Why are you at MHCC? Is it passion or payday?

As students, one of the most difficult questions we face is naturally one we all ask for help with, at one point in our lives: What am I going to be when I grow up?

“My guidance counselor said I wasn’t smart enough, so I became a hair stylist,” said Tracy Brzyscki, now a nursing student at MHCC. Brzyscki was a hair stylist for 14 years until having kids meant she needed to make more money. “I did retail for 14 years,” she said. Although she loved hair styling, nursing was something Brzyscki said she wanted to do “since she was a kid” and her decision to follow her dream now is inspiring her kids.

“They see mom getting A’s and they want to, too,” she said.

College is a funny thing. The prospect of what you can do or be can be exciting. It’s easy to get wrapped up in how much money you plan on making, how great it will be to jump into a particular industry, or, in Brzyscki’s case, helping people.

But then you are sucked back from all that and you’re standing in the main mall of MHCC, late for class, it’s raining and you have at least three terms until you can even think of getting out of here.

So, how do we stay focused? How do we decide what we want to do for the rest of our life? Do we gamble and turn our passion into a career? Or do we play it safe and do something that pays well, but is boring?

A “medical office billing” certificate will never be compared to a “sky diving instructor” certificate, but Andy Thompson is stoked about it.

“It’s a sustainable job that will be around for many years and allows me to work from home,” said Thompson, who originally wanted to go into cyber technology. “A lot of people who go into something they have a passion for, they usually burn out when they do it for a career.”

And, who knows, you might study something that you originally think is boring but a safe bet, that turns out to be something you enjoy.

“We have one of the best programs around,” said Jeff Mooney, a welding student in his second term at MHCC. “It seemed like it had the best possibilities.”

Mooney said he was encouraged to check out welding by an electrician’s union, IBEW, he had hoped to apprentice for.

“It’s just a good skill to have. I figured I should get the certificate and it turns out I really like it,” he said.

As journalism students, we at The Advocate are constantly being reminded of the claim that “journalism is a dying industry,” which may or may not be true depending on how you look at it. We don’t think it is, but that is an editorial for another time. What’s important is that we all are passionate about reporting, writing and designing and want to work in the industry. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be putting in what has got to be 25+ hours a week for virtually no credit/money.

Some students don’t know what they want to do, so no one’s told them they can’t do it yet. A little criticism could go a long way to help narrow the overwhelming options we as students face when deciding on a major.

“It’s cold-blooded, man,” said Calvin Walker, MHCC academic adviser, about the world outside of school and getting a job there. “Some people know what they want to do, but a lot don’t.” For those that don’t, he recommends they “take either HD210 or HD208” – career and life planning courses offered at MHCC.

Walker’s concern for students graduating from school right is making a wise choice.

“Menial jobs are being outsourced,” he said. Cutbacks in industries are causing current workers to hold onto jobs while demanding less (pay) for them, yet he sees students signing up for programs to enter an industry that “doesn’t have a lot of attrition” and thus holds little promise for newcomers, he said.

Regardless of the status of the job market when a student graduates, “A four-year degree is your passport to life,” said Walker. “It’s so competitive you have to have one. You need a four-year degree just to say Hello.”

School can be hard, confusing and defeating at times. So, whatever the reason that drove you to come better mean enough to get you through it, because otherwise, why are you here?

And, if you have questions about anything, ask.

“There are hundreds of people on campus who want to help you: career, academic and faculty advisors,” said Walker, adding that the only stupid questions are the ones not asked.