Students are being told to stay in school. People out of work (or disillusioned with their careers) are being told to go back to school, but is school with its theoretical approach really preparing us for new out-of-the-box ideas and innovation?

Are students going to be inspired and encouraged to lead? While working at UC Berkeley with a small extraordinary group of students (who are all from poor or very low income backgrounds) I’m seeing how important it is for students to see the connection between their education and the “real” world. Why has  the “real” word been so separate from education?

Since I’ve been working with these students on experiential learning and getting students to go outside the “norm” of traditional careers, it’s so exciting to see those “aha” moments and see the “light” go on when someone can identify what it is they want to do rather than what career they can fit in to. So many times we’re trying to put a round peg into a square hole by going into the career of what is “hot” or fashionable at the time. What if finance or engineering or “green” isn’t your thing…or how can you see yourself in those careers without being an analyst or an engineer? How can graduates create their jobs and really be excited about what they do every day?

Through informational interviews, workshop exploration and using some interactive exercises, we’ve been exploring how we can ” let go” of what’s traditional and take the leap into what excites us AND create a meaningful work life and get paid for what you really want to do with your life.