week marks the beginning of class at many American universities. Like most professors I am eager to join in the renewal of the fall semester. There are precious few experiences as full of promise and pregnant with opportunity than the start of school at an American university.

I have written often about the importance of higher education and the superb investment opportunity it offers the wise and diligent student. I have also written of significant changes universities must soon make. I will return to those matters in later columns. This week I intend to be a bit more self-indulgent and offer some heartfelt and frank advice to students.

First, about half of all young people try college, but only half of that group finish a degree. The difference between these groups is almost wholly due to old-fashioned hard work and perseverance. Natural talent helps, as does having a supporting and financially secure family, but nothing replaces pure dogged effort and drive. No one said it better than Thomas Edison, “Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.” So, take it from this professor; work hard and don’t let up.

Second, there are tens of millions of people around the world who would gladly change places with an American college student, and do just as well, but they don’t live in this land of opportunity. So approach this experience with some humility. In truth, if you come to college humble and with a willingness to stick with it, you’ll do well. Still, there is much you can do to enhance the experience.

College is not simply vocational education leading you to a good job. You’ll take roughly 40 courses in college, and you have no idea which one will be most important in 30 years. Neither does anyone else. Education towards a career is important, of course, but so are the arts, humanities and social sciences courses. Today’s single-minded focus on career education couldn’t be more misguided. Never before in the history of the world has exposure to a wide breadth of learning been so important. Do well, and a good job will come.

Take the hard classes. Skip the easy electives and seek out the really challenging ones where most students don’t get A’s. Here is where you really learn to write, read, create and think. Live simply unless you relish student debt, and don’t be afraid to talk to professors.

Make a point to go into every building on campus. See what those folks are doing, be it blowing glass, writing algorithms or sequencing DNA. Remember, every important idea over the past 800 years has leapt from a college classroom or lab.

College lets you reinvent yourself like few other places can. Cast away your shyness and meet people who look and act differently than you. Fearlessly share with them your ideas, perspectives and values. Be nothing less than audacious with this opportunity and remember what an old professor told me: “You may be whatever you resolve to be.”

Link to this commentary: https://commentaries.cberdata.org/747/embrace-the-college-experience

Tags: education, jobs and employment


About the Author

Michael Hicks cberdirector@bsu.edu

Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. Hicks earned doctoral and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Virginia Military Institute. He has authored two books and more than 60 scholarly works focusing on state and local public policy, including tax and expenditure policy and the impact of Wal-Mart on local economies.

© Center for Business and Economic Research, Ball State University

About Ball State CBER Data Center

Ball State CBER Data Center is one-stop shop for economic data including demographics, education, health, and social capital. Our easy-to-use, visual web tools offer data collection and analysis for grant writers, economic developers, policy makers, and the general public.

Ball State CBER Data Center (cberdata.org) is a product of the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University. CBER's mission is to conduct relevant and timely public policy research on a wide range of economic issues affecting the state and nation. Learn more.

Terms of Service

Center for Business and Economic Research

Ball State University • Whitinger Business Building, room 149
2000 W. University Ave.
Muncie, IN 47306-0360
Phone:
765-285-5926
Email:
cber@bsu.edu
Website:
www.bsu.edu/cber
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/BallStateCBER
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/BallStateCBER
Close