YPs I’m not sure if you’ve heard of this story Urban Prep, a charter school in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago that has managed to get 100% of their first senior class admitted into a 4 year college or university.   This is truly an inspiring story for a lot of young men and women that are growing up in communities with limited resources and environments that really aren’t geared towards getting an education beyond high school diplomas.  Stories like this excite me.  Dr. Boyce Watkins put it best, “When black males put the same intensity into academic achievement that we put into dribbling basketballs and throwing footballs, we are truly phenomenal. The young men at Urban Prep will have longer, more financially-rewarding careers than they would have had by pursuing their hoop dreams at the expense of everything else. They will also be well-positioned to be effective and relevant leaders in the 21st century. Being a great athlete can make you powerful, but being a great thinker makes you EMPOWERED.”  Read Dr. Boyce’s article as well because he makes some good points as well in highlighting this great story regarding Urban Prep.  I think schools Read more »

YPRuck: For a long time, athletes were used by universities and colleges to fill stadiums and arenas but Myron Rolle has done just the opposite by using his athletic ability to obtain a free education and position himself to accomplish all of his goals.  A lot of athletes think that they are professional athlete material and never think about a plan B, but the sad reality is that the percentages drop dramatically for athletes on the collegiate level that actually become professional athletes.  Myron Rolle is blessed to have an opportunity to become a professional athlete but he has delayed his professional career to secure his plan B in which he intends on becoming a doctor after his professional career is over.  This young man takes goal setting to the next level, in this interview Mr. Rolle did with Essence Magazine he is asked about his goals and ambitions and how he felt when he was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship.  I have provided some basic information regarding the the Rhodes Scholarships.  

The Rhodes Scholarships were established after the death of Cecil Rhodes who was a man who dreamed of a world of leaders motivated to promote international understanding and peace through the exposure to cultures different from their own, the study and training of the contemplative life of the mind. 

The criteria for which Rhodes Scholars are selected is as follows: 

1. Literary and scholastic attainments

2. Energy to use one’s talents to the full, as exemplified by fondness for success and sports

3. Truth, courage, and devotion to duty, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness, and fellowship

4. Moral force of character and instincts to lead, and to take interest in one’s fellow beings

YP’s I found Myron Rolle to be inspiring and a role model for me and hopefully he has laid the blueprint for the future student-athlete because he embodies not only being an athlete but also the “student” in student-athlete.  Share this information, be inspired and apply the criteria it takes to be a Rhodes Scholar to your lives YP’s.  Have a great day!

Myron Rolle isn’t a household name quite yet, but give him a few years. At just 22, Rolle has two degrees, a promising professional football career, and was recently selected as a Rhodes Scholar, one of the country’s most prestigious academic honors which will allow him to study medical anthropology at Oxford University for a year. When he’s not hitting the books, he’s making his mark on the football field.

He’s smart, athletic, goal-oriented and devoted to giving back to his community. So why is this brother still single? ESSENCE.com made it our mission to find out and spoke to Rolle about his decision to walk away from millions as a first round draft pick in the NFL, being an over-achiever and the kind of woman that will turn his head.

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Women are flocking to the labor force in record numbers. Nearly 60% sought or occupied employment in 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available, representing 46.5% of the total U.S. labor force. More than one-third of these women worked in management, professional and related occupations, accounting for 51% of all workers in this top-paying sector.

Though a pay gap persists — women’s earnings remain stalled at around 80% of men’s — women are finding the jobs that pay them the most, and some may surprise you. Based on a U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau 2008 analysis, we ranked women’s median weekly earnings as full-time wage and salary workers to uncover the highest-paying jobs for women.
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Math majors don’t always get much respect on college campuses, but fat post-grad wallets should be enough to give them a boost.

The top 15 highest-earning college degrees all have one thing in common — math skills. That’s according to a recent survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which tracks college graduates’ job offers.
“Math is at the crux of who gets paid,” said Ed Koc, director of research at NACE. “If you have those skills, you are an extremely valuable asset. We don’t generate enough people like that in this country.”

This year Rochester Institute of Technology hosted recruiters from defense-industry firms like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, as well as other big companies like Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson.
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An online MBA program is a fast and flexible option for career advancement. Here are some of the most compelling reasons to earn your Master of Business Administration online.

1. Revitalize your career without rearranging your life. Online MBA programs provide flexibility in scheduling, enabling you to pick class times that work for you even if you’re juggling a family, a job and a social life. With an online MBA program, you can work from home at any time of day or night. By the time you graduate, you’ll have the management skills to take on a more rewarding role in your current career, follow a new career path, or start your own business.
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My son is graduating from college this weekend, and that has me thinking about things young people should know when mom and dad cut the purse strings.

Over the years, I’ve tried to teach my kids the basics about being good consumers, such as living within their means, safeguarding their financial information and understanding that just because people have a lot of things doesn’t mean they’re rich. “It means they spend a lot of money,” they’ve heard me say a thousand times.
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As we look towards the future it is important to think about how we are raising our children. Are we empowering them to face challenges in life, to realize that potentially negative situations can be turned into positive outcomes, to make sound decisions based on knowledge, reflection and courage and to be able to go out into the world as adults feeling optimistic and empowered? It takes our initiative as parents to guide them in the proper direction, to help them realize their worth as human beings and to share our values with them, giving them a foundation to feel powerful over their lives. Here are some tips that can start the process.
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May 29, 2009

If you’re thinking about consolidating your variable-rate federal student loans now — don’t. At least not until July 1, 2009.

Starting in July, the interest rates on these education loans will drop to a historic low — which will save you thousands of dollars in interest over the life of your loan.

But the new rates are only available on federal loans that have a variable interest rate — that means that the interest rate changes every July until you lock in the rate by consolidating. Federal loans that were originated before July 1, 2006 have variable rates.

Interest rates on federal consolidation loans are capped — that means they can never go higher than 8.25%. But, there’s no guarantee that they’ll ever be this low again. In fact, the 2009-10 rates, are the lowest interest rates in the history of the federal student loan program. The previous low was in 2004-05 when in-school/grace period rates on the Stafford loan hit 2.77%.
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I just had a conversation with a friend who said, “Do you know that I was reading something that said ‘recent college graduates’ can’t even get a job at McDonald’s?”

My dear friends this really bothers me, so I must say a few things to you:
1 – College provides you with a wealth of knowledge, they do not provide you with a way on how to use that knowledge in today’s “real world.” What does? Reading AND applying a book a week from the best most successful people in the world in your particular area of interest. This will give you the equivalent of a Phd in your field. It won’t give you the paper that says “Phd”, but it will give you the information you need to succeed (plus it’s cheaper than tuition and you won’t have to incur any debt from purchasing these books on Amazon.com – unlike “school loans”). The only thing is, if you want “it” you have to fight to get “it,” and fight to KEEP “it.”

2 – I know you have issues with thinking on your own. I mean those that think differently and challenge “authority” don’t fair too well in college because all you need to do well in college is get good grades. In the “real world” good grades doesn’t get you much (and no one cares – unless you are using it to get into graduate school for an advanced degree in the field of medicine, law, etc). How does this transfer into the real world? “Good grades” in the “real world” means doing something “good” and expecting something “good” back. The problem lies in the frustration of not getting something back in return for doing something “good.” It happens and can continue to happen, BUT it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something “good,” just because you weren’t rewarded for it. The “good” stacks up over the years, and it ALL eventually comes back to you. Which brings me back to this… it’s OK to “challenge authority.” And furthermore you should NOT be “good” anyway. Be OUTSTANDING! “Good” isn’t good enough anymore.

3 – It is unfortunate that college doesn’t teach you HOW to BE you. You are on your own for this. It comes from knowing who you are and knowing who you are not. Once you do more of who you are and less of who you are NOT you REALLY start to find out “who you are.” Furthermore, I TRULY believe you know who you are, but because of the reaction you might get from the people you are around, you change yourself to “fit in.” You have probably done this in high school, and if this happened all throughout college as well… you need some time to REALLY think about it and not care so much what other people think. What do YOU want your life to stand for? What do you REALLY want to do if you didn’t care so much about what others think?

4 – Lets think about this…. since you could walk, you were in school for about 16 YEARS of your life. It’s hard to think about what YOU want, because for so long you were TAUGHT things that you might of had no interest in or what your parents THOUGHT were right for you. There is a point at which you must UNLEARN all the things you were taught and figure out things on your own. It’s OK to not know what you want. Just don’t lie to yourself and please other people (it’s YOUR life, not theirs). Also keep in mind that your parents probably don’t know what it takes to succeed today, because what worked when they were in school or building their business doesn’t necessarily mean it works today. If it does, great… but you are STILL not them.

5 – You need to know what separates you from all the other graduates. It’s REALLY important to think about this. “These times” are changing so fast that if you don’t know what separates you from everyone else, you are going to have a hard time telling someone this on an interview (or separating yourself from any business). Actually, I’m not sure I would even think about interviewing with anyone either, because most businesses in the next 10 years haven’t even been created yet. Solution? Create your own business. You didn’t work this hard to sit in a 4×4 cubicle cell to get a job with “great benefits” and a “401k.” Who cares! Get a life (instead of a job). Who wants to be “Just Over Broke” anyway (which is what j.o.b. REALLY stands for).

6 – Finally, its is really important to understand that no “test” a school provides (like the SAT) measures passion. Passion is something ingrained within your being. It causes you to stay up late and wake up early for only one reason, “Because you must do it, and will die if you don’t.” Very few people have a passion for taking a “test” and throughout the 16 years of my schooling I haven’t seen one teacher in the school system teach me how to build a business around what I am passionate about. I think that is pretty sad.

Passion causes someone to stay late, work harder, and find a way where there isn’t one (despite just having the educational background). If I had a choice between choosing a smarter person or someone with a dying passion, I would choose the passionate one. Sadly, most businesses hire “smarter” more “educated” people because it’s easier to measure. Passionate people you can only measure by giving them a bit of time to prove themselves. And what business has time nowadays? It’s true a smarter person may find a quicker solution, but if it doesn’t work time and time again and they keep “changing with the times” they quit because they don’t “have to” do it. The passionate person can’t sleep UNTIL they find a way to “do it.”

So that is it for now. I apologize for possibly sounding a bit harsh, but I think this is really important to share and hope it helped you or someone you know that might of just graduated.

My college degree (B.A. in Psychology) taught me NOTHING in how to get my music played on MTV, publish “The Poet and the Billionaire,” book/play/promote/market HUNDREDS of solo acoustic concerts across the US, book speaking engagements, start my own community called, “The Black Sheep Project,” how to get press… and on… and on… and on… However, college did get me away from my parents and cause me to think on my own. I’m not sure it was worth $15,000/a year, though. But what do I know? It’s just my opinion, and it doesn’t really matter much anyway (unless you think it does).

Jared Matthew Kessler
(Author of “The Poet and the Billionaire”)

http://www.jaredmatthewkessler.com

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Thinking about an accredited online university degree? Let me be honest. I feel bad for the people who pass up the dozens of ads in emails and in search engines advertising accredited online university degrees. The first reaction of many people is that this is simply another spamming tool. Some may think that it’s too good to be true. But the few who actually click on these ads and pursue a degree online are rewarded.

The positives which distanced education has to offer are numerous in number. Imagine being able to control the way you went to school. There are no more deans or principals to implement tough guidelines on dress codes or being on time. You are trusted with the power to rule how you go to school.

Learning has never been a seasonal thing. It’s what keeps the minds of men fresh and working. Getting a degree online is one of the best ways to learn because it’s a way of individualized learning from teacher to student. In large classes, teaching is informal and the teachers aren’t able to target the students individually. However, distanced education allows the teacher to cater to each student’s individual needs by giving him or her a variety of lecture formats to choose from.

Schedules are a thing of the past and a student is allowed to work at his or her own pace. This is especially beneficial for students who have other jobs which they can use to pay for their education. Instead of having to go to and from work, school, and home every single day, students can now choose when and where they would like to study.

Have you always wanted to go to school in bed, or perhaps in a park or in a mall? Now, you can! If these environments are what work best for you, then nothing is stopping you from tapping these to be able to learn to the best of your capabilities.

Find that degree program which suits you, and get ready to open up your minds and learn. Thousands of opportunities are in store for you-all you need to do is open the door and find out which of the many accredited online universities and colleges is really right for you.

B Von Ahlin is a former teacher with a Masters Degree in Education. Feel more satisfied with better job prospects – make a change and advance your career. Find accredited online university degrees tips and info to see what your options are. You can achieve your goals and live the lifestyle you really want and deserve. Don’t Wait. Browse accredited online university degree resources today at BetterOnlineEducation.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B_Von_Ahlin

Imagine this. You awakened one lazy afternoon after a nap and someone right in front of you gave you two options. You could eat a marshmallow right now. Or, you had to drive ten miles before getting to eat the same marshmallow. Which would you choose? Like most people, you’d probably go for the first option. If you have two choices which give the same end result, why go for the harder option? Likewise, if you have to choose between going to the top accredited online colleges for your education or going to one with one with lesser credentials at a campus, you’d probably go with the more enjoyable options too, would you?

While many people still go to less esteemed, traditional campus colleges because they are convenient and affordable, more and more people are choosing the easier and simpler alternative-getting an accredited degree online. Why must we make life harder for ourselves when we get the same result in the end? Many accredited online colleges are offering the same bachelor degrees as their physical counterparts for a lot less, and with a lot more advantages.

The rewards of going to an accredited online college are numerous. Forget about having to get up at 6AM and taking the bus on a cold, winter day. Don’t even think about having to go through strict, authoritarian professors who give long and dragging lectures every day. Because once you choose distanced education, your life will undoubtedly change for the better.

Going to an online university means working at your own academic pace. People generally work better when they work at a pace they’re comfortable with. Some take it fast, and some take it slow-there’s nothing wrong with that! When you pursue a degree online, you’ll be able to tweak everything just the way you like it.

Studying online also means choosing when you want to work. If your brain is active at 2AM, then nothing is stopping you from doing your work then. Take days off if you like-you take control of your life. Get your degree in as short as three years, or as long as six if you want to take it easy.

Nothing’s stopping you from going to that college you’ve always wanted but could never afford. If they offer online courses, then that’s exactly what they’re looking for. Get your degree from an accredited online college now!

B Von Ahlin is a former teacher with a Masters Degree in Education. Feel more satisfied with better job prospects – make a change and advance your career. Find accredited online college tips and info to see what your options are. You can achieve your goals and live the lifestyle you really want and deserve. Don’t Wait. Browse accredited online college degree resources today at BetterOnlineEducation.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B_Von_Ahlin