Loquacious Lindy

Most of you may laugh because I make it seem like I’m an old fuddy dud, but I’m serious… what is it about today’s youth?

I have my hang ups, but I know a thing or two about perception. And it really erks me when most of my generation just doesn’t get it.

What is this “it” I am speaking of? Well “it” consists of several things. So here goes my soap box.

1. RESPECT– This goes a long way.

• Respect your teachers. Why? They make great references. Who you are as a student reflects who you are as an employee. Do you show up to class on time? If not, you probably won’t show up to work on time. Do you put in effort in your homework assignments? If so, your professors will notice and be able to confidently recommend your work. Do you speak in a proper manner? Using proper vocabulary when speaking to your professor shows competence.
• Respect your classmates. How does this help? Your classmates are your peers, network, and potential colleagues. Everything mentioned above creates a perception about you, and if all you ever provide me with as a classmate is that your late and unprofessional, I’ll be the first to recommend your resume gets dropped in the trash. Sorry, but true.
• Respect yourself and your friends. Don’t go around the campus calling each other “hoes” and “b*tches” even if they are your friends. Why would I want to work with someone who thinks it’s appropriate to call someone such a derogatory name?

2. Professionalism– Yes, you need to act as a professional in college.

• Attire is important. I’m not saying you have to start wearing a dress shirt and slacks to school, but there are clothes in categories called “No one wants to see that,” and “Night out at the club,” or even “I just rolled out of bed.”  These are things that say you don’t care about school or how much effort you have to put in, as long as you get your degree. This translates to, “I don’t care how much effort I put in, as long as I get a paycheck.”
• Language is often overlooked. Cussing happens. I do it, I’ll be the first to admit. BUT, I know when, where, appropriateness. Dropping the F-bomb in between every other word as  you are in class or walk down the hallway sends out a very poor image to those around you. When I hear this, I desperately want to hand you a dictionary and tell you to learn a new word, or two.
• Writing isn’t as easy as a-b-c. Learn how to write…properly. When e-mailing anyone in any academic situation, avoid texting jargon. I don’t want to open your email and see “thx,” or “lol,” or even “omg.” Also, spell check. Use it, love it, and embrace it. Again, if I read something from you and you have clearly written something incorrectly I will think to myself, “Wow. They didn’t even take the time to read over this or use spell check. They must not really care.”

3. Get involved. — It’s about more than making friends.

• Join a club or a sport. Those fellow members, teammates, advisors, and coaches also make great references. How you work in a group says a lot about you as an employee.
• Get an internship. Regardless of whether the internship is paid or unpaid, it gets you the experience you need. When you graduate, you often see in an entry-level job description “1-3 years of experience” as a requirement. And, you might think to yourself, “How am I supposed to have experience for an entry-level job?!” Well, that’s the benefit of an internship.
• Attend campus events. Just because there’s no alcohol involved, doesn’t mean you won’t have a good time. You can meet some influential people at events such as career fairs, networking events, student organization activities, etc. This will give you a chance to try your professional skills and “work a room.”

I’ve heard many students over my 5 1/2 years of college say that these things don’t matter, they are a waste of time, or they’ll worry about it when they graduate. Well, by then, it could be too late. The damage is done.

Take my advice, and maybe I’ll be able to tolerate you as I pass you on campus.

And… Done.