[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
I’d like to start with a request please
I’d like to start with a request please raise your hand if you are either
raise your hand if you are either
raise your hand if you are either currently enrolled in college or if you
currently enrolled in college or if you
currently enrolled in college or if you have a college degree okay my very
have a college degree okay my very
have a college degree okay my very scientific scan of the room tells me
scientific scan of the room tells me
scientific scan of the room tells me that about 95 to 98% of you raised your
that about 95 to 98% of you raised your
that about 95 to 98% of you raised your hand thank you so much for indulging me
hand thank you so much for indulging me
hand thank you so much for indulging me my name is Alex Bernadotte and I am the
my name is Alex Bernadotte and I am the
my name is Alex Bernadotte and I am the founder and CEO of beyond 12 an
founder and CEO of beyond 12 an
founder and CEO of beyond 12 an organization that is dedicated to
organization that is dedicated to
organization that is dedicated to helping students graduate from college
helping students graduate from college
helping students graduate from college and when I tell people what I do with
and when I tell people what I do with
and when I tell people what I do with increasing frequency I am asked to
increasing frequency I am asked to
increasing frequency I am asked to debate the following question is college
debate the following question is college
debate the following question is college for everyone now before I answer I
for everyone now before I answer I
for everyone now before I answer I typically ask a question of my own do
typically ask a question of my own do
typically ask a question of my own do you have a college degree and in all of
you have a college degree and in all of
you have a college degree and in all of the rooms in which I have debated this
the rooms in which I have debated this
the rooms in which I have debated this question the answer is almost always yes
question the answer is almost always yes
question the answer is almost always yes and with our college degrees we sit on
and with our college degrees we sit on
and with our college degrees we sit on the right side of some very powerful
the right side of some very powerful
the right side of some very powerful statistics according to the Census
statistics according to the Census
statistics according to the Census Bureau if you have some college but no
Bureau if you have some college but no
Bureau if you have some college but no degree you will earn 18 percent more
degree you will earn 18 percent more
degree you will earn 18 percent more than your peers with just a high school
than your peers with just a high school
than your peers with just a high school diploma and if you have a four-year
diploma and if you have a four-year
diploma and if you have a four-year degree you will earn 62% more some
degree you will earn 62% more some
degree you will earn 62% more some economists estimate that this is more
economists estimate that this is more
economists estimate that this is more than a million dollars in lifetime
than a million dollars in lifetime
than a million dollars in lifetime earnings college graduates are also
earnings college graduates are also
earnings college graduates are also reported to experience better health and
reported to experience better health and
reported to experience better health and life expectancy lower rates of
life expectancy lower rates of
life expectancy lower rates of unemployment increased person
unemployment increased person
unemployment increased person and professional mobility so I’ve
and professional mobility so I’ve
and professional mobility so I’ve started to wonder what makes people who
started to wonder what makes people who
started to wonder what makes people who worked really hard to achieve something
worked really hard to achieve something
worked really hard to achieve something and who are clearly benefiting from it
and who are clearly benefiting from it
and who are clearly benefiting from it turn around and tell others that the
turn around and tell others that the
turn around and tell others that the thing that they worked really hard for
thing that they worked really hard for
thing that they worked really hard for really wasn’t worth it
now some famous college dropouts like
now some famous college dropouts like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are often
Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are often
Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are often uses examples to demonstrate that the
uses examples to demonstrate that the
uses examples to demonstrate that the path to the c-suite isn’t paved with
path to the c-suite isn’t paved with
path to the c-suite isn’t paved with college success but let’s be real an Ivy
college success but let’s be real an Ivy
college success but let’s be real an Ivy League institution is a pretty powerful
League institution is a pretty powerful
League institution is a pretty powerful place to drop out of the networks you
place to drop out of the networks you
place to drop out of the networks you create or that you had before going the
create or that you had before going the
create or that you had before going the courses that you take before you make
courses that you take before you make
courses that you take before you make the decision to leave and the safety net
the decision to leave and the safety net
the decision to leave and the safety net you have at home are often critical to
you have at home are often critical to
you have at home are often critical to your future success and while we are
your future success and while we are
your future success and while we are having this conversation in some small
having this conversation in some small
having this conversation in some small pockets of Silicon Valley we’re hiring
pockets of Silicon Valley we’re hiring
pockets of Silicon Valley we’re hiring managers or luring engineering students
managers or luring engineering students
managers or luring engineering students into the tech field what’s really
into the tech field what’s really
into the tech field what’s really interesting about this question in this
interesting about this question in this
interesting about this question in this conversation is that more often than not
conversation is that more often than not
conversation is that more often than not we’re asking it about students who come
we’re asking it about students who come
we’re asking it about students who come from under-resourced communities
from under-resourced communities
from under-resourced communities communities like Compton and Detroit
communities like Compton and Detroit
communities like Compton and Detroit communities like Dorchester and Oakland
communities like Dorchester and Oakland
communities like Dorchester and Oakland regions of the country like the
regions of the country like the
regions of the country like the flatlands of South Carolina and the
flatlands of South Carolina and the
flatlands of South Carolina and the northern Mississippi Delta so what we’re
northern Mississippi Delta so what we’re
northern Mississippi Delta so what we’re really asking isn’t is college for
really asking isn’t is college for
really asking isn’t is college for everyone but rather is college for those
everyone but rather is college for those
everyone but rather is college for those students is college for the student I
students is college for the student I
students is college for the student I once was I was born in port-au-prince
once was I was born in port-au-prince
once was I was born in port-au-prince Haiti and I grew up in inner-city Boston
Haiti and I grew up in inner-city Boston
Haiti and I grew up in inner-city Boston I was raised by my parents and my
I was raised by my parents and my
I was raised by my parents and my beloved
beloved
beloved grandmother mommy Claire who you see
grandmother mommy Claire who you see
grandmother mommy Claire who you see behind me in the center and by the way
behind me in the center and by the way
behind me in the center and by the way mommy Claire is still alive she is going
mommy Claire is still alive she is going
mommy Claire is still alive she is going to be 103 years old in June even though
to be 103 years old in June even though
to be 103 years old in June even though my parents didn’t go to college they
my parents didn’t go to college they
my parents didn’t go to college they stressed the importance of an education
stressed the importance of an education
stressed the importance of an education and a college degree in particular is
and a college degree in particular is
and a college degree in particular is key to moving me and our family out of
key to moving me and our family out of
key to moving me and our family out of poverty one day when I was in the
poverty one day when I was in the
poverty one day when I was in the seventh grade my mom overheard a group
seventh grade my mom overheard a group
seventh grade my mom overheard a group of doctors talking about where they were
of doctors talking about where they were
of doctors talking about where they were sending their kids to college and she
sending their kids to college and she
sending their kids to college and she came running home she was so excited and
came running home she was so excited and
came running home she was so excited and said okay I got it you have to go to
said okay I got it you have to go to
said okay I got it you have to go to this thing called an Ivy League and you
this thing called an Ivy League and you
this thing called an Ivy League and you have to go to this place called
have to go to this place called
have to go to this place called Dartmouth and that’s exactly how the
Dartmouth and that’s exactly how the
Dartmouth and that’s exactly how the good dream of a specific college was
good dream of a specific college was
good dream of a specific college was born it was through that overheard
born it was through that overheard
born it was through that overheard conversation in the emergency room of
conversation in the emergency room of
conversation in the emergency room of Kearney Hospital in Dorchester
Kearney Hospital in Dorchester
Kearney Hospital in Dorchester Massachusetts where my mom worked as a
Massachusetts where my mom worked as a
Massachusetts where my mom worked as a phlebotomist so I worked really hard in
phlebotomist so I worked really hard in
phlebotomist so I worked really hard in high school and I graduated at the top
high school and I graduated at the top
high school and I graduated at the top of my class when the acceptance letter
of my class when the acceptance letter
of my class when the acceptance letter from Dartmouth came we treated the
from Dartmouth came we treated the
from Dartmouth came we treated the moment almost as if we had won the
moment almost as if we had won the
moment almost as if we had won the lottery and we assumed that the most
lottery and we assumed that the most
lottery and we assumed that the most difficult part of the journey was behind
difficult part of the journey was behind
difficult part of the journey was behind us we were so wrong I completely bombed
us we were so wrong I completely bombed
us we were so wrong I completely bombed my freshman year even though I had a
my freshman year even though I had a
my freshman year even though I had a resume that indicated incredible
resume that indicated incredible
resume that indicated incredible preparation I struggled with every
preparation I struggled with every
preparation I struggled with every aspect of college life from the academic
aspect of college life from the academic
aspect of college life from the academic and the financial to the social and
and the financial to the social and
and the financial to the social and emotional after the fall of my sophomore
emotional after the fall of my sophomore
emotional after the fall of my sophomore year I was placed on academic probation
year I was placed on academic probation
year I was placed on academic probation and asked to take a leave of absence
and asked to take a leave of absence
and asked to take a leave of absence with generations of sacrifice and my
with generations of sacrifice and my
with generations of sacrifice and my entire family’s hopes and dreams hanging
entire family’s hopes and dreams hanging
entire family’s hopes and dreams hanging in the balance I was in crisis luckily I
in the balance I was in crisis luckily I
in the balance I was in crisis luckily I was able to turn things around with the
was able to turn things around with the
was able to turn things around with the support of my family and with the help
support of my family and with the help
support of my family and with the help of my mentor I regained my footing I
of my mentor I regained my footing I
of my mentor I regained my footing I graduated from Dartmouth in four years
graduated from Dartmouth in four years
graduated from Dartmouth in four years and I land
and I land
and I land at Stanford for graduate school my
at Stanford for graduate school my
at Stanford for graduate school my degree didn’t just change my trajectory
degree didn’t just change my trajectory
degree didn’t just change my trajectory it changed the trajectory of my entire
it changed the trajectory of my entire
it changed the trajectory of my entire family I was the first in our family to
family I was the first in our family to
family I was the first in our family to go to college but I wasn’t the last I
go to college but I wasn’t the last I
go to college but I wasn’t the last I paved the way from my younger sister my
paved the way from my younger sister my
paved the way from my younger sister my younger cousins and so many more in our
younger cousins and so many more in our
younger cousins and so many more in our community and today we are repaying the
community and today we are repaying the
community and today we are repaying the sacrifices of our elders by helping to
sacrifices of our elders by helping to
sacrifices of our elders by helping to support them financially and in other
support them financially and in other
support them financially and in other ways my six-year-old is already wearing
ways my six-year-old is already wearing
ways my six-year-old is already wearing Dartmouth and Stanford t-shirts and
Dartmouth and Stanford t-shirts and
Dartmouth and Stanford t-shirts and guess where he’s telling me he’s going
guess where he’s telling me he’s going
guess where he’s telling me he’s going after high school I founded an
after high school I founded an
after high school I founded an organization that has added 31 new jobs
organization that has added 31 new jobs
organization that has added 31 new jobs to the US economy and 50% of our staff
to the US economy and 50% of our staff
to the US economy and 50% of our staff are first-generation college-goers going
are first-generation college-goers going
are first-generation college-goers going to college changed my worldview I became
to college changed my worldview I became
to college changed my worldview I became a critical thinker a better writer I
a critical thinker a better writer I
a critical thinker a better writer I found my passion and my voice for social
found my passion and my voice for social
found my passion and my voice for social justice and I became an activist while
justice and I became an activist while
justice and I became an activist while my story has a happy ending each year
my story has a happy ending each year
my story has a happy ending each year 700,000 students with backgrounds and
700,000 students with backgrounds and
700,000 students with backgrounds and stories similar to mine embark on their
stories similar to mine embark on their
stories similar to mine embark on their college journeys believing like I did
college journeys believing like I did
college journeys believing like I did that they are prepared for the road
that they are prepared for the road
that they are prepared for the road ahead
ahead
ahead but the statistics tell us otherwise the
but the statistics tell us otherwise the
but the statistics tell us otherwise the vast majority will not graduate from
vast majority will not graduate from
vast majority will not graduate from college is college for those students
college is college for those students
college is college for those students now the question I get just as often as
now the question I get just as often as
now the question I get just as often as the is college for everyone question is
the is college for everyone question is
the is college for everyone question is did you know that welders make six
did you know that welders make six
did you know that welders make six figures and they don’t need a college
figures and they don’t need a college
figures and they don’t need a college degree and that’s a very viable
degree and that’s a very viable
degree and that’s a very viable alternative and a wonderful career if in
alternative and a wonderful career if in
alternative and a wonderful career if in fact you want to be a welder but even if
fact you want to be a welder but even if
fact you want to be a welder but even if you do we know that we are losing
you do we know that we are losing
you do we know that we are losing manufacturing jobs really quickly in our
manufacturing jobs really quickly in our
manufacturing jobs really quickly in our economy
and I get it our colleges and
and I get it our colleges and universities are broken the system is
universities are broken the system is
universities are broken the system is broken and I agree first even though
broken and I agree first even though
broken and I agree first even though we’re sending more and more students to
we’re sending more and more students to
we’re sending more and more students to college too few particularly those from
college too few particularly those from
college too few particularly those from under-resourced communities are
under-resourced communities are
under-resourced communities are graduating only 9% of students from the
graduating only 9% of students from the
graduating only 9% of students from the lowest income quartile can expect to
lowest income quartile can expect to
lowest income quartile can expect to earn a bachelor’s degree by their
earn a bachelor’s degree by their
earn a bachelor’s degree by their mid-20s versus 77%
mid-20s versus 77%
mid-20s versus 77% of their higher income peers
of their higher income peers
of their higher income peers african-american students earn
african-american students earn
african-american students earn bachelor’s degrees at 1/2 and latino
bachelor’s degrees at 1/2 and latino
bachelor’s degrees at 1/2 and latino students at one-third the rate of white
students at one-third the rate of white
students at one-third the rate of white students second the rising cost of
students second the rising cost of
students second the rising cost of higher education leads us to ask
higher education leads us to ask
higher education leads us to ask legitimate questions about the ROI of a
legitimate questions about the ROI of a
legitimate questions about the ROI of a college degree according to the College
college degree according to the College
college degree according to the College Board the average price of a four-year
Board the average price of a four-year
Board the average price of a four-year degree is between 100,000 and 250,000
degree is between 100,000 and 250,000
degree is between 100,000 and 250,000 dollars
dollars
dollars College has become much more about
College has become much more about
College has become much more about whether you can afford to be there and
whether you can afford to be there and
whether you can afford to be there and third we know that our system of higher
third we know that our system of higher
third we know that our system of higher education isn’t equipping our students
education isn’t equipping our students
education isn’t equipping our students with the skills they need to be
with the skills they need to be
with the skills they need to be successful in the workforce a recent
successful in the workforce a recent
successful in the workforce a recent survey by pay scale discovered that even
survey by pay scale discovered that even
survey by pay scale discovered that even though nine out of ten recent college
though nine out of ten recent college
though nine out of ten recent college graduates believe that they are prepared
graduates believe that they are prepared
graduates believe that they are prepared for the workforce only 50% of employers
for the workforce only 50% of employers
for the workforce only 50% of employers in our country agree colleges and
in our country agree colleges and
in our country agree colleges and universities must change they must
universities must change they must
universities must change they must become more accessible more inclusive
become more accessible more inclusive
become more accessible more inclusive more affordable and more relevant they
more affordable and more relevant they
more affordable and more relevant they have to create courses of study that
have to create courses of study that
have to create courses of study that allow all students to thrive in a
allow all students to thrive in a
allow all students to thrive in a competitive global technology driven
competitive global technology driven
competitive global technology driven economy the fact remains however that a
economy the fact remains however that a
economy the fact remains however that a college degree is still the currency of
college degree is still the currency of
college degree is still the currency of validation in our country
validation in our country
validation in our country since 2010 95% of all new jobs went to
since 2010 95% of all new jobs went to
since 2010 95% of all new jobs went to workers with at least some college now
workers with at least some college now
workers with at least some college now the challenges I described with our
the challenges I described with our
the challenges I described with our higher education system certainly lead
higher education system certainly lead
higher education system certainly lead to valid questions about whether college
to valid questions about whether college
to valid questions about whether college is the only path to help us close these
is the only path to help us close these
is the only path to help us close these workforce gaps but for decades our only
workforce gaps but for decades our only
workforce gaps but for decades our only alternatives have been non college paths
alternatives have been non college paths
alternatives have been non college paths like vocational training and
like vocational training and
like vocational training and apprenticeships a recent study by the
apprenticeships a recent study by the
apprenticeships a recent study by the New America Foundation found that 83% of
New America Foundation found that 83% of
New America Foundation found that 83% of people across party lines support
people across party lines support
people across party lines support increased government funding for
increased government funding for
increased government funding for apprenticeships but when asked what they
apprenticeships but when asked what they
apprenticeships but when asked what they would recommend to a child in their own
would recommend to a child in their own
would recommend to a child in their own lives only 25% said that they would
lives only 25% said that they would
lives only 25% said that they would recommend apprenticeships while 50% said
recommend apprenticeships while 50% said
recommend apprenticeships while 50% said that they would recommend a four-year
that they would recommend a four-year
that they would recommend a four-year college degree so there is a disconnect
college degree so there is a disconnect
college degree so there is a disconnect between what Americans think is good for
between what Americans think is good for
between what Americans think is good for other people’s children and what we
other people’s children and what we
other people’s children and what we think is good for the children in our
think is good for the children in our
think is good for the children in our own lives it is dangerous for us to
own lives it is dangerous for us to
own lives it is dangerous for us to continue to have this conversation about
continue to have this conversation about
continue to have this conversation about the value of a college education with
the value of a college education with
the value of a college education with rooms full of college graduates with the
rooms full of college graduates with the
rooms full of college graduates with the benefit of hindsight and the privilege
benefit of hindsight and the privilege
benefit of hindsight and the privilege of choice we are debating the value of a
of choice we are debating the value of a
of choice we are debating the value of a proven path out of poverty without the
proven path out of poverty without the
proven path out of poverty without the voices of those who are living the
voices of those who are living the
voices of those who are living the alternative rather than excluding some
alternative rather than excluding some
alternative rather than excluding some students from the benefits of a college
students from the benefits of a college
students from the benefits of a college education let’s focus on fixing a broken
education let’s focus on fixing a broken
education let’s focus on fixing a broken system first let’s fix the disconnect
system first let’s fix the disconnect
system first let’s fix the disconnect between our k12 system our higher
between our k12 system our higher
between our k12 system our higher education system and our work force the
education system and our work force the
education system and our work force the curricular standards required to
curricular standards required to
curricular standards required to graduate from high school
graduate from high school
graduate from high school and those expected of students in
and those expected of students in
and those expected of students in college and the skills expected of
college and the skills expected of
college and the skills expected of workers as we transition into the
workers as we transition into the
workers as we transition into the workforce are completely misaligned
workforce are completely misaligned
workforce are completely misaligned second let’s address those abysmal
second let’s address those abysmal
second let’s address those abysmal college dropout rates by amplifying
college dropout rates by amplifying
college dropout rates by amplifying student support services that are
student support services that are
student support services that are proactive let’s use a combination of
proactive let’s use a combination of
proactive let’s use a combination of Technology and human coaching to really
Technology and human coaching to really
Technology and human coaching to really help guide our students to a college
help guide our students to a college
help guide our students to a college degree third let’s address the rising
degree third let’s address the rising
degree third let’s address the rising cost of higher education by reforming
cost of higher education by reforming
cost of higher education by reforming our student aid programs so that they
our student aid programs so that they
our student aid programs so that they are more responsive to current students
are more responsive to current students
are more responsive to current students needs and let’s incentivize colleges and
needs and let’s incentivize colleges and
needs and let’s incentivize colleges and universities for the degrees earned
universities for the degrees earned
universities for the degrees earned rather for the students who enter
rather for the students who enter
rather for the students who enter college lastly let’s embrace new models
college lastly let’s embrace new models
college lastly let’s embrace new models of higher education that create a
of higher education that create a
of higher education that create a tighter pipeline between higher
tighter pipeline between higher
tighter pipeline between higher education and career but let’s make sure
education and career but let’s make sure
education and career but let’s make sure that they are rigorous and that they
that they are rigorous and that they
that they are rigorous and that they provide our students with the academic
provide our students with the academic
provide our students with the academic and the non-academic skills that we know
and the non-academic skills that we know
and the non-academic skills that we know they need to be successful in today’s
they need to be successful in today’s
they need to be successful in today’s workforce if students decide not to go
workforce if students decide not to go
workforce if students decide not to go to college let it be because they have
to college let it be because they have
to college let it be because they have made the choice they understand the
made the choice they understand the
made the choice they understand the array of choices before them and they
array of choices before them and they
array of choices before them and they have made a well informed and well
have made a well informed and well
have made a well informed and well educated decision based on their
educated decision based on their
educated decision based on their passions their interests and their
passions their interests and their
passions their interests and their skills rather than because our education
skills rather than because our education
skills rather than because our education system fails them and we were looking to
system fails them and we were looking to
system fails them and we were looking to bail them out so let’s get back to the
bail them out so let’s get back to the
bail them out so let’s get back to the question at hand
question at hand
question at hand let’s get back to the question at hand
let’s get back to the question at hand
let’s get back to the question at hand is college for everyone no but the
is college for everyone no but the
is college for everyone no but the opportunity to go to college should be
opportunity to go to college should be
opportunity to go to college should be because if you say no to that question
because if you say no to that question
because if you say no to that question you are saying no to the student I once
you are saying no to the student I once
you are saying no to the student I once was and to the millions of college
was and to the millions of college
was and to the millions of college students
students
students like me on campuses everywhere if we
like me on campuses everywhere if we
like me on campuses everywhere if we don’t support all students in their
don’t support all students in their
don’t support all students in their journey through college we will lose
journey through college we will lose
journey through college we will lose their diverse and amazing for voices in
their diverse and amazing for voices in
their diverse and amazing for voices in our classrooms in our boardrooms in our
our classrooms in our boardrooms in our
our classrooms in our boardrooms in our political offices in our social agenda
political offices in our social agenda
political offices in our social agenda in the very fabric of our country and I
in the very fabric of our country and I
in the very fabric of our country and I would argue that we need their voices
would argue that we need their voices
would argue that we need their voices now more than ever thank you
now more than ever thank you
now more than ever thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Applause]
[Music] [Applause]
I’d like to start with a request please
I’d like to start with a request please raise your hand if you are either
raise your hand if you are either
raise your hand if you are either currently enrolled in college or if you
currently enrolled in college or if you
currently enrolled in college or if you have a college degree okay my very
have a college degree okay my very
have a college degree okay my very scientific scan of the room tells me
scientific scan of the room tells me
scientific scan of the room tells me that about 95 to 98% of you raised your
that about 95 to 98% of you raised your
that about 95 to 98% of you raised your hand thank you so much for indulging me
hand thank you so much for indulging me
hand thank you so much for indulging me my name is Alex Bernadotte and I am the
my name is Alex Bernadotte and I am the
my name is Alex Bernadotte and I am the founder and CEO of beyond 12 an
founder and CEO of beyond 12 an
founder and CEO of beyond 12 an organization that is dedicated to
organization that is dedicated to
organization that is dedicated to helping students graduate from college
helping students graduate from college
helping students graduate from college and when I tell people what I do with
and when I tell people what I do with
and when I tell people what I do with increasing frequency I am asked to
increasing frequency I am asked to
increasing frequency I am asked to debate the following question is college
debate the following question is college
debate the following question is college for everyone now before I answer I
for everyone now before I answer I
for everyone now before I answer I typically ask a question of my own do
typically ask a question of my own do
typically ask a question of my own do you have a college degree and in all of
you have a college degree and in all of
you have a college degree and in all of the rooms in which I have debated this
the rooms in which I have debated this
the rooms in which I have debated this question the answer is almost always yes
question the answer is almost always yes
question the answer is almost always yes and with our college degrees we sit on
and with our college degrees we sit on
and with our college degrees we sit on the right side of some very powerful
the right side of some very powerful
the right side of some very powerful statistics according to the Census
statistics according to the Census
statistics according to the Census Bureau if you have some college but no
Bureau if you have some college but no
Bureau if you have some college but no degree you will earn 18 percent more
degree you will earn 18 percent more
degree you will earn 18 percent more than your peers with just a high school
than your peers with just a high school
than your peers with just a high school diploma and if you have a four-year
diploma and if you have a four-year
diploma and if you have a four-year degree you will earn 62% more some
degree you will earn 62% more some
degree you will earn 62% more some economists estimate that this is more
economists estimate that this is more
economists estimate that this is more than a million dollars in lifetime
than a million dollars in lifetime
than a million dollars in lifetime earnings college graduates are also
earnings college graduates are also
earnings college graduates are also reported to experience better health and
reported to experience better health and
reported to experience better health and life expectancy lower rates of
life expectancy lower rates of
life expectancy lower rates of unemployment increased person
unemployment increased person
unemployment increased person and professional mobility so I’ve
and professional mobility so I’ve
and professional mobility so I’ve started to wonder what makes people who
started to wonder what makes people who
started to wonder what makes people who worked really hard to achieve something
worked really hard to achieve something
worked really hard to achieve something and who are clearly benefiting from it
and who are clearly benefiting from it
and who are clearly benefiting from it turn around and tell others that the
turn around and tell others that the
turn around and tell others that the thing that they worked really hard for
thing that they worked really hard for
thing that they worked really hard for really wasn’t worth it
now some famous college dropouts like
now some famous college dropouts like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are often
Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are often
Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are often uses examples to demonstrate that the
uses examples to demonstrate that the
uses examples to demonstrate that the path to the c-suite isn’t paved with
path to the c-suite isn’t paved with
path to the c-suite isn’t paved with college success but let’s be real an Ivy
college success but let’s be real an Ivy
college success but let’s be real an Ivy League institution is a pretty powerful
League institution is a pretty powerful
League institution is a pretty powerful place to drop out of the networks you
place to drop out of the networks you
place to drop out of the networks you create or that you had before going the
create or that you had before going the
create or that you had before going the courses that you take before you make
courses that you take before you make
courses that you take before you make the decision to leave and the safety net
the decision to leave and the safety net
the decision to leave and the safety net you have at home are often critical to
you have at home are often critical to
you have at home are often critical to your future success and while we are
your future success and while we are
your future success and while we are having this conversation in some small
having this conversation in some small
having this conversation in some small pockets of Silicon Valley we’re hiring
pockets of Silicon Valley we’re hiring
pockets of Silicon Valley we’re hiring managers or luring engineering students
managers or luring engineering students
managers or luring engineering students into the tech field what’s really
into the tech field what’s really
into the tech field what’s really interesting about this question in this
interesting about this question in this
interesting about this question in this conversation is that more often than not
conversation is that more often than not
conversation is that more often than not we’re asking it about students who come
we’re asking it about students who come
we’re asking it about students who come from under-resourced communities
from under-resourced communities
from under-resourced communities communities like Compton and Detroit
communities like Compton and Detroit
communities like Compton and Detroit communities like Dorchester and Oakland
communities like Dorchester and Oakland
communities like Dorchester and Oakland regions of the country like the
regions of the country like the
regions of the country like the flatlands of South Carolina and the
flatlands of South Carolina and the
flatlands of South Carolina and the northern Mississippi Delta so what we’re
northern Mississippi Delta so what we’re
northern Mississippi Delta so what we’re really asking isn’t is college for
really asking isn’t is college for
really asking isn’t is college for everyone but rather is college for those
everyone but rather is college for those
everyone but rather is college for those students is college for the student I
students is college for the student I
students is college for the student I once was I was born in port-au-prince
once was I was born in port-au-prince
once was I was born in port-au-prince Haiti and I grew up in inner-city Boston
Haiti and I grew up in inner-city Boston
Haiti and I grew up in inner-city Boston I was raised by my parents and my
I was raised by my parents and my
I was raised by my parents and my beloved
beloved
beloved grandmother mommy Claire who you see
grandmother mommy Claire who you see
grandmother mommy Claire who you see behind me in the center and by the way
behind me in the center and by the way
behind me in the center and by the way mommy Claire is still alive she is going
mommy Claire is still alive she is going
mommy Claire is still alive she is going to be 103 years old in June even though
to be 103 years old in June even though
to be 103 years old in June even though my parents didn’t go to college they
my parents didn’t go to college they
my parents didn’t go to college they stressed the importance of an education
stressed the importance of an education
stressed the importance of an education and a college degree in particular is
and a college degree in particular is
and a college degree in particular is key to moving me and our family out of
key to moving me and our family out of
key to moving me and our family out of poverty one day when I was in the
poverty one day when I was in the
poverty one day when I was in the seventh grade my mom overheard a group
seventh grade my mom overheard a group
seventh grade my mom overheard a group of doctors talking about where they were
of doctors talking about where they were
of doctors talking about where they were sending their kids to college and she
sending their kids to college and she
sending their kids to college and she came running home she was so excited and
came running home she was so excited and
came running home she was so excited and said okay I got it you have to go to
said okay I got it you have to go to
said okay I got it you have to go to this thing called an Ivy League and you
this thing called an Ivy League and you
this thing called an Ivy League and you have to go to this place called
have to go to this place called
have to go to this place called Dartmouth and that’s exactly how the
Dartmouth and that’s exactly how the
Dartmouth and that’s exactly how the good dream of a specific college was
good dream of a specific college was
good dream of a specific college was born it was through that overheard
born it was through that overheard
born it was through that overheard conversation in the emergency room of
conversation in the emergency room of
conversation in the emergency room of Kearney Hospital in Dorchester
Kearney Hospital in Dorchester
Kearney Hospital in Dorchester Massachusetts where my mom worked as a
Massachusetts where my mom worked as a
Massachusetts where my mom worked as a phlebotomist so I worked really hard in
phlebotomist so I worked really hard in
phlebotomist so I worked really hard in high school and I graduated at the top
high school and I graduated at the top
high school and I graduated at the top of my class when the acceptance letter
of my class when the acceptance letter
of my class when the acceptance letter from Dartmouth came we treated the
from Dartmouth came we treated the
from Dartmouth came we treated the moment almost as if we had won the
moment almost as if we had won the
moment almost as if we had won the lottery and we assumed that the most
lottery and we assumed that the most
lottery and we assumed that the most difficult part of the journey was behind
difficult part of the journey was behind
difficult part of the journey was behind us we were so wrong I completely bombed
us we were so wrong I completely bombed
us we were so wrong I completely bombed my freshman year even though I had a
my freshman year even though I had a
my freshman year even though I had a resume that indicated incredible
resume that indicated incredible
resume that indicated incredible preparation I struggled with every
preparation I struggled with every
preparation I struggled with every aspect of college life from the academic
aspect of college life from the academic
aspect of college life from the academic and the financial to the social and
and the financial to the social and
and the financial to the social and emotional after the fall of my sophomore
emotional after the fall of my sophomore
emotional after the fall of my sophomore year I was placed on academic probation
year I was placed on academic probation
year I was placed on academic probation and asked to take a leave of absence
and asked to take a leave of absence
and asked to take a leave of absence with generations of sacrifice and my
with generations of sacrifice and my
with generations of sacrifice and my entire family’s hopes and dreams hanging
entire family’s hopes and dreams hanging
entire family’s hopes and dreams hanging in the balance I was in crisis luckily I
in the balance I was in crisis luckily I
in the balance I was in crisis luckily I was able to turn things around with the
was able to turn things around with the
was able to turn things around with the support of my family and with the help
support of my family and with the help
support of my family and with the help of my mentor I regained my footing I
of my mentor I regained my footing I
of my mentor I regained my footing I graduated from Dartmouth in four years
graduated from Dartmouth in four years
graduated from Dartmouth in four years and I land
and I land
and I land at Stanford for graduate school my
at Stanford for graduate school my
at Stanford for graduate school my degree didn’t just change my trajectory
degree didn’t just change my trajectory
degree didn’t just change my trajectory it changed the trajectory of my entire
it changed the trajectory of my entire
it changed the trajectory of my entire family I was the first in our family to
family I was the first in our family to
family I was the first in our family to go to college but I wasn’t the last I
go to college but I wasn’t the last I
go to college but I wasn’t the last I paved the way from my younger sister my
paved the way from my younger sister my
paved the way from my younger sister my younger cousins and so many more in our
younger cousins and so many more in our
younger cousins and so many more in our community and today we are repaying the
community and today we are repaying the
community and today we are repaying the sacrifices of our elders by helping to
sacrifices of our elders by helping to
sacrifices of our elders by helping to support them financially and in other
support them financially and in other
support them financially and in other ways my six-year-old is already wearing
ways my six-year-old is already wearing
ways my six-year-old is already wearing Dartmouth and Stanford t-shirts and
Dartmouth and Stanford t-shirts and
Dartmouth and Stanford t-shirts and guess where he’s telling me he’s going
guess where he’s telling me he’s going
guess where he’s telling me he’s going after high school I founded an
after high school I founded an
after high school I founded an organization that has added 31 new jobs
organization that has added 31 new jobs
organization that has added 31 new jobs to the US economy and 50% of our staff
to the US economy and 50% of our staff
to the US economy and 50% of our staff are first-generation college-goers going
are first-generation college-goers going
are first-generation college-goers going to college changed my worldview I became
to college changed my worldview I became
to college changed my worldview I became a critical thinker a better writer I
a critical thinker a better writer I
a critical thinker a better writer I found my passion and my voice for social
found my passion and my voice for social
found my passion and my voice for social justice and I became an activist while
justice and I became an activist while
justice and I became an activist while my story has a happy ending each year
my story has a happy ending each year
my story has a happy ending each year 700,000 students with backgrounds and
700,000 students with backgrounds and
700,000 students with backgrounds and stories similar to mine embark on their
stories similar to mine embark on their
stories similar to mine embark on their college journeys believing like I did
college journeys believing like I did
college journeys believing like I did that they are prepared for the road
that they are prepared for the road
that they are prepared for the road ahead
ahead
ahead but the statistics tell us otherwise the
but the statistics tell us otherwise the
but the statistics tell us otherwise the vast majority will not graduate from
vast majority will not graduate from
vast majority will not graduate from college is college for those students
college is college for those students
college is college for those students now the question I get just as often as
now the question I get just as often as
now the question I get just as often as the is college for everyone question is
the is college for everyone question is
the is college for everyone question is did you know that welders make six
did you know that welders make six
did you know that welders make six figures and they don’t need a college
figures and they don’t need a college
figures and they don’t need a college degree and that’s a very viable
degree and that’s a very viable
degree and that’s a very viable alternative and a wonderful career if in
alternative and a wonderful career if in
alternative and a wonderful career if in fact you want to be a welder but even if
fact you want to be a welder but even if
fact you want to be a welder but even if you do we know that we are losing
you do we know that we are losing
you do we know that we are losing manufacturing jobs really quickly in our
manufacturing jobs really quickly in our
manufacturing jobs really quickly in our economy
and I get it our colleges and
and I get it our colleges and universities are broken the system is
universities are broken the system is
universities are broken the system is broken and I agree first even though
broken and I agree first even though
broken and I agree first even though we’re sending more and more students to
we’re sending more and more students to
we’re sending more and more students to college too few particularly those from
college too few particularly those from
college too few particularly those from under-resourced communities are
under-resourced communities are
under-resourced communities are graduating only 9% of students from the
graduating only 9% of students from the
graduating only 9% of students from the lowest income quartile can expect to
lowest income quartile can expect to
lowest income quartile can expect to earn a bachelor’s degree by their
earn a bachelor’s degree by their
earn a bachelor’s degree by their mid-20s versus 77%
mid-20s versus 77%
mid-20s versus 77% of their higher income peers
of their higher income peers
of their higher income peers african-american students earn
african-american students earn
african-american students earn bachelor’s degrees at 1/2 and latino
bachelor’s degrees at 1/2 and latino
bachelor’s degrees at 1/2 and latino students at one-third the rate of white
students at one-third the rate of white
students at one-third the rate of white students second the rising cost of
students second the rising cost of
students second the rising cost of higher education leads us to ask
higher education leads us to ask
higher education leads us to ask legitimate questions about the ROI of a
legitimate questions about the ROI of a
legitimate questions about the ROI of a college degree according to the College
college degree according to the College
college degree according to the College Board the average price of a four-year
Board the average price of a four-year
Board the average price of a four-year degree is between 100,000 and 250,000
degree is between 100,000 and 250,000
degree is between 100,000 and 250,000 dollars
dollars
dollars College has become much more about
College has become much more about
College has become much more about whether you can afford to be there and
whether you can afford to be there and
whether you can afford to be there and third we know that our system of higher
third we know that our system of higher
third we know that our system of higher education isn’t equipping our students
education isn’t equipping our students
education isn’t equipping our students with the skills they need to be
with the skills they need to be
with the skills they need to be successful in the workforce a recent
successful in the workforce a recent
successful in the workforce a recent survey by pay scale discovered that even
survey by pay scale discovered that even
survey by pay scale discovered that even though nine out of ten recent college
though nine out of ten recent college
though nine out of ten recent college graduates believe that they are prepared
graduates believe that they are prepared
graduates believe that they are prepared for the workforce only 50% of employers
for the workforce only 50% of employers
for the workforce only 50% of employers in our country agree colleges and
in our country agree colleges and
in our country agree colleges and universities must change they must
universities must change they must
universities must change they must become more accessible more inclusive
become more accessible more inclusive
become more accessible more inclusive more affordable and more relevant they
more affordable and more relevant they
more affordable and more relevant they have to create courses of study that
have to create courses of study that
have to create courses of study that allow all students to thrive in a
allow all students to thrive in a
allow all students to thrive in a competitive global technology driven
competitive global technology driven
competitive global technology driven economy the fact remains however that a
economy the fact remains however that a
economy the fact remains however that a college degree is still the currency of
college degree is still the currency of
college degree is still the currency of validation in our country
validation in our country
validation in our country since 2010 95% of all new jobs went to
since 2010 95% of all new jobs went to
since 2010 95% of all new jobs went to workers with at least some college now
workers with at least some college now
workers with at least some college now the challenges I described with our
the challenges I described with our
the challenges I described with our higher education system certainly lead
higher education system certainly lead
higher education system certainly lead to valid questions about whether college
to valid questions about whether college
to valid questions about whether college is the only path to help us close these
is the only path to help us close these
is the only path to help us close these workforce gaps but for decades our only
workforce gaps but for decades our only
workforce gaps but for decades our only alternatives have been non college paths
alternatives have been non college paths
alternatives have been non college paths like vocational training and
like vocational training and
like vocational training and apprenticeships a recent study by the
apprenticeships a recent study by the
apprenticeships a recent study by the New America Foundation found that 83% of
New America Foundation found that 83% of
New America Foundation found that 83% of people across party lines support
people across party lines support
people across party lines support increased government funding for
increased government funding for
increased government funding for apprenticeships but when asked what they
apprenticeships but when asked what they
apprenticeships but when asked what they would recommend to a child in their own
would recommend to a child in their own
would recommend to a child in their own lives only 25% said that they would
lives only 25% said that they would
lives only 25% said that they would recommend apprenticeships while 50% said
recommend apprenticeships while 50% said
recommend apprenticeships while 50% said that they would recommend a four-year
that they would recommend a four-year
that they would recommend a four-year college degree so there is a disconnect
college degree so there is a disconnect
college degree so there is a disconnect between what Americans think is good for
between what Americans think is good for
between what Americans think is good for other people’s children and what we
other people’s children and what we
other people’s children and what we think is good for the children in our
think is good for the children in our
think is good for the children in our own lives it is dangerous for us to
own lives it is dangerous for us to
own lives it is dangerous for us to continue to have this conversation about
continue to have this conversation about
continue to have this conversation about the value of a college education with
the value of a college education with
the value of a college education with rooms full of college graduates with the
rooms full of college graduates with the
rooms full of college graduates with the benefit of hindsight and the privilege
benefit of hindsight and the privilege
benefit of hindsight and the privilege of choice we are debating the value of a
of choice we are debating the value of a
of choice we are debating the value of a proven path out of poverty without the
proven path out of poverty without the
proven path out of poverty without the voices of those who are living the
voices of those who are living the
voices of those who are living the alternative rather than excluding some
alternative rather than excluding some
alternative rather than excluding some students from the benefits of a college
students from the benefits of a college
students from the benefits of a college education let’s focus on fixing a broken
education let’s focus on fixing a broken
education let’s focus on fixing a broken system first let’s fix the disconnect
system first let’s fix the disconnect
system first let’s fix the disconnect between our k12 system our higher
between our k12 system our higher
between our k12 system our higher education system and our work force the
education system and our work force the
education system and our work force the curricular standards required to
curricular standards required to
curricular standards required to graduate from high school
graduate from high school
graduate from high school and those expected of students in
and those expected of students in
and those expected of students in college and the skills expected of
college and the skills expected of
college and the skills expected of workers as we transition into the
workers as we transition into the
workers as we transition into the workforce are completely misaligned
workforce are completely misaligned
workforce are completely misaligned second let’s address those abysmal
second let’s address those abysmal
second let’s address those abysmal college dropout rates by amplifying
college dropout rates by amplifying
college dropout rates by amplifying student support services that are
student support services that are
student support services that are proactive let’s use a combination of
proactive let’s use a combination of
proactive let’s use a combination of Technology and human coaching to really
Technology and human coaching to really
Technology and human coaching to really help guide our students to a college
help guide our students to a college
help guide our students to a college degree third let’s address the rising
degree third let’s address the rising
degree third let’s address the rising cost of higher education by reforming
cost of higher education by reforming
cost of higher education by reforming our student aid programs so that they
our student aid programs so that they
our student aid programs so that they are more responsive to current students
are more responsive to current students
are more responsive to current students needs and let’s incentivize colleges and
needs and let’s incentivize colleges and
needs and let’s incentivize colleges and universities for the degrees earned
universities for the degrees earned
universities for the degrees earned rather for the students who enter
rather for the students who enter
rather for the students who enter college lastly let’s embrace new models
college lastly let’s embrace new models
college lastly let’s embrace new models of higher education that create a
of higher education that create a
of higher education that create a tighter pipeline between higher
tighter pipeline between higher
tighter pipeline between higher education and career but let’s make sure
education and career but let’s make sure
education and career but let’s make sure that they are rigorous and that they
that they are rigorous and that they
that they are rigorous and that they provide our students with the academic
provide our students with the academic
provide our students with the academic and the non-academic skills that we know
and the non-academic skills that we know
and the non-academic skills that we know they need to be successful in today’s
they need to be successful in today’s
they need to be successful in today’s workforce if students decide not to go
workforce if students decide not to go
workforce if students decide not to go to college let it be because they have
to college let it be because they have
to college let it be because they have made the choice they understand the
made the choice they understand the
made the choice they understand the array of choices before them and they
array of choices before them and they
array of choices before them and they have made a well informed and well
have made a well informed and well
have made a well informed and well educated decision based on their
educated decision based on their
educated decision based on their passions their interests and their
passions their interests and their
passions their interests and their skills rather than because our education
skills rather than because our education
skills rather than because our education system fails them and we were looking to
system fails them and we were looking to
system fails them and we were looking to bail them out so let’s get back to the
bail them out so let’s get back to the
bail them out so let’s get back to the question at hand
question at hand
question at hand let’s get back to the question at hand
let’s get back to the question at hand
let’s get back to the question at hand is college for everyone no but the
is college for everyone no but the
is college for everyone no but the opportunity to go to college should be
opportunity to go to college should be
opportunity to go to college should be because if you say no to that question
because if you say no to that question
because if you say no to that question you are saying no to the student I once
you are saying no to the student I once
you are saying no to the student I once was and to the millions of college
was and to the millions of college
was and to the millions of college students
students
students like me on campuses everywhere if we
like me on campuses everywhere if we
like me on campuses everywhere if we don’t support all students in their
don’t support all students in their
don’t support all students in their journey through college we will lose
journey through college we will lose
journey through college we will lose their diverse and amazing for voices in
their diverse and amazing for voices in
their diverse and amazing for voices in our classrooms in our boardrooms in our
our classrooms in our boardrooms in our
our classrooms in our boardrooms in our political offices in our social agenda
political offices in our social agenda
political offices in our social agenda in the very fabric of our country and I
in the very fabric of our country and I
in the very fabric of our country and I would argue that we need their voices
would argue that we need their voices
would argue that we need their voices now more than ever thank you
now more than ever thank you
now more than ever thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Applause]
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