The Dr. Mary Bone Competitive EssayEver since I joined Alpha Beta Gamma almost two
years ago, I have thought about what being in a national honor society
would mean to me. Would it
mean more popularity among my fellow students? That I might look smarter? That my resume would look more
enticing to future employers?
I was pretty sure that all these things would happen, but I felt
that they would not make me look forward to being a member as much as just
being a member
would. I
started out as just a member for the first two months, and was a little
surprised that I was even asked.
But I knew the founding members from having classes with them, and
knew that I would feel comfortable going to the meetings, so I agreed to
join. After two meetings, I
was asked to be the secretary, and agreed right away. I felt like I was really a part of
something, like I was somebody else other than just another student
getting my degree at school.
I had never really been accepted like this before, not when I was
in grade school, and it felt really good. It felt better than knowing that I
would have a really nice looking resume to show to potential employers,
even though that was an added bonus.
I was finally an important and valuable person in the eyes of other
people, and I intended to do the best I could with my new
position. When I decided to join Alpha Beta Gamma, I hoped
that it would be an organization that did lots of different school and
community activities and had fun at the same time. I was not disappointed. Our chapter has done so many
different things, from cleaning up the classrooms, especially the
whiteboards, to having a team at the local Relay for Life event. And I have enjoyed everything we
have done. I am the secretary
of a prestigious and community-serving group, and that is the most
fulfilling thing I have ever done in my life. Even being older than a lot of the
students I have class with does not matter. I am at an age now where I look
forward to doing things for others and not just for me anymore. I have more of a want to
participate in everything and to contribute whatever I can, whereas I was
not as enthusiastic about joining anything during grade school or my brief
college stint twenty years earlier. Over all, I think Alpha Beta Gamma has allowed me to grow as a group member, and to find a place of importance outside of myself, and that means more to me than anything else the organization could ever offer me. I look forward to at least another year of fun activities, either helping others in my community or helping Alpha Beta Gamma get bigger and better than ever.
Francis Cunningham, Esq. Memorial AwardEthics in Business By George G. Flibotte I think the best way to describe ethics in business would be to say that there are two ways of doing business, the right and lawful way, or the wrong and unlawful way. Ethics is important from the time a business opens until the time it closes or goes out of business. It includes everything that comes with running a business such as how vendors, customers, banks, investors, manufacturers, and employees are treated. Ethics extends to your personal life, how you treat the people you hang out with, your family, and the people you may meet in school, at the department store, grocery shopping, or even a park. My Grandfather always told me to do the right thing and treat people the way that you would want to be treated.
If you hang around people who often steal, people who break the
law, people who take advantage of other people, than the chances of you
succeeding in business are slim to none. We hear all over the news how
some companies top executives and CEO's take people's money and bail out
to make themselves rich putting their employees' retirement funds down the
drain. This is not ethical. How would these people like it if it were done
to them? There is too much greed among business owners today and you just
don't know who you can trust anymore.
The world's economy is going downhill fast and yet there could be
enough opportunities out there for everyone. Businesses need to start
helping each other out instead of trying to take over each other's
businesses to become the only one out there. It is ok to be competitive
but without other businesses then there is no competition and it forces
you to buy from the one company at their prices because you can't buy it
anywhere else. Good ethics is sharing the wealth and working together to
make our economy strong again.
Consumers need to trust in
the businesses they buy products from. When you purchase a new car you
want to believe that you are covered for a certain period of time. If
something goes wrong with that vehicle, you want to know that Ford,
Chevrolet, Dodge, or wherever you bought it from will stand behind their
promises and make it right. This is how businesses keep repeat customers.
Word of mouth goes along way and it can bring you down just as fast as it
can make you popular.
Customer service is very important to me; once I lose that trust
and the service isn't there,
I will move onto another business which shows me better customer
service. I don't mind paying a little more if I am being taken care of but
if the service is not there it wouldn't matter if they were giving me the
best price out there, I would go elsewhere. I was once told by a
salesperson at a car dealership when I presented her a trade-in price from
another dealership, that maybe I should go and buy from that other dealer.
The dealership that I bought from gave me more money than the people who
made the vehicle. Because of this dealership's good ethics and customer
service, it has become my dealership of choice. Do the right thing, speak to
people like human beings, stay on the good side of the law, treat people
the way that you want to be treated, and you will be successful in life no
matter what you do.
Good business ethics
also involves how a business treats its customers. It has been said that
the customer is always right, but I believe that it works both ways and if
you are receiving good ethics from the business, you should return your
good ethics to them. It pays to be polite, patient, co-operative, and
understanding when you are in the process to purchase anything. I would
like to own my own business someday and from the ethics that I have been
brought up with, I know that I can be successful in whatever I decide to
do. Even though I feel inside that I am a good person, this college
experience has taught me to become even better.
The Ester Cross-Carter Memorial EssayHelping Others By Liz Faires Helping others means doing something without expecting anything in return. Many people do not understand how easy and satisfying it is to help others and that it doesn't take a lot of money or time. Telling someone good morning, letting them into traffic from a parking lot, not passing judgment on people, and just listening are ways to help others without doing a whole lot. Many times a smile can mean a lot to a person who hasn't had a lot to smile about. Another way to help others is to donate usable items to organizations that help the needy. Try donating blood at the local blood bank or become an organ donor. Picking up a piece of trash and putting it in the garbage costs nothing but it helps save the environment and makes things look nicer. Giving a can of food to a local food pantry or animal shelter while grocery shopping can cost as little as 20 cents and you don't need to make an extra trip to do nice things for people and animals you may never meet. I try to carry a bag of food and little bags of dog food in my car and, if I see a homeless person, I will just hand them the bag of food. This not only helps the individual but it also helps the pet, which not only protects this person but gives that person unconditional love. I have also helped a neighbor by leaving groceries on her porch without letting her know it was me and she was so excited because she had run low on food and she didn't know how she was going to make it until payday. She talked about it for weeks and when she had some extra money she donated food to the local food bank. Many times, walking around the college campus, I see people who seem to be looking for something or someplace they can't seem to find. I will go out of my way to ask them if I can help them in any way. Many times the person may not know exactly what they are looking for but I try to get them going in the right direction or I will find someone who can help them. This act of kindness did not cost me a dime, took only few extra steps and, delayed my arrival to my destination by only a few minutes. As a young child growing up in the early sixties in a low income, single-parent home I was never aware of being poor or different from other families in our neighborhood. There were always family members, neighbors and friends stepping in to help in some way either by babysitting, giving us rides to the store or just helping around the house. I learned that you do things to help because you want to, not because you are expected to.
The Sophia Abeles Essay AwardLearning: To Experience Life Change for the Better By Patrick Packard Tomorrow brings the promise of opportunities that glisten with the feeling of happiness and reassurance that everything will be fine. This positive state of mind was not always a part of my life. It only came to be when I returned to school and is one of the many traits that I learned from being a student in a community college. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend college right after High School. My father needed me to work full time in order to pay rent. There was no one in my family who even attended college, so the thought of going to school during the nights after work did not seem like an option at the time. It would take several years of working at the same boring job for me to realize that maybe I needed something more. My girlfriend who is attending UMass Lowell supported me by suggesting I go back to school. I agreed and on January of 2009, I started my degree program at Northern Essex Community College in Business Management. With my heart and mind open, I started my first semester with complete focus on learning all and everything that I could. My very first lesson that acted as a life lesson came from the least likely source. While attending a computer applications course the teacher was discussing grades and emphasized the point that "failure isn't permanent, that you can persevere". The point set in that I could not give up, no matter how hard it may be regardless of how discouraging one grade is, I have to continue to believe in myself and move forward. The things I learned from that one class became priceless tools that I would use throughout my whole experience in college. I learned the ability to use Microsoft Office thoroughly, using Word for my writing classes and projects. Knowledge of Power Point gave me the ability to create professional presentations with ease focusing more on the subject matter than on how to run the program. With what I learned from Excel, I have been able to put together spreadsheets that help me manage my own personal finances while putting together budgets that enable me to save for the future. In one semester alone, I learned things that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. As school progressed I found that what I used to find challenging seemed to be getting easier. Such as writing a paper, sometimes I would sit for hours thinking about what I was going to write. Now within ten minutes I have already got my first paragraph written. The power of learning is strong and can carry over into the working world quite easily. I took an interpersonal communications class about a year ago and I was working as a HVAC Maintenance Technician at the time. In class, we were discussing how to present ourselves to people in order to make the best impression. I took this knowledge and applied it to work being as polite and professional as I possibly could to the customer while performing my normal routine of service. The customer was so happy by my performance that he made it a point of telling me how great it was that my employer was able to find such a good worker. It felt good knowing that what I was learning in school was already paying off by improving my performance at my current job. At first, I thought I knew all I needed to know in order to do my job, now I am humbled to admit that I know a lot more now than I did before going back to school. I even have the courage to admit that as much as I currently know now I have a lot more to learn in the years to come.
The Keith Ulich Memorial EssayAn Unexpected Life By Chris Baxter
I awoke to the sharp screams of terror that pierce my
eardrums to this day. Confused I searched for clues to help discover the
source of commotion. I watched my father, the serene rock of our family,
frantically pace in an utter panic. The perceived look of fear in my
mother's face was unprecedented. I yearned for answers yet lacked the
vocabulary to help me find them. At only three years old my life was
simple. With all my basic needs being fulfilled I never needed to ask
extenuating questions. The tranquil composed family I became accustomed to
had instantly become completely disconcerted. The screams were
complimented by cries and the sound of screeching cars rattled my childish
world. My thoughts raced back and forth in complete disorder. As I began
to tremble, I was promptly grabbed and thrown in the car. My mind turned
blank and all I heard was silence.
My younger brother Taylor was born with the mental retardation
called, Williams Syndrome, an incurable neurodevelopment disorder that
affects .00005 percent of births.
Symptoms include a weakened nervous system, heart defects, mental
disability, and a life governed by hospitals. With every function Taylor
lacks he was blessed with a unique talent. An indicator of Williams is an
overly communal and highly verbal persona. Taylor has social skills that
inspire everyone he crosses paths with and has an exceptional ability to
easily illuminate an entire room. That chaotic night we almost lost a
personality that can bring a gleaming smile to a complete stranger's face
on the gloomiest of days.
That night unbeknownst to me Taylor was diagnosed with Spinal
Meningitis. Even more frightening; the doctors gave him a two percent
chance of survival. In what can only be described as an absolute miracle
Taylor not only kept breathing but became the most inspirational person I
know.
Children with Williams have no inherited racial bias and lack the
cognitive ability to foresee future events. Only aspiring to satisfy
current wants Taylor truly lives in the moment. If he wants something he
takes it. If he is thinking something he says it. However occasionally
this will lead to trouble. One time in a bout of starvation he took a
candy bar from a store without paying. He only thought of his want to
fulfill a basic craving, not anticipating the future unfavorable affects
of shoplifting.
Taylor's charismatic personality has generated unforgettable events
and stories. I've gotten to meet politicians, entertainers, and
professional athletes. In an extraordinary experience Taylor was granted a
"last" wish to bring his family to Disney world. Last month at my
basketball game, during the National Anthem the stereo system abruptly
malfunctioned. From the stands Taylor belted out the rest of the song, in
front of hundreds of strangers, with no background music, no formal
lessons, and absolutely no hesitation. This summer when we met Patriots
quarterback, Tom Brady, Taylor bypassed the line, evaded security, eluded
Tom's extended hand and smothered him with a hug that brought hundreds of aggressive irritable
security guards to their knees.
Taylor knows no option but to live life fully. His brain is unable
to function any other way. There is no restraint, simply one constant
speed. Influenced by Taylor's character, I have been inspired to speak my
mind, reach for my goals, and follow my inner voice. One year ago as an
unemployed college dropout I lied in bed as Taylor whispered to me "Go for
it, because you can." Words that enthused me to attend college, make the
deans list and ultimately lead me to writing this
essay.
The Steve Perri Memorial EssayThe Pros and Cons of Being an Entrepreneur By Charlotte Van Eman Everyone wants to be their own boss; setting your own work hours and having the final say in important company decisions can be strong motivators for someone dealing with the drudgery of a nine-to-five corporate position. Being your own boss can be terribly exciting one minute, and terrifying seconds later! However, not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. Thousands of new businesses are started every day. And every day, many businesses fail. Being your own employer comes with many risks and rewards. And while being in charge may be the ideal for many people, the pros and cons of such a decision must be considered before leaping into the great abyss of an entrepreneurial endeavor. The greatest appeal of business ownership to most potential entrepreneurs is the ability to have the final word in most business decisions. As the boss, you set the work hours, the business environment, and the rules for your organization. As the CEO of You, Inc., you no longer have to follow orders, rules, and working hours set by someone else. There is no need to cut through the 'red tape' of a large corporation; the buck stops with you. You have no need to depend on those above you to make the company successful. Your business will sink or swim on the merits of the decisions you choose to make. Another great thing about being an entrepreneur is the excitement that comes from operating your own business. Knowing that you can offer a new product or service that no one else does, or improving on the current business model used in your field, can be deeply gratifying. Turning a skill, hobby, or personal interest in your own business can be very satisfying. In addition, knowing that you have created a valuable product or offer a necessary service can foster a strong sense of accomplishment. Nevertheless, as we all know, along with the sunshine we usually see a little rain. While all of these things may make owning your own company seem like an easy decision, you must also look at the risks of operating your own small business. The first and most obvious is the chance that your business may not succeed. A good many small businesses never make it past their first year in operation. This leaves you at risk of not only losing the time and money you have invested; you may also lose the money that others have invested in your company as well. Then there is the financial insecurity that comes with being the boss. You are not guaranteed a salary or benefits; there will always be a long line of creditors and suppliers who will need to be paid before you can pay yourself. And, at least in the humble beginnings of your company, you can forget about having a stable work schedule. You have to be willing to work long, hard, often odd hours to make your business profitable. In the beginning, you are not only the boss, but also the secretary, financial officer, IT guru and janitor until your company takes off. You must be willing to wear many hats at one time. To be a truly successful entrepreneur, you must be committed, creative, motivated, and keenly focused on the future. But do not let perceived drawbacks make you fearful of taking the leap into business ownership. Ask yourself some honest questions: Am I willing to work long, hard hours to bring this idea to life? Am I willing to shoulder the risks involved to live my dream? Can I admit to myself that I may not be cut out for the life of an entrepreneur? If you can truthfully answer yes to those questions, then small business ownership may be the right path for you.
The Paul V. Cunningham Essay CompetitionThe Lost Paradigm By Nathan Singleton I once thought that my own accomplishments would make me a stronger leader. I believed that out of my success would flow happiness, fulfillment, and self-worth. This pattern of thinking bankrupted me of invaluable time and energy. Even after gathering all the titles, positions, awards, and recognition I thought I could attain, I continued to feel dissatisfied with my performance. I asked myself for two years, what I am doing wrong? I said all the right words, maintained a professional wardrobe, kept a good standing academically, and always strived to develop the right relationships. I didn't understand the mistakes I was making and then finally it hit me. My motives were wrong. Why was I really overextending myself? Did I think I always had to be on top? What was it in me that screamed for perfection? I wanted to be the best, even if that meant leaving others behind. This is what society had taught me and this was the code I lived by. I had eaten the fruit from the tree of pride and ambition. It tasted good for a season, but the seasons changed and the aftertaste was inexorably repugnant. I found myself feeling empty and disgusted. I was sick to my stomach. How could I continue to live this way? The answer was simple, I wouldn't. I resolved to take my life back from the world's system. I wouldn't be deceived any longer. I didn't care what people thought about me. This was a new beginning, a new journey, a new paradigm of leadership, and I was in it for the duration. I began to bend my knee to the needs of others. I started with a mentorship program for young men. At first, I saw it as a waste of time. These boys didn't want to change. They were coming because their parents told them to. My assumption would be completely misguided and ill-informed. These boys surprised me and I surprised myself. They really wanted to improve their lives. Before I knew it there were fifty young men coming dressed in suits and ties. These were the same boys that started attending the meetings in jeans and flip flops. The mysteries of life were slowly starting to reveal themselves. What was at the center of this new life? I was soon to find out. There was a distinct joy that filled my heart when I started to put others before myself. Just recently, a gentleman walked into my office and told me he needed some help with a personal issue. I didn't know what he meant by personal, but I was interested in finding out. I asked him how I could be of assistance. He said he was having a problem with managing his time and was hoping I could offer some advice. After speaking with him, I saw a smile come across his face and then I knew, life was made for service. Just think about it. We spend all this time getting degrees, certifications, special training, and job experience to find a job. Once we are employed we are instructed to go out and help people. He walked out of my office and I just sat there in amazement. Why hadn't I figured this out ten years ago? My pride had blinded my vision, my ambition clouded my judgment. Now my eyes were open. I was beginning to taste a new type of fruit that comes from a heart of compassion, sweet and satisfying. I am learning to put others before myself and it is a freeing experience indeed. Giving your time and attention to others requires dedication and patience, but it does have its rewards. Everyone is looking to help me because I was willing to reach out to them when they need me most. This does not mean that I am perfect or that I help others expecting something in return. I know that the majority of people I help will never cross my path again. On the other hand, I do know that they will be influencing the life of someone else. It is a ripple effect. A boy might help one person, they help someone else, and then that person might help two people, which doubles the impact. If only everyone could come to the realization that I did at such a young age. This nation would rise out of the swamps of greed and turmoil. Currently, I stand as the president of the Student Government Association and our Alpha Beta Gamma chapter. These positions teach me how to reach people and overcome challenges. I now believe in the saying, "to whom much is given, much is required." For there are times when I don't even have a chance to eat a meal, but I am willing to sacrifice food for a smile or tears. I have the awesome opportunity to reach out to the students here at my campus. I don't know how long I will be here, but that's why I live every day like it's my last. Whenever I am tempted to gripe or complain, life has a way of pulling me back in and reminding me that someone else is going through something even more difficult and painful. Then I resume my day with a humble heart and grateful attitude. How will I ensure that my future efforts have a positive contribution to our world and serve as building blocks for others to make significant contributions to humankind? There's only one thing I believe can accomplish that; holding a heart of compassion for people and always believing they are more important than yourself. This is the challenge I am excited to face. I understand that the best leader must be the greatest servant. Therefore, I am striving to become the greatest servant of my school, in my community, and for my nation. I know that its impression will someday reach the world. Serving others is an occupation that never loses its impact.
The Marc Napolitano Memorial AwardThe Consumer Driven Market Place and the World Wide WebBy Rachel L. Payne In today's world, shared with cyberspace, consumers have the power of the Internet at their fingertips, creating an environment where potential costumers can become an integral part of their favorite brands by providing valuable feedback directly to the manufacturer. Because of the Internet, consumers are more informed and want to be heard on various issues, including quality control, product representation, and recommendations. This can be a powerful tool for a business. Not only is online advertising more cost effective than traditional methods such as television commercials or print media, which both require specialized equipment, but it can reach a much larger number of people. And all that is required is a computer. With a little computer knowledge, a company can create a marketing campaign to target any number of people. By advertising a brand on the Internet with a link to a website, a company can gain a wealth of demographical information about their customers such as where they are from; their median income; marital status; buying habits; etc. This information will help to tailor their marketing strategy and get more out of their advertising dollar. Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a market research analysis, which can takes months to compile and may be irrelevant by the time it is completed, by utilizing the internet, businesses can get a wealth of information almost instantly. Thanks to social networking sites, Face Book and Twitter posts have become one of the newest advertising gold mines, allowing word of mouth promotion to travel all over the world at the speed of a keystroke. Many companies even create special promotions especially geared towards their Face Book fans, offering coupons to everyone who clicks "like" on their face book page. This creates a list of consumers targeted for specialized marketing campaigns that encourage them to invite their friends to like their product as well. What if a consumer hates a product? By providing an easy way for consumers to give feedback directly to a company, good or bad, they will be able to respond to the needs of their clients. A perfect example is Papa John's Pizza. Their current campaign is to allow their customers to be their photographers. They invited customers to upload photos of their families enjoying their pizza to their website. They now run a series of commercials showcasing the photos, including one that a disgruntled customer sent in of their pizza having been turned upside down in the box, making a mess. Papa John's took ownership of that mistake and publically apologized, letting the world know that is not how they do business. I am certain that not only did they keep that person's business; they gained more loyal customers because they showed that they are honest. Consumers are forgiving. We want to support businesses we can trust and believe in. By utilizing the Internet in conjunction with other media, Papa John's showed how even negative feed back could be used to make their brand image stronger. As forms of media have change throughout the generations from broadside advertisements to radio, to television and movies and now to the World Wide Web, it is crucial for businesses to follow where there potential customers may go. Otherwise, they run the risk of being left behind. Just like in the wild, the commercial jungle requires survival of the fittest. Businesses must adapt and change and allow the consumers to lead the way. To do anything less could cause brand name extinction!
The Peter J. Gleason AwardBusiness and the Environment: Today and in Ten YearsBy Danielle Yakovetz With the threat of energy crisis drawing near, behaving in an environmentally conscious way to promote sustainability is seen as the responsible and even the ethical thing to do. The movement toward conservation is gaining momentum among consumers and producers alike. But "going green" is not always economically efficient for businesses. Companies must maintain profitability while addressing these issues. What is better for the environment is not necessarily good for the bottom line. There are several reasons why reducing the carbon footprint is not a simple endeavor for businesses. First, buying eco-friendly equipment and materials can be expensive. Initial costs tend to be higher, even if costs are lower over time. This investment might be too risky when a company is not sure they will remain in business to see the payoff realized. For example, an environmentally friendly light bulb costs three times as much as a standard light bulb. Though these bulbs last much longer, the initial cost might be too great. Second, the resulting product might lose consumer appeal. While many consumers may have a genuine desire to support environmentally friendly companies, when faced with an eco-friendly product that costs twice as much, consumers may ultimately let the price dictate their decision to buy. Consumers also tend to pick and choose green products based on personal convictions that would be extremely hard for a company to predict. An individual might be willing to pay more for organic food, for instance, but not a cell phone that is eco-friendly. Businesses must assess consumer attitudes and willingness to pay more, including additional marketing to effectively advertise what makes the product green. This creates additional risk and expense. Today the business world is on the verge of a paradigm shift--a movement from focusing only on what is at hand to a future-facing perspective. Traditionally, products were considered only in terms of their functional "lifespan", from production to disposal. No regard was given to the waste a product generated when its functional lifespan had ended. More companies are now beginning to consider a product's entire "life cycle" from the start of one production phase to the beginning of the next production phase, and aiming to manufacture goods that produce minimal waste. These efforts, while already being realized in part, will become crucial over the next ten years to address the rising volume of electronic waste generated each day. The amount of electronic waste, or e-waste, has increased dramatically in the United State in just the last few years. E-waste is the fastest growing category of municipal waste reported by the EPA. In 2009, total volumes of municipal waste decreased overall but this category grew by almost five percent. Around 40 million tons of e-waste was generated worldwide and only 17.7 percent of this waste was recycled (EPA, 2009). Because electronics often contain materials that are hazardous when incinerated, proper handling of the products is expensive and the vast majority is still ending up in landfills. Additionally, some 68 percent of consumers report "stockpiling" unwanted electronic equipment to be disposed of at a future time (Irvine, 2010). When this time comes, will there be enough resources to safely dispose of it all? In addition to eco-friendly packaging, efforts to reduce e-waste include recycling and reusing components that are currently thought of as disposable. For example, the gold medals at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games contained 1.52 percent gold recovered from e-waste (Irvine, 2010). Efforts such as this are just the first step in what will be a big change in the way electronic equipment is produced and disposed. In the next ten years, a number of changes are likely to come about that will affect business and the environment. Eco-friendly materials will be more readily available at lower cost; new legislation will require businesses to reduce their carbon footprint; consumers will be more savvy and eco-conscious, especially in terms of e-waste. One of the biggest changes in this time will be smart new technologies that can turn waste into assets (Irvine, 2010). Instead of purchasing products, consumers may only purchase the service the product provides--then the equipment will be returned when the company has new developments. This puts more responsibility and control in the hands of the company. E-waste is predicted to increase 500 percent in developing countries by 2020 (Irvine, 2010). The e-waste challenge is an important step in the transition to a green economy. Ten years from now, business and the environment may be undergoing an e-revolution.
REFERENCES Electronics TakeBack Coalition. 2010. Online blog and resource links. Retrieved Feb 20, 2011 from http://www.electronicstakeback.com/home/ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2009. 2009 Facts and Figures. Retrieved Feb 20, 2011 from http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw2009rpt.pdf Irvine, D. 2010, Feb 24. "Can e-Waste Be Turned to Gold?". CNN.com tech article. Retrieved Feb 21, 2011 from http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/02/23/eco.ewaste.gold/index.html
The Cornelia Blackwell Memorial Essay AwardThe Importance of Teaching BusinessBy Michael Barry "Education
is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire." --William
Butler Yeats
At first glance an essay topic such as, The Importance of
Teaching Business, might seem simple and self-evident. Of course teaching business is
important- as they say, "we live in an information age"- we are immersed
in a global economy where the rate of change is equaled only by its
increasing complexity. To
navigate in this world necessitates a broad understanding of the nature of
business: how it is organized, how it is managed and most importantly how
it adapts. Thus the
importance of business education is undeniable. Accelerations in the demand for an
educated workforce are especially significant in business and financial
services with the forecasted creation of an additional 1.2 million new
jobs by the year 2018.* Yet
linger over the topic a moment more and what becomes clear is that it is
not the importance of business but the importance of teaching that is its
essence.
We live in a cynical age in which it is almost too easy to assume
that those we encounter are motivated above all else by their
self-interests. No doubt it
was the sort of cynicism that I brought with me as I rekindled my own
educational journey just a few, short years ago. I had decided to begin again,
though I assumed that I was going alone. Yet time and again I have been
struck by the warmth and eagerness to partner with me that both my
professors and much of the staff have had to see me through my educational
experience. Furthermore, as I
near graduation and I have considered the subject more and more in recent
weeks, I have come to realize that my experiences, though unexpected, were
not unique. Indeed, as we are
informed that Cornelia Blackwell's career demonstrated her incredible
assistance to her students, I understand that many of us through this
process have come to know our own Cornelia Blackwell. For
me she was my computerized accounting professor who mastered the art of
working the classroom, who knew the time to whisper encouragement when a
troubled look lingered a moment too long or when to sing public praise
when confusion turned to self-doubt.
I knew Cornelia Blackwell again. He was my intermediate accounting
professor who played with the material, turning it around for all to see
and reframed it when necessary until he had brought everyone along. It was why he hung around a few
minutes longer at the end of class or why his office hours always seemed
to stretch a half an hour more.
More often than I had any right to expect she has been there when I
have needed her most. Thus,
though I never met Cornelia Blackwell, I am certain that I know what it
was like to have been inspired by her. We, the student's of two-year
colleges, come with a spark.
In many ways it is what distinguishes us. Many of us have lived in the
world- have succeeded and failed on our own- and so when we enter school
we do so not because it is the next thing, but rather because we so
desperately yearn to better ourselves. We wish to learn not just be
educated. Likewise, the
Cornelia Blackwell's of the world forgo the lure of greater fortune in the
private sector because they understand the true importance of teaching, to
tend the eager spark so that it may become a fire. *Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition". Retrieved 24 Feb. 2011. http://www.bls.gov/oco/oco2003.htm
The Nathan Ancell AwardManaging Money MattersBy Jon Wakim
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Alpha Beta Gamma® is an International Business Honor Society established by business professors in 1970 to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year business and professional college students. The society is a member of The Association of College Honor Societies and has initiated 65,500 members.