Invest In Yourself
Invest In Yourself (2:12)
“When you have knowledge, nobody can take that away from you. You could buy all sorts of things, a car, a house, or anything. And it could disappear, but nobody can take away what you know, what you learn. So knowledge to me and education is just paramount in anything that you want to do. Study it, know it, and you’ll have it. You’ll have it for life.”
Role models in order of appearance: Tina Fernandez, Erin Cox, Helen Adeosun, and Thyonne Gordon.
1) The role models in the video encouraged listeners to attend college. What evidence or reasons did the role models give to show why attending college is important? Why do you think going to college can be such an important choice?
2) One role model told listeners that going to college is “the best way for young women to realize their full potential.” What does it mean to “realize your full potential”? How might college help someone realize their full potential?
3) There are lots of reasons that people decide to attend college! What are some reasons that you want to go to college? Remember, going to college isn’t just about attending classes!
4) One role model said, “We know that [education] makes a difference…being able to walk through certain doors…college matters!” What “doors” is the role model talking about? How can a college education make a difference in your life? What might you be able to do with a college education that you couldn’t without one?
5) There are so many different things to study and do in college. What types of things do you want to study or do in college? What steps can you start taking today to set yourself up to do these things?
6) The last role model left us with a powerful thought. She said, “When you have knowledge, nobody can take that away from you…Study it, know it, and you’ll have it for life.” What makes this such powerful advice? How can having knowledge empower you?
The first thing I want to say is that you can go to college, and you’re absolutely smart enough to go to college and have what it takes.
I think it’s so important for girls to pursue a college education because it’s really the best way for young women to realize their full potential, to explore what they’re interested in, to figure out what they’re really good at, and then figure out how to bring that all together as human beings and as women in our communities.
The reason a college degree is important is because it’s going to help you do what you want to do with your life. The research shows that people who go to college are happier with their jobs, generally speaking, than people who don’t go to college. College graduates over their lifetime will make a million dollars more than people who don’t go to college. People who go to college live longer than people who don’t. They feel healthier than people who don’t. And they feel great about themselves. So those are all really good reasons to go to college.
The other thing is because it’s fun, and you’re going to meet a lot of really fun people who are going to be your friends for the rest of your life, and you’re going to keep learning about so many interesting things that are happening in the world. And so it’s just a really great thing for you to do so that you can have the life that you picture for yourself.
I’ve studied education for a long time. We know it makes a difference where you go to school and being able to sort of walk through certain doors. And so for women, especially people of color, college matters even more. It makes so much of a difference. And so making sure that you’re setting yourself up, making sure you find people who are going to help you and push you is so important at every level.
When you have knowledge, nobody can take that away from you. You could buy all sorts of things, a car, a house, or anything. And it could disappear, but nobody can take away what you know, what you learn. So knowledge to me and education is just paramount in anything that you want to do. Study it, know it, and you’ll have it. You’ll have it for life.
Independent Learning Guide: This all-purpose discussion guide can also be used by educators, parents, and mentors to jumpstart a valuable discussion about the role work ethic plays in success and the importance of cultivating it.
Classroom Lesson Plan: This step-by-step lesson plan is available to guide a more in-depth “before, during, and after” learning experience when viewing the video with students. This lesson plan is also suitable for use in after-school programs and other educational settings.
Use Empowerment Activities as a fun way to reinforce the video topic and build community with your students.
Fun Page Activity:What do you imagine for your future? How might a college education help you reach your goals? No matter what goals you have for your future, attending college can help more than you might think! Use this simple fun page activity to imagine your future and set goals for the types of things you want to do in college.