I shared the story yesterday about how much I’m fascinated with the concept of identity.
In 2006, my communication studies student Johanna-Joy asked me to make a presentation to the undergraduate honor society for which she was an officer.
I ended up giving a presentation titled “The Myth of the Real World: Searching for Identity During and After College.” I debunked myths and perceptions of real world versus college world.
honor society event.
Here are the last five points I made to the students:
6. What you know and what you do not know— Many of my public speaking business students would complain that their ages of 19, 20, or 21 were causing managers to pass them by for promotions. “I know way more than her. Why wasn’t I promoted? It must be because of age discrimination.” Remember to look outside your tunnel. You might be passed over because you’ve been working someplace for just one month.
7. Smart and stupid— Don’t let your brain go numb. You might graduate from college and think “Yay no more papers. Yeah. No more critical thinking.” But if you let this happen, the Pink song “Stupid Girls” becomes nothing more than a tune to mock 
Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson. And you fail to understand that Pink is making an assessment of contemporary American society bemoaning the lack of individuality and second-wave feminism. Use your brain to see the world around you critically.
8. Life and no life— People think they have to wait until they have time or money to nuture their interests. “Can’t wait until I have more time to…” Don’t drop your activities. Find ways to cultivate old or new ones.
9. Money and no money—Doing something for the money is wrong. Too much time is spent at work. Before I entered graduate school, my friend and coworker Ken said Vision Service Plan is hiring in human resources. He told me it paid good money. But it sounded brain-numbing to me.
10. Passion and the dream job— It’s like finding a speech topic. Way easier than people think it is. Find and know your passion and you will find your identity.
How true is all that?
“Many of my public speaking business students would complain that their ages of 19, 20, or 21 were causing managers to pass them by for promotions.”
It is often believed that education is more valuable in the workplace than knowledge and experience. A college degree is not a ticket to entitlement.
“Doing something for the money is wrong.”
Really? I love what I do for a living, but if I weren’t paid for it, I certainly wouldn’t do it very often. I think that money is a damned good reason to do something.