No, GRIT is not an acronym. Although, we could change that by saying GRIT means Growth Resilience Initiative and Tenacity. Or Goals Respect Integrity and Teamwork. Or Graduating Reeling It Together. In this case, we're taking the word at its face value. I just wanted to write in all caps because it is THAT important. Whether you're a genius, super smart, average, or have to work extra hard on school work, if you have grit, you will succeed. How many CEO's will tell you they were average students? Why do you think there is a college scholarship for 'B' average students? Because it's not only the grade point average that will determine your success in school and in life. There's more to it. A small, four-letter word. G to the R to the I to the T.
When you look back on your life, do you remember some hard times? How did you push through? What made you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again? (For those who picked up on that Aaliyah reference, AWESOME!) It was grit. Grit helps us, even when things are tough, to spring back up and get back in the race. If you receive a bad grade? Grit helps you to study harder or smarter. Grit pushes you to seek help. Unsure of a major and career? Grit helps you use the resources available to you so you can begin that journey into major and career exploration. Change your mind on a career and want to switch paths? Grit allows you to explore options and discover more interests. Check out this video on grit. Develop your growth mindset and get your GRIT on!
As he looked across at the opposing team, his subconscious began looking for a hole in the defense. The quarterback began the count and his muscles tightened in anticipation for the "hike." The burst of energy that always comes with another play on the football field flowed through his body as he grabbed the ball and ran his route watching for openings. The linemen were on point that day and as the end zone grew closer, his blood pumped faster and he felt like a cheetah saving his muscles for the final surge of energy needed for those precious six points. As he crossed that final line, the sound of the cheering crowd became clear as though he was rising from underwater grabbing gulps of air. The celebrating lasted for several hours beginning on the field to the locker room to the dorms. He shut the door to his dorm room muffling the sound of music coming from the main student area and knew the rest of the crowd would be living it up for quite some time. But he had a test in his political science class on Monday and needed to study. He felt confident as he reviewed throughout the semester but this test would determine whether or not he would go to law school. And that was his goal. That had ALWAYS been his goal. His older brother was his inspiration. By the time he was born, his brother had almost completed high school and was preparing for college. Growing up on a little island in the South Pacific, college was a goal for only a few people. And funding it? That was even more daunting. His brother moved back home when he first started high school with a wife and two and a half kids. His brother had completed his degree in Business and was working for the government. He thought about his brother's accomplishments and also wanted to make his family proud. When he decided to attend college, his goal was law school. Period. Football? That was for play. Even when he walked on and tried out for the team, sports was always secondary. He would get homesick and football helped him stay busy and focused. He was stuck in Missouri and when it snowed, he thought about the warm, tropical breeze of home. He remembered the sandy beaches and trees full of flowers and food. Law school was needed because he wanted to live someplace warm, close to home, and maybe later actually move back home. That was his intention. He saved his money so he could travel once he completed his Bachelors degree. He had always wanted to see the world and found a six-week law internship in Greece. It was an amazing experience and it allowed him to not only study law, but to study another culture. One so vastly different from his own and yet very similar. When he traveled home after his trip to Greece, he taught his niece Greek words and some of the culture. That summer was his respite before beginning the rigors of law school. His renewed energy from these trips helped him to stay focused. He saw his brother sitting in the audience as he was sworn in first as a District Court Judge then later as a Circuit Court Judge for the state of Hawaii. His heart swelled with pride as he was able to acknowledge his family and all of the people who helped him on his journey. He loved to tell the story of the woman who worked at a bank in Hawaii who helped with his school funding. Every year he would call her and say, "It's that time!" She would laugh and tell him, "Don't worry. We've got you covered." She was a voice over the phone but he vowed to visit her when he finished law school. And he did. After he finished law school and prepared for the bar exam, he went to the bank and asked for the woman. He had a gift for her. When she came out, he asked if she remembered the boy who called her every year to ask about money for college. And he told her thank you. And they cried. She, among so many others, were his inspiration, his guides, his cheerleaders. Walking along the sandy beach in Hawaii making his way to his canoe, he remembered those days filled with snow, football, homesickness, and his career. The water was a clear blue and the waves lapped against the shore slowly taking sand out to sea. He could see the calmness of the ocean and knew the rowing would be smooth. He could see his teammates up ahead preparing the canoe for the race. He smiled as he remembered those days on the football field. He heard someone yell, "Hey, Judge!" It was a lawyer he worked with in the Prosecutor's office for many years. He waved then looked out over the Pacific ocean and in his mind, he could see home. He could see the flowers growing around the house with their vibrant reds, yellows, purples, and pinks. He could smell the gardenia flowers planted right outside the door near his mom's grave. He saw the mountain behind the house, the waterfalls that would flow during a strong rain, the green of the treetops, the land they called Vaitele. In a few years his daughter would graduate from high school and attend college. Then he would move home. It was time to go back. It was time to give back. It was time.
The Presidential race is at the top of the news list, all day every day. From Hillary Clinton's computer drama, to Bernie Sanders' attack on the Walton family wealth, to Ben Carson's plea for mic time, to Donald Trump's many bumps and blunders, we often wonder about the educational background of candidates and past presidents. So I did some research. And my thoughts about educational backgrounds of presidents was confirmed. The majority of POTUS's have a political science and/or law background. Out of the 44 presidents (and yes, I know Grover Cleveland served two separate terms), 25 had law degrees or apprenticeships and 13 were military people. Some of the fascinating educational backgrounds of previous presidents include teaching, business (George W. Bush was the only president with an MBA), economics, history, journalism, tailor, and geology. In the case of Abraham Lincoln, he was self-taught including his understanding of the law. In the current presidential race, out of the seven candidates still running for office, three have a Bachelor's degree, three have Law degrees, and one is a Medical Doctor. So who is eligible to become POTUS? According to Wikipedia, here are the requirements:
A person who meets the above qualifications is still disqualified from holding the office of president under any of the following conditions:
Under the Twenty-second Amendment, no person can be elected president more than twice. The amendment also specifies that if any eligible person serves as president or acting president for more than two years of a term for which some other eligible person was elected president, the former can only be elected president once. Scholars disagree whether anyone no longer eligible to be elected president could be elected vice president, pursuant to the qualifications set out under the Twelfth Amendment.[69]
Under Article I, Section 3, Clause 7, upon conviction in impeachment cases, the Senate has the option of disqualifying convicted individuals from holding federal office, including that of president.[70]
Under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, no person who swore an oath to support the Constitution, and later rebelled against the United States, can become president. However, this disqualification can be lifted by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress.
Imagine my surprise that there is no mention of a college degree, only citizenship, age, and residency requirements. Subconsciously, though, I believe the expectation is some sort of schooling and lots of life experience. How many of you thought you had to have a law degree to run for president? Or have a political background? You'll be happy (or not) to know that anyone who can fund a campaign can run for president as long as you follow the criteria above. Of course, I am not discouraging you from getting a college degree. In fact, I believe a college degree or certification is vital. So as you research and decide on the person you want in the most important office in the land, what criteria will you look for? And how will you decide on a major and career, whether in the political realm or otherwise?
*On a side note, SLCC just went through student government elections. When we opened our box of puppet mascots back in August, we were having so much fun with them that we had to take some pictures. And make a lot of noise. Our initial pictures of the mascots include our new 2016/2017 SLCC Student Body President:
Every now and then I come across "writer's block." No topic or idea stands out to me and nothing inspires me to write. I haven't read any articles this week that made me jump up and say, "Yes, I need to write about this topic RIGHT NOW!" So, I'm reaching out to all of you, my two readers, to ask for topics.
What do you want to know about majors and careers?
What do you want to know about what SLCC offers?
What can you do with a career in (fill in the blank)?
What do YOU want to know about major and career exploration? Email me at:
michelle.tuitupou@slcc.edu
Tell me what you want to read about. What will help you the most when it comes to major and career exploration. Chico and I will be waiting for responses...
There is no cookie cutter method to college students and majors. We don't have a sheet of candy canes, bunnies, or gingerbread men that are baked and distributed fresh out of the oven all with the same decorations. At Salt Lake Community College, we have a great mix of students with an even greater mix of personalities, values and interests. So not everyone fits into the general mold of Business or Criminal Justice or Nursing. We have many students who prefer the hands-on approach. And there's nothing wrong with that! A hands-on program that takes two years or less but gets you into a good paying job? Where do I sign up? Fortunately, SLCC offers more than the cookie cutter programs. The following list are programs that offer wonderful possibilities in the career market:
Aerospace Technology Professional Pilot/Aviation
Admin/Dispatch
Aviation Dispatch
Aviation
Apprenticeship Programs
Non-Destructive Testing
Automotive Technician
Auto Collision Repair/Paint
Diesel Systems Technology
Motorcycle/Small Engines
Welding
Construction Management & Sustainable Bldg
Cabinet Making/Furniture Construction
(Program advisor: Sam Curley, samual.curley@slcc.edu)
Do you have a background in construction but need something that's less strenuous on the body? "Non-Destructive testing involves the examination of an object in any manner that will not impair its future usefulness." You'll be testing structures versus building them. There are opportunities to move anywhere you wish. Hawaii is nice and warm...
Have you always been fascinated with machines and engines? Automotive Technician and Aviation Maintenance both work with machine parts, one with cars and one with airplanes/helicopters. You could even take a look at the Motorcycle/Small Engines program. With Spring coming up, you'll need to make sure the lawn mower is working and ready for the green grass!
The majority of these programs have places waiting and ready to hire you once you've completed the program requirements. That's a great investment on your money and time knowing you'll have a great career right away. Take some time to discover the hands-on career fields!
I saw a post on Facebook last week that read, "Another job my career counselor forgot to tell me about." Followed by this video:
Do you ever wonder what jobs are out there? Or how a person got into a certain job? How do you become a professional panda hugger? How do you know that amazing job is out there? As career advisors, we have limited knowledge regarding all careers and sometimes we stumble on cool ones like professional panda hugging! But, with a little time and research, you can certainly find some very interesting prospective jobs that might actually fall into your range of interest. For example, do you like beer? Brew masters make a good living and you can live in places like California, Oregon, or Vermont. Put your beer tasting to work for you!
Are you a person who never wanted to grow up? You wanted to spend your life dressing up as a princess? You love to sing and dance? You wish they would make the cartoon princesses into real life people? Become a Disney character and live in a warm climate! Live out your dream by interviewing and auditioning for the Disney franchise!
Do you still live at home playing video games in your parents' basement? You are the best critic when it comes to video games and you can spot the good (and bad) ones from a mile away? You should be a video game tester. Salary? $71,000/year. Now you can move into your own apartment with your friend who's a brew master.
The name is Bond. James Bond. Do you associate yourself with the numbers 007? Do you dream of protecting a country and the excitement of being a spy? The official name is Intelligence Officer but let's be real, spy is cooler! Get a bachelor's degree (specific subject areas required), a British passport, and pass training. That's it! Then you get to date a Disney princess.
"Art only makes money after the artist has died." Common perception? Sometimes. Or, you can restore art from dead artists and still make a nice living. Art restorers should have a degree in fine arts and specialty areas. Live your art dream and work on pieces no one else gets to touch.
Always loved volcanoes? Was your science fair project an exploding volcano every single year? Become a volcanologist, travel the world studying volcanoes, and possibly live in beautiful places. Yes, things can get hot but you would be saving lives.
Are you in touch with your inner Chi? Do you know how to get other people in touch with their inner Chi? Do you like to work in a variety of areas around a home? You should be a FengShui Consultant. Formal training gives you better opportunities but if you know how to market yourself, you could make a great living bringing peace and harmony to people and their living spaces.
Are you a perfume connoissuer? Do you love fragrances and mixing smells together? Did you love chemistry so much so that you decided to get a Bachelor's degree in the field? You should be a Fragrance Chemist. Work with aromas, test scents, and do something you love!
Google is an amazing way to start a list of interesting jobs around the world or even in your home town. Planning on staying in Utah around the Salt Lake valley? A great resource is https://slcc.emsicareercoach.com/. More adventurous and want to travel the nation? Then www.onetonline.org is the search tool for you! Major and career exploration takes time and effort but believe me, the journey is the interesting part. Even if you're journey-ing from your computer.
Most of the world chooses should. You should _______. You should never _______. You should always _________. Should is what is expected of you by your family, society, your bills. But what if you chose must? I MUST be an author. I MUST be an artist. I MUST live on an island. I MUST climb mountains. According to Elle, there are universal questions that make you pause as you stand in front of the crossroads between should and must.
What is my MUST? (Ask yo mama. Seriously. Ask your mom or someone who knew you when you were young. What did you love to do?)
What if doing what I love doesn't pay? (Sometimes that happens. If your must doesn't pay the bills, find a career that can and with your extra time focus on your must.)
But I don't have space for must. (Find it. Make it. Do it!)
Find Elle Luna. Find "The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion." Find your MUST.
