Let's take a look at the average
college student in the 21st century. This person will most
likely take 13-16 hours of classes, graduate in 4 or more years with
the major of their choosing, and go into the world with a bachelors
degree. Some may go back to college to further their education by
getting their master's or possibly their Doctorate degree. According
to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, in 2011, 68% of high school graduates
enrolled in a college or university that is about 2.1 million
students. This number is amazing and very encouraging from the
educational prospective, but in my eyes that number is very
intimidating. Let's assume that out of those 2.1 million people only
half of them actually graduate college. That still leaves 1.05
million young adults going into the job force with at least a
bachelors degree.
That's 1.05 million people that you might sometime in the future be competing against to get a job. Now
does that mean that all you need is more education to gain an edge in
the job market after college? Does that mean that you have to borrow
10,000+ dollars in student loans just so you can possibly have the
chance to get a better job? Well my answer to these questions are
simple and honest. It wouldn't hurt to get more education on the
career you are wanting to pursue, except for your wallet. What
employers really look for is work experience, and experience in the
area that the hopeful employee has applied for.
A great way to gain great hands-on and
first person experience in an actual work environment is through
pushing for students to pursue internships! I feel that internships
are key in getting an upper hand in the job market these days. So I
propose that the best way to improve the 21st century
classroom is to actually expand it into more than just textbooks and
words on paper, but rather put students into actual job scenarios
they are wanting to have. Many people have benefited greatly from
interning in companies while they are in college. "Being
able to talk with people working in the industry I'm studying to work
in is priceless," says Jared
Smith, a 24-year-old junior at Shasta College, beginning his
second Web development internship for Redding Electric Utility in
California. "I was able to spend the day in the control room at
the power station, which was amazing for me. I was also able to see
the data that is going to be important to me in my career. I learned
about things I'll never find in the classroom. Now I can focus on my
studies and strive for the knowledge I'll need in tomorrow's
workforce.” Jared was able to gain valuable experience and
knowledge beyond what he could have learned in the classroom alone.
Research
shows that 85 percent of companies use internships and similar
experiential education programs to recruit for their full-time workforce. This statement alone shows how effective internships are!
What I wanted to propose is that colleges and universities raise
awareness, and also possibly set up some programs where students
have the opportunity to work as an interns for local businesses.
Thank
you, and have a great day!
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