20something profile: Kevin

This post was written by Kevin, who is studying entrepreneurship and creative writing:

No one wants to be that old guy in the room, especially the classroom. Just recently, I transferred to the University of Rochester to finish my bachelor’s degree. At almost twenty-seven, I’m certain the majority of my fellow students thought me the professor as I walked in. (Trimmed beard, dress shirt, super handsome—I can’t blame them).

I began my college career the same time my high-school friends were finishing theirs.

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20something profile: Bridget

This post was written by Bridget, who works for a startup tech company:

We grow up in a world where everybody puts so much emphasis on getting a good education. When we were younger, we thought of education as something we needed to get through so we can finally “live” our lives. As young adults we are taught that college prepares you for life. Why? I have no idea. I never understood this way of thinking — maybe because I have a little bit more of an unconventional story. Truth is, education doesn’t prepare you for life; education is life.

Millennials: Making a difference

DoSomething.org (Photo credit: jdlasica)

Have you ever wanted to make a difference in the world but felt that you were too young? Then you should check out this Huffington Post article written by Ola Ojewumi, founder of Sacred Hearts Children’s Transplant and Project ASCEND:

The Millennial Generation Is Doing Something (huffingtonpost.com)

Ojewmi’s article discusses how nonprofits such as DoSomething are recruiting millennials for “volunteerism, entrepreneurship, public service and charitable initiatives” that have led to over 2.4 million youths making a difference.

Create your own opportunities

Robert Krulwich (Photo credit: Burnt Pixel)

I’ve really admired people who take initiative and create their own opportunities when others won’t give them the chance to prove themselves. So, to quote journalist Robert Krulwich:

“… think about getting together with friends that you admire, or envy. Think about entrepeneuring. Think about NOT waiting for a company to call you up. Think about not giving your heart to a bunch of adults you don’t know. Think about horizontal loyalty. Think about turning to people you already know, who are your friends, or friends of their friends and making something that makes sense to you together, that is as beautiful or as true as you can make it.”

Click here for a video of Krulwich’s commencement speech.

And click here for more great excerpts of commencement speeches.

Build yourself a great story

Jeff Bezos (Photo credit: niallkennedy)

I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “You are the author of your own life story.”

Well, this excerpt of a commencement speech that Jeff Bezos (founder and CEO of Amazon.com) gave to Princeton University demonstrates that we “write” our life stories through the choices we make:

“I will hazard a prediction. When you are 80 years old, and in a quiet moment of reflection narrating for only yourself the most personal version of your life story, the telling that will be most compact and meaningful will be the series of choices you have made. In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story. Thank you and good luck!”

Click here for a video of Bezos’ commencement speech.

And click here for more great excerpts of commencement speeches.

What “The Office” has taught us

The Office cast in the third season (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After nine seasons The Office, the quintessential workplace sitcom, is ending. And USA Today College has an article about lessons that The Office has taught us:

5 lessons learned from the office (usatodayeducate.com)

During its peak, The Office was among the best shows on TV, not only for its smart writing or great cast but for its relatability of being in a dead-end, menial job with bizarre co-workers and incompetent management.

Be more than your major

Adam (whose profile is here) sent me an article written by Vishen Lakhiani, founder of the lifestyle business Mindvalley:

7 Lessons From Bootstrapping a $15M Lifestyle Business (under30ceo.com)

The article as a whole is a great read — especially for young entrepreneurs — but I’m going to focus on the first of Lakhiani’s seven lessons, “Your college degree is meaningless (and sometimes a liability).”

In this section, Lakhiani discusses how college experiences outside his major, and even outside the classroom, shaped his success as an entrepreneur:

Don’t waste your time pursuing a perfect GPA. Instead, embrace the idea of a generalist education. I majored in Computer Engineering and minored in Performing Arts. My best subject was digital photography. And I spent more time volunteering for the local chapter of AIESEC (a foreign work exchange program) than actually studying.

20something profile: Quinn & Jonathon

This post was written by Quinn, who moved to Nicaragua with her boyfriend Jonathon to start their own business:

Jonathon and I met through work. I worked for an international antique car show, and he worked for the international shipping company which shipped the cars from all over the world to our event each year. We were friends from the moment we met, but then went on a business trip together and hit it off. We’ve been together ever since!

Young adults as entrepreneurs

The most fascinating thing I’ve found from doing this blog is how twenty-somethings are eschewing the more “traditional” path of applying for jobs, and are instead creating their own opportunities that make full use of their passions, talents, and ideas.

Just a few years ago, I thought the path to success was to graduate college and then get a job. But the economy has made it so challenging for twenty-somethings to find employment, and the jobs that are available don’t always make the most of their skills and education.

This article discusses a movement to end youth unemployment by encouraging young adults how to start their own businesses:

Can Entrepreneurship Fix the Epidemic of Youth Unemployment? (smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com)

20something profile: Tim

This post was written by Tim, who works in animation:

From the time I was a young kid, I pretty much always knew that I wanted to work in the animation industry. In particular, I wanted to be a traditional (or “Hand-Drawn”) animator. A mentor showed me an article from Variety Magazine highlighting the high wages of Disney Animators in the mid-nineties. So, by middle school, I had formed a plan, and it seemed pretty straightforward. I’d go to art school and then land a job at Disney as an animator. Things didn’t really work out like that though.