At the Round Table

Yesterday I was honored to be a Speed Leader.

"A what?" you say.

The Rotaract Club (Rotary at the college level) of The University of Findlay, had an event where students could sit at a round table with a business leader. They could ask questions of the business person for 15 minutes and then each leader would move on to another table to repeat the routine with another group of students.

Before I would answer questions at each table, I asked each student to tell me their major or majors and what they wanted to do when they graduated.

Except for one or two, most had no idea.

That really disturbs me.

Think of all the money the students and their parents have invested in their education.

These students had not connected with those in the business community at all until yesterday's event.

In my opinion, each college should have some sort of credit program, where each student has to meet with one business person per month. The college could help by having a list of people within each academic area that are willing to be part of this project.

Why would business people want to do this? Well, some would just want to give back to the community, but others would like the opportunity to connect with good interns or employees for the future. It would give students a window into the real world of business. It might give them a clearer picture of how to begin to use that expensive education.

For those students just weeks away from graduation, who have no idea of a direction, I am just sad. Sad that they are not getting a complete education, one that gives them education and ALSO lessons in relationship development.


What do you think about all this?