The Real World

Part of my assignment for work is to research blogs and then contribute to Amway’s Intern blog. Throughout my research I have stumbled upon several interesting blogs and articles that have led me to some random thoughts. This may come out slightly (okay, being sarcastic) harsh, and so I am just going to jump right in and feed myself to the wolves here: I am disappointed with my fellow peers. I hate to say it, but no wonder 44% of employers are not planning on hiring employees from the graduate class of 2010 (https://mymail.huntington.edu/owa/redir.aspx?C=9e2b234469f2489ca385ab27d017ae0c&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.courierpostonline.com%2farticle%2f20100524%2fBUSINESS%2f5240312%2fCollege-graduates-face-hurdles-in-finding-jobs) . Feel free to disagree with me, or challenge me on this, but all that I am saying is how do fresh college graduates think that they can walk out of their cap and gowns one day and into a business suit the next when they haven’t put in the effort and lazed away their college days sleeping and maxing out credit cards?

Upon leaving school this past May, I had a conversation with a soon to be 2010 college graduate. His major: Youth Ministry. I said somewhat excitedly to him, “Oh! So you plan to be a youth pastor right away?” His response? “What?? Heck no. Never.” Wait a second. Am I missing something here?

My question to you is, why? Why would someone go to a private university for 4 years working toward a degree (which, by the way, can’t really be used anywhere else other than a church), and then not even plan to go after an actual job in that field? Do they not want to earn a living? I am not asking to be critical, but rather out of curiosity, because I honestly just don’t get it.

I see this in other ways as well. Students attend college with lots of potential, but then they don’t do anything with it. I realize that jobs are hard to come by these days, but, if you were really talented and ambitious, I think I would be safe in saying that you would have a good chance in landing a new hire position. The fact is: if you have talent and you are dang good at what you do, employers will want you. Isn’t that what we have all been working for ever since we walked into our kindergarten classroom with our box of crayons and side pony tails? Why don’t students work toward this? Why do they (and, maybe I should be saying “we” in some of these cases, because I can be just as guilty sometimes) just take the statistics and assume they don’t have a chance so they just don’t even try.

I have heard the story thousands of times over the past three years about how my generation is lazy and wants to spend too much time “finding themselves.” At first, I tried fighting this generalization on my own people, but I hate to say it, but it is kind of true. It seems as if too many fresh college graduates leave college physically but not mentally, almost enabled to actually enter the real world of work. Do I think it is because they can’t do it? Of course not. Actually, I think my generation is probably made up of some of the most brilliant people the world has yet to know. Do I think it is a sense of laziness and selfishness?

It is kind of ironic to me that the very people who say they are very caring (which they are) people who want to reach the world and make a difference; who say they are selfless, are the very people who won’t give up their “freedom” and get to work. They rather play then go out and use their talents. One of my absolute most favorite quotes (by Marianne Williamson) describes this pretty well:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Why aren’t we going out there and being all we can be? Why are some of us staying in the past and trying to live a childish life when we could be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Maybe going out there and being a career person or a missionary or an amazing coach is not for everyone. Maybe it is okay for some people to do what they do. That’s okay. All that I am saying is if we really are those great, passionate, selfless people that we claim to be, then it’s time to show it.

To me, the 44% of employers hiring us statistic needs to change. But, guess what guys, only we can be the ones to change it.