Musings: College needed more than ever
Stony Brook University graduates from the class of 2024 celebrate after a commencement ceremony in May.. Credit: Newsday/John Paraskevas
While there has been understandable debate about the value of a college education this past year, I have learned firsthand that there is no better investment than a college education and no more critical time than right now.
College is not for everyone — nor should it be — and there are many other paths to success in life. My dad served in the military and was a New York City firefighter who did not attend college, but he worked hard so his children could have that opportunity.
So, I was blessed to attend college and receive numerous degrees and have a long and successful business career. Now, I have the same opportunity to pay it forward by passing this education onto the next generation of students.
We first need to ensure that we eliminate barriers so that all individuals have access to an affordable college education. The best approach is to provide today’s students with a well-rounded education, which provides a liberal arts foundation while also preparing them for tomorrow’s careers in business, education, STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — and other growing fields.
We need to provide these students with a relevant and rigorous academic curriculum inside the classroom while providing experiential learning outside the classroom — mentoring, career prep, internships, and ultimately first jobs.
We also need to ensure that students are actively engaged in their local communities — volunteering in support of important causes, safeguarding the environment, and ensuring their young voices are heard — as we prepare them to become the civic-minded leaders we’ll need in the future.
A college education matters more now than ever as we prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s leaders. As a business leader-turned-educator, I take this commitment seriously and am optimistic about our future — and, especially, our future leaders.
— Ken Daly, Port Washington
The writer, a former president of National Grid, is president of St. Thomas Aquinas College in Rockland County.
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