Executive Voice
Military Veteran, Jerry Morrison, Inspires Freshmen To Stop Dropping Out Of College
According to education data.org, the overall dropout rate for undergraduate college students is 40%, with approximately 30% of first-year students dropping out before their sophomore year. And there is more data that mounts to this worrying trend. More than 30% of undergraduates are first-generation college students. All this also translates to economic power in the country. Data shows that college dropouts earn about $4 per hour less than high school graduates with a professional certificate or vocational training. No matter how you look at this issue, something needs to change.
Military man, Jerry Morrison, now turned motivational speaker has always been passionate about public speaking. He is helping first-year college students unlock their potential by getting clarity in their future. Having dropped out of college before, he understands most students drop out because of a lack of the right mindset to get them through college. He is determined to help many students ultimately succeed in all they do. Read through as we explore how Jerry is fixing the problem of a high dropout rate in college.
Empowering ideas
As a public speaker, Jerry is highly motivated to see others succeed. Sharing his ideas to freshmen on how they can plan, navigate, and enjoy college life is at the core of his mission. Sometimes, we all need a little push to help us keep moving to achieve our goals. We need a support system that understands the challenges in our lives. For Jerry, he is there to guide students when they are stuck and offer them share a new perspective of doing things. In his college freshman programs, Jerry encourages students to have a mission statement and create a vision board that propels them to want to win and achieve their goals. Besides, he suggests that students need to define their goals and optimize their schedules to ensure that they achieve small wins every day. By understanding why they started in the first place, students are more likely to focus on the end goal of their academic journeys.
Changing the mindset
When we go through challenging times, it is sometimes easy to get caught up in negative thinking about how things are not working. The journey to the top is not easy, and that is why it is important to have a positive outlook in life. Jerry advises students to be patient and focus on implementing things that help them get through their activities. Like planning study schedules and balancing life activities and school work. Growth takes time. He says, ‘you have to realize that life is happening for you, not to you.’ Embracing positivity in any area of your life is key.
Developing passion
Passion is what drives us to achieve great things in life. The beauty of education is that it helps us pursue those jobs and careers that we love and give us fulfillment. As you grow, your goals align with your interests. Being exposed to new ideas, perspectives, and knowledge, through education is how we form who we are as people and how we contribute to humanity and society as a whole. And education gives us those basic tools that we need to develop those skills. For Jerry, his passion is to help people because that is what matters to him. He notes that it is important to do one little thing every day to get to your passion.
Data shows that there are more benefits to finishing studies and getting your degree. While this might seem quite a traditional way of thinking, it is good to admit that as we grow, so does our perspectives on life and career. Being patient and having the right approach is key to making small gains now that will influence your future.
