Employers Are Always Looking for Those Who Can Think, Read, Write with Ease

To The Editor:
We’re demanding a little too much when we expect a teenager in high school to know what he wants to do with his life, especially when it comes to selecting a career choice. There might be a few who know.
Over the years, I’ve worked with some students who seem to have been subliminally brainwashed while asleep by parents whispering into their subconscious – pharmacy, radiology, medicine, engineering…
Usually, parents depend on colleges to help in this department. The first two years are spent mastering core classes, like English, math, science, language and the like. As juniors and seniors we are hopeful that some dynamic college professor has won them over to their discipline, based on interest, aptitude and skill set. Going this way has more validity and reason to it than trying to gain insights into a career while still in high school.
There is much talk around today about avoiding the liberal arts. I disagree strongly. Employers are always looking for college graduates who can think, read and write with demonstrated ease and ability, solve problems and have a broad view of things. My liberal arts background allowed me diverse options upon graduation: acceptance into three law schools, a job with public relations with the IRS, management trainee at Capital Records in Hollywood, master’s degree candidate at Temple and Penn and a position in finance with the Cincinnati city government. I will never regret going the liberal arts route in preparing myself for earning a living and also continuing my life’s ambition to continue to learn on my own upon graduation. Liberal arts taught me about the process of learning and adjusting to change.
Some have been arguing quite forcefully that pursuing liberal arts as a career path will end having one flipping burgers and dogs. They maintain that the economy dictates technology, science and finance. Any college student who took part in a vibrant liberal arts program at a solid institution of higher learning, such as Bucknell, Franklin and Marshall or Lafayette have the academic background to handle any kind of economy they are confronted with at the time of their graduation.
SAM ALFONSI
Broomall, Pa.
(ED. NOTE: Alfonsi is the founder and director of College Bound)