I’m going to India in a couple of weeks and my aunt, who runs a government school for poor kids whose parents did not attend school, invited me to do an hour-long presentation about anything I wanted.
As the audience will be mainly kids our ages, I am currently planning to give a bit of a motivational talk about how they can achieve precisely anything they want given that many kids just like them now are the CEOs of the biggest companies in the world (ex. Google and Microsoft). Then, I wanted to outline how they can achieve those goals, however ambitious they may be, by offering my knowledge on the admissions process. At the end, I would provide them my email, phone number, and perhaps any method of communication so that they can reach out to me with any further questions.
I just feel that this idea isn’t really that concrete – like there isn’t much substance to it.
What do you guys think and do you have any other suggestions?
Thanks so much!
I’m a poor, first-generation senior from New Jersey.
I would put emphasis on how important it is to do well in school, and to continue their education. Good grades are important in general, especially for those who intend to make above minimum wage. They don’t necessarily have to go to college, but most jobs today require some formal education beyond high school.
I often use my memory of homelessness as a sophomore to motivate myself to continue doing well. I know with a good career and college education, my chances of being homeless again will be much smaller.
Well, I wouldn’t raise the hopes of poor international students getting to undergraduate college in the US. Their chances are so slim.
Joe, as a high school kid who hasn’t yet applied to college, what is your knowledge of the admissions process? It’s presumptuous to assume you can “outline” how they can be like a Google exec. Go with NJgirl’s advice: “how important it is to do well in school, and to continue their education” and to try to keep learning, even if their educations are interrupted. You aren’t going as a kid with all the answers. Sometimes, what’s best is a simple message that can be absorbed and tried in small, attainable steps. And before you go, try to understand their circumstances.
Kids, you’re important. Your identities, wants, needs, opinions, and ideas are hella valid. Work hard and you can help people.
I would also think there will be lots of questions about your life in the US, so enjoy that conversation with them. You are 18, they are 18, there will be a lot of similarities and some differences and they will be very interested in your life (maybe not the college application part, but your greater life).
Their future options are much different than yours, your aunt can likely tell you what their high achieving, medium achieving and low achieving students have available to them after high school. There is likely some program the high achieving students can use to get to some college and I would think that would give them access to further opportunities.
Yes, they need to stay focused on academics and especially on learning … especially coming from poor circumstances they need to grab every opportunity to learn and advance … from learning computers to helping fix things … both to advance their education and also to start earning a living to move out of poverty …
What you can share, rather than the minutia of repeated SAT tests or whatever, is that you have set goals for yourself and have kept on working towards those goals. And also … that you have sought out people who know more than you, for example this list, but likely also people in real life, who have helped you figure out how to get from one step to another. That is an important thing they too can do.
Maybe write a draft or outline of some topics and send it via email to you aunt so she can comment …
I am not sure that their path is likely to be toward being a Google CEO (none of us are going their either) but their path can be out of poverty and into a good life … and for the most ambitious and lucky one or ones in the class maybe outright wealth … but a good life … it’s what they need and want.
Yeah, I didn’t really mean to say that I would tell them how to be Google execs, but I just wanted to make it clear to them that they are powerful. I mean, some of these kids feel weak, like they can’t do anything in the world. I just want to show them as examples kids like them who have succeeded and tell them that they can be successful as well.
@lookingforward You’re right. I do know how to apply to colleges here and the basic requirements and such, but I have no idea how to guide them through the process.
I wouldn’t even try. It is s different and more difficult process for internationals. Do you really need to pick a big & uplifting topic?
@intparent I want to encourage them, and I’ll refrain from admissions completely. But, what do you think I should do?
I think it could be really condescending to give them a pep talk. Maybe you should ask your aunt for suggestions.