For a quarter-century, I have been facilitating the pursuit of higher education by young people. To succinctly describe the context, here are some data points: of the several hundred students who have been assisted, an estimated 90% have been Hispanic, probably 95% financially challenged, maybe 10% undocumented or DACA, some 90% first generation, and perhaps 90% with paid jobs in the real world.
All these numbers are from my head as I maximized money invested in students to fulfill their mission and did not devote time, energy, or money on either sophisticated information gathering or data analytics.
Wide reading and lots of experience informed the decision not to spend funds in said directions as nothing learned ever changed my approach, it being as much a lifestyle (mine) as an intellectual decision. Besides, Barnes & Noble and the Internet have more than enough low-priced or free inputs on “mentoring” or “education reform” or “how to help those with thin wallets” or other subjects of similar import.
**
The process of interaction with a young person always began with a quite lengthy first conversation (typically ninety minutes), one-on-one in my small office in the middle of a town which is now predominantly Hispanic. Initially I asked about the jobs and education levels of their parents (both in their home country and in the USA), why they came to this area, their attitudes toward higher education, their feelings about debt, and their understanding of our arcane system of higher education (typically they had surface awareness at best; who can blame them!)
Those queries were simply for extended openers before delving into the complicated thought process of the student. In every conversation, my questions went in the direction indicated by the student’s answers, while simultaneously managing to cover everything I wanted to know. (The information sheet which I used and the complete list of my questions are available at no cost; simply e-mail me at wkbj@att.net.)
Do not ask how the student grantees came to my attention; the answer to the multiple choice question would be “all of the above.” Our marketing/solicitation budget was zero.
Our rejection rate has been close to zero, although a handful of disgruntled students would not say they felt the warmth. Their projected paths were simply too illogical to waste money that should go to others.
While the student was in college, there were periodic e-mails from me (both inquiries as to specific information and my dissertations on various topics), campus visits, and multiple meals (in New Jersey or New York City or wherever the student might be located).
Students realized I was available 24/7 from a communication standpoint, my lack of skill in Spanish being irrelevant. (Perhaps it was offset by my fondness for futbol [including having attended matches in the fabled Camp Nou stadium of Barcelona; my own photo of Messi in action is on my office wall] and my extensive travel in South America.)
My funding per semester was a relatively large amount, the check payable to the student (as an aside, note the current rising interest in non-profit organizations providing money directly and the expanded discussion of the Universal Basic Income concept). I was almost entirely oblivious to other funding sources being accessed by the student and equally (and deliberately) ignorant of whether some of the money was going into the family sugar bowl.
I have been equally unaware of how tax returns are done by students and their families.
Never was there a connection between the student’s GPA and their grant. My only request was that the student be adamant about graduating.
My life experiences (including Wall Street and homeless shelter volunteering) were shared, I provided recommendations for various educational and specialized scholarship programs, I clipped (not knowing about “links”) and mailed newspaper and magazine articles of interest, gave away relevant (hopefully) books…. and broke bread (I think I mentioned that already). Almost forgot, I sent a birthday card of my own design, attended numerous graduations (that was the outcome goal, correct!) and later, weddings on more than a few occasions.
**
Alumni (students who have been assisted to graduate from college) have realized that there was a continuity of our relationship after graduation, if desired by the individual. For one, it is fun for me to know how people are doing in their real lives; second, such interaction helps me in talking with those who are at earlier stages on their education and career paths; and third, I still like to eat.
I have provided honest and glowing commentaries when requested to be a reference for a prospective employee. Twice I have been interviewed by a Department of Defense investigator about an alumnus involved in a job requiring security clearance.
**
An evaluation of this multi-year effort by myself would conclude (1) it has been hugely successful, (2) it is not scalable and maybe not replicable, (3) it underscores the essentiality of human interaction, (4) it clearly broke some rules established by the businesses known as colleges (no animals were harmed, nor was sleep lost by me!), and (5) it underscored how many high school seniors with the socioeconomic characteristics described above have never had a thorough discussion about possible next steps in their lives.
**
Do not get me started about the country’s underperforming, poorly structured, inappropriately designed education system. The college/university sector specifically should be blown up and reconstituted as a lower cost, lifelong learning collection of credentials that mean something beyond an attractive wall ornament. (Does any college graduate use more than half of what they just spent a fortune regurgitating on tests?)
Do not get me started about the woeful state of guidance counseling, whether at the high school or college level. The job description is a total misnomer in many cases.
Do not get me started about …. okay, enough, I have a bloodwork appointment later.
Bob Howitt
P.S. To all grammarians, I probably have slipped with respect to my tenses (or is it my“senses!”) as my foundation is technically finished but my modus operandi lives on as I move closer to my goal of dying broke.
P.P.S. In case my kvetching obscures this fact: I am IMMENSELY PROUD of the accomplishments of all those individuals I have helped along the way.
Back Story: Yes, one does exist. It consists of bumping around in multiple situations (including being self-unemployed for three years, after I was fired by a guy who years later murdered his wife) before landing at a 18-year gig, which included becoming a partner of a respected Wall Street money management and institutional research firm.
A multi-year stint as a homeless volunteer in New York City (culminating in an unpublished manuscript, “Eighteen Months in the Basement”) took place in the final stages of my life on Wall Street. This experience was one of several factors that led to a desire for a big change. I was drafted by the Board of Directors to be the interim Executive-Director of the well-known New York City youth agency with the quaint name, The Door. With specialized help from an uber-aggressive director named Jacki Slater, the program was saved from bankruptcy and tears were shed at my going away party.
Then came day one of what the opening verbiage describes.