How will you use your degree to better the community?

[brickhouse492]

I think it's really important for all of us to give back to our community. Those of us who are in college, college bound or degreed are a "privileged few." How do you plan on using your degree to improve conditions in our community? Or How do you/did you use your degree to these means?

I'll start:
I'm majoring in Computer Information Systems (learning to write programs, databases, etc.). I love it but I had to ask myself: How can I use my degree to help the community?

Well, I want to improve the tired computer systems and the policies of the Public Assistance Offices. I would like to do so internally (as an Executive).

To give you an example of the problems I see:

-You must work or attend school for a Total of 32-35 hours/week when receiving Public Assistance.
-Let's assume Janet takes 6 - 3 credit classes (18 hours).
Well Janet still has to have an additional 14 hours of work.
-Janet has 1 infant (childcare issues) on top of that.
-Let's also assume that Janet has a 3.0 GPA. Not bad right?
-Guess what, if Janet doesn't make up all of those hours, the computer automatically reduces her benefits and won't pay her childcare.
-Also, there is no way to override THE SYSTEM.


Call it a policy, politics or just a Techinical Error. I'd like to make a change. What about you?

[nikki1920]

I am planning on going for my MS in Human Development, and maybe working in the Head Start program in some type of development capacity..not quite sure exactly how though.

[ImmaculateDST]

I have a dual major in Cardiac Rehab and Physical Therapy. I plan on getting my community active literally. Smoking, sedentary lifestyles, and poor eating habits are going to be the death of us. Not exercising is the leading cause of obesity, type II diabetes, heart disease, cardiovascular problems, orthopedic problems, and cancer. I see this stuff everyday a work. There are not enough prevention programs out there that try to curve these incidences. Mainly because they make more money treating and rehabing than preventing. Therefore, it is my mission in life to teach our community that not smoking, exercising and eating healthy is our only chance at survival.

I plan on starting my wellness programs in low income communities that are free and educate people on how to care for themselves properly.

And If you don't listen you will just keep making people in my profession wealthy cause rehab is not cheap .

[Lady2000]

I am majoring in hotel/restaurant management. Along with my college degree I want to attend cooking school. I have two different paths that I am considering. First, I would like to go into my community and teach classes to adults and children on the importance of healthy eating to African-Americans and how to cook healthy soul food meals. Along with my teaching, I want to open a restaurant in my neighborhood where young people interested in cooking can work and learn the restaurant business. I have two goals for the people in my community: 1. To see that cooking is not a shameful profession and 2. That soul food can be cooked in a manner that won't some day kill you.

[REIKI]

I obtained my BA in Mass Communications in May 2002 and will complete my M.Ed. in Educational Administration (Higher Education) in May 2004. Having attended an HBCU and studied issues in higher education in my current program, I see myself using my degrees to better the HBCU system. I plan on obtaining my Ph.D. eventually and afterwards teach, but as an administrator I hope to be able to do some work in recruitment/retention as well as work on (minority) college prep issues at the K-12 level.

[NOWorNEVER]

Oooh good question! My major is African American Studies. In the future I want to have a $1,000 scholarship in my name available to 5 minority students who major in Africana or African American Studies at my alma mater. And since African American history is rarely taught in-depth at most public schools, I want to have a summer literature and learning camp that focuses on the accomplishments of black people that is available to poorer urban areas of...wherever I'm settled down at. Of course, all this will be when I'm rich and fabulous.

[ZETA_ACE2003]

This is a very good question!

In undergrad I majored in Sociology, Anthropology and Women's Studies with the intent on getting my Master's in Sociology so that I could do research on the disintegration of the Black Family while working on my PhD in Anthropology and then become a Forensic Anthropologist making big bucks so that I can give back first off to my high school. Although it is a magnet school (performing arts), the children still suffer because it is also a public school lacking in academics. After helping my high school, I want to build a School of the Arts college because it is so hard for talented children in the inner city to make it to the big time and to adjust in regular colleges (it was the hardest thing for me).

I know it sounds like I have given up on this dream but I haven't, I've just had a few road blocks thrown in the way. I am still working on it though. I have two semesters of grad school down and since I am unable to give in the way I would like to I volunteer my time mentoring teenage girls and at my son's school.

[BLUTANG]

I am getting my Master's in Library / Information Science. I want to use my degree to help bridge the "digital divide," providing access to information and training to those who need it.

I currently work with online access (databases, etc) to the Library materials for a consortium with over 50 member campuses. I would like to think that this helps the students and researchers at the institutions. Also, i teach a module in one of the incoming freshman courses to get them acclimated to the University's library services.

In the future, i plan on working in either a public law library or continue in the academic setting (i would LOVE to work at my HBCU alma mater), and continuing activity in my professional organization to get more AfAms into the profession.

[treblk]

I just registered for classes towards my Masters in Health Care Admin. I've been out of school for 5 years so this is a big step for me.

But with this degree, I want to create and/or enhance health care programs and initiatives that would benefit our community.

I currently work for a Hispanic non-profit civil rights organizations. I work in their programatic education section and it has opened my eyes to the need of strong programs that will REALLY help our community.

[Diva_01]

The way I plan on using my degree depends on what I do. Any of the jobs I do help people. When I was in school, I was working with juveniles, trying to help them see some of the better aspects of life, not just of adults trying to hold them down, so they won't be so angry. Now, I am working with junior high school girls ,who otherwise couldn't afford it, by teaching them about some of the fun aspects of science and math, since young girls lag behind so much in those areas. We are going to teach them some rollercoaster science, and then move on to digital media. I think I will teach them how to design their own websites.
I want to be a police officer, and eventually move on to the DEA to head a special ops team. That way I am taking drugs off the streets, as well as keep my officers from being corrupt.

I am really interested in helping battered women who want to fight back, or women who have killed their lovers in self-defense, because they usually go to jail for murder. I don't know how to approach that right now though. Enough was a good movie, but that's not how it really happens, unfortunately. She really could have been tried for murder since she was trained and suited up for the altercation between her and her husband in the movie, not to mention she broke into his house.

But that's my spiel. I have a degree in criminal justice, with a minor in women's and minority studies...my minor is at work right now.

[Gina1201]

My UG degree is in Sociology with a concentration in Criminology and Criminal Justice. I thought that I wanted to go into Federal law enforcement, until I began working for a Federal L.E. agency. Luckily, this began while I was a sophomore in college. My minor is MIS, Management Information Systems. However, I have decided to do an about face and go on to receive my MBA. Using both degrees I would like to focus on Human Resource Management.

I would like to give back to my community similar to what NoN suggested with the scholarship idea. However, I would have it go to one African American freshwoman and have it continue throughout her four years.

Also, I would like to give seminars to high school seniors and those in college to prepare them for jobs. However, I would focus strictly on African American students. Hopefully, I could develop a program that is similar to INROADS but on a smaller scale. Also, unlike INROADS, I would try to develop contact that are in different fields of study, depending on the students interest.

[blackerican]

I'm working towards a B.S. in biology with a concentration in forensic science!!! I plan on still mentoring young girls in my community but, I'll add science. We need more African-American and Hispanic women in the sciences!!!!

[brickhouse492]

My friend recently graduated with a B.S. in biology and she has the same complaint:

Originally posted by blackerican
We need more African-American and Hispanic women in the sciences!!!!

She wants to teach at the University Level but feels that being a double minority is going to be a double obstacle.
Good Luck.

[Baby4538]

Originally posted by blackerican
I'm working towards a B.S. in biology with a concentration in forensic science!!! I plan on still mentoring young girls in my community but, I'll add science. We need more African-American and Hispanic women in the sciences!!!!

GIRL, we need to talk!!

I'm a senior Biology major who hopes to either get my master's in Forensic Biology or (preferably) PhD in Medical Genetics. WE SOOO need more African Americans in the sciences PERIOD! The obstacles are high, but the FUNDING is there! I want to continue mentoring high school students and encouraging them to go to college, while researching the genetics behind Sickle Cell disease. Hopefully, I'll be able to not only counsel African Americans who are carriers of the gene, but also research potential methods of treatment.

[Diva_01]

The job that I currently have, my team members and I mentor junior high school age girls in science and math. Since most women a re discouraged at a young age from those subjects, we help them to look for fields of interest in math and science. We talked about all the different kind of scientists and fields that they are in, as well as talked about the stereotypes of scientists and science, and how to break them down.