A panel of University students reached out to high schools across the nation at a press conference Monday with U.S. Undersecretary of Education Sara Martinez Tucker.
Part of a national “Listening Tour,” the University was Tucker’s fifth stop in a series of visits to various campuses across the nation. Tucker travels to high schools and colleges aiming to ensure every American has access to the tools needed for achieving a college degree.
“My job is to find out what I can do better to support you in earning that credential,” Tucker said.
Tucker said 90 percent of new U.S. jobs require some form of education and 60 percent of high growth jobs require a college degree. She said less than one-third of Americans have a college degree, and by 2010, more than half of jobs on the manufacturing floor will require a college education. She said she knows how much the future requires an education and that promoting higher education at an early age is essential.
Tucker said speaking with university students one-on-one allows her to take the most effective approach to carry out her job. She directed questions to the panel to find out the different journeys that led them to campus. Students shared tips on the importance of beginning the college search process early, the value of scholarships and when they decided they were going to college. Students revealed what their college experience has done for them and the steps they took to make their dreams a reality.
Liz Dunn, management senior, said she remembers it was a rainy, dreary day when she stepped foot on campus and was immediately sold. She said what attracted her was the University’s focus on culture, diversity and new experiences. Dunn said the large number of students and academic programs was also an important determining factor in her college decision.
“I knew LSU was the place for me, and I could mature here,” she said. “I would ask students what is important to them and to look at their values.”
Gabby Martinez, political science and mass communication senior, said college not only opens up more real-world opportunities for students but serves as a good intermediate period for young people to find out what they want to do with their lives. She said she started thinking about what she wanted to do and planning for a career unconsciously early on.
“I think the core classes from elementary school let you know your interests, and then from there, you pick your field classes,” she said. “Students might want to start looking during high school.”
Other points addressed at the conference include the significance of student organization involvement, service learning, the importance of having a balanced portfolio, standardized test scores and financial tips. Tucker said some students are afraid to take out loans for an education, but she is surprised that they will take out loans for cars and houses. Tucker said too many Americans do not have the education choices they need to be available to them.
——Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]