Bob Stuart, educator and college counselor
10/02/18 16:00 Filed in: Education
I grew up in Maine and went to Bowdoin College in Maine. I do like Maine. I spent five years in Colorado teaching and coaching at the high school level, one year in Massachusetts in graduate school, and one year in Texas, and that was enough Texas for me. Good music, but the rest just wasn't my style. And it was hot! Still, a good experience for me.
I spend my life talking with students, grades 3 - 12, about opportunities in higher education. There are a lot of really great college opportunities in Maine and around the world that students could love. You don't need to go to college, but it can give you a big advantage in the world of work, and it gives you a little extra confidence to pursue your goals. I enjoy sharing this information about colleges with students, especially younger students.
I seem to spend half of my time staring at a computer screen, which is OK for a little while. I spend a lot of time driving in my car to rural communities. That is OK for a little while. I like spending time with students. They are much more fun to be with than adults, who can complain too much and be grumpy and argue. I like the mix my work offers me — some time to feel like I got something done on my computer, some time listening to and exploring the world with students, some time exploring new parts of Maine, and some time meeting with adults who aren't grumpy.
Most people don't agree with me on this, but having visited a lot of colleges throughout Maine and the U.S. and elsewhere, I really believe that there is a great college for everyone, and that everyone can go to college (which I define very broadly) and be successful. You don't even need to be smart. You just need a goal — aspirations, something you enjoy doing and are proud of — and a willingness to work hard.
To be successful in this career, I think you need to care about education and care about others more than just yourself, and care about the future and not just today. And, you need to be persistent. And, you need to be willing accept a simpler life and pass up some income because you believe that what you are doing may be good for others, even if it takes 20 years.
My career advice? Figure out what you really enjoy doing while you are young. Set your goals. Expect a lot of yourself. Treat others well. You will be amazed at how much further you will get in life if you do that. And, the key to success . . . . . . . . e . . . . . . . . effort and education.
Bob Stuart
I spend my life talking with students, grades 3 - 12, about opportunities in higher education. There are a lot of really great college opportunities in Maine and around the world that students could love. You don't need to go to college, but it can give you a big advantage in the world of work, and it gives you a little extra confidence to pursue your goals. I enjoy sharing this information about colleges with students, especially younger students.
I seem to spend half of my time staring at a computer screen, which is OK for a little while. I spend a lot of time driving in my car to rural communities. That is OK for a little while. I like spending time with students. They are much more fun to be with than adults, who can complain too much and be grumpy and argue. I like the mix my work offers me — some time to feel like I got something done on my computer, some time listening to and exploring the world with students, some time exploring new parts of Maine, and some time meeting with adults who aren't grumpy.
Most people don't agree with me on this, but having visited a lot of colleges throughout Maine and the U.S. and elsewhere, I really believe that there is a great college for everyone, and that everyone can go to college (which I define very broadly) and be successful. You don't even need to be smart. You just need a goal — aspirations, something you enjoy doing and are proud of — and a willingness to work hard.
To be successful in this career, I think you need to care about education and care about others more than just yourself, and care about the future and not just today. And, you need to be persistent. And, you need to be willing accept a simpler life and pass up some income because you believe that what you are doing may be good for others, even if it takes 20 years.
My career advice? Figure out what you really enjoy doing while you are young. Set your goals. Expect a lot of yourself. Treat others well. You will be amazed at how much further you will get in life if you do that. And, the key to success . . . . . . . . e . . . . . . . . effort and education.
Bob Stuart