When I think ahead in terms of what students could do after college I’m perplexed. On the one hand I believe in the value of liberal education; on the other I remember working at Jimbos in the 80s, managing the deli and looking over applications from college graduates, wondering why they wanted to make sandwiches for $5 an hour. Envisioning what one could do in life with a degree in psychology or communication has never been easy. It’s why I left school after an associates in the early 80s. I knew a degree didn’t secure anything I was interested in, like music. It’s of course very different now. I don’t hesitate saying that the world is very different, more competitive and without a foundation, it’s difficult.
This article is interesting in that it sheds some light on the changing landscape of work. It helps us as educators connect students with what’s next. I think it might be part of liberal education after all, helping students envision connect what they’re doing in college with what they could be doing as a result of their education. There are so many “jobs” that require a composite of skills, like the ones illustrated in this article about Nokia.
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