What do we really mean when we say college isn’t for everyone? | Alex Bernadotte | TEDxBYU

More often than not, those who question whether college is for everyone do so with their own college degree already in hand. For many students, particularly those from under-resourced communities, a college degree is a shot at a meaningful career and even a path out of poverty. First-generation college graduate Alexandra Bernadotte was a star student but nearly dropped out after her freshman year at Dartmouth before graduating and becoming a nonprofit entrepreneur. In this talk, she wonders what we might accomplish if we spent less time questioning whether college is for everyone and more time fixing the systemic and policy barriers that often stand in the way of college success for all students but, in particular, students like her.

Alex Bernadotte is the founder and CEO of Beyond 12, a high-tech, high-touch nonprofit that integrates personalized coaching and intelligent technology to increase the college graduation rates of underserved students. She has more than 20 years of executive management and strategic development experience in the nonprofit and private sectors. Alex has won numerous awards, including being named an Ashoka Fellow, one of the highest honors for social entrepreneurs in the world. In addition, Beyond 12 was recognized as one of the world's ten most innovative companies in education by Fast Company and the organization's MyCoach mobile app won the 2016 Xammy Award for best social impact app. Alex received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth and earned a master's degree with a concentration in policy and organizational leadership from Stanford.

[lollipopcorndog]

A lot of people go to college for the following:
To take a break from their family
Parents pressure them to go
For the experience/aesthetic

[adebisi]

You are 100% correct, Alex. Your talk is spot on --- college isn't for everyone, but the opportunity to choose whether or not it is should be extended to all.

[ivyyy-]

I felt depressed and a lack of motivation for college...

[nateg]

Powerful message. It is often difficult to articulate this specific topic and the undertones that exist within. Thank you Alex.

[pizzatime]

Why doesn't this have more views? Im literally experiencing an amalgamation of horrible emotions as a college student and it would be so amazingly great if more attention were brought to this.

[cocoaskinn]

I don't have the motivation for college, I dropped out twice and kept procrastinating with every assignment. Now I have a debt and I feel like I just wasted my time because I don't have the motivation.

[UnlimitedEmeralds]

I used to be a promising candidate for college, I had a 4.2 GPA, I was captain of my debate team, graduated with honors and I got accepted to one of the best schools in my state. Then I failed 5 classes and got academically dismissed. Tried it again with my local community college and have already failed several classes, I'm barely holding on to a 2.0. It's pretty obvious college isn't for me but my mom will kick me out if I'm not in school. I then tried to apply for the air force and didn't meet the health requirements. I don't know what else to do.

[Mahokame]

This was beautifully put. I was told by a bunch of high earning college graduates (my family) "college isn't for everyone." When I had to drop out originally due to mental health issues. Now I know after all the jobs I've had and by barely scrapping by on minimum wage that this is not the path I want for my future.

The college system needs to be restructured so its accessible to everyone because right now college is the best way to earn more, especially with growing automation. I wish instead of being told "college isn't for everyone" I was told "college is an investment and you should really take your time and think about what you want to do with your life, because this is a big decision."

I want a better life for myself and for my children. I know I won't be the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg so the best move forward at the moment that I see is college.

[leahmadalyn]

I enjoyed this Ted talk so much. A supportive family is KEY. Some of us have to do it all on our own with little or no support. I want to become a critical thinker and a better writer and I hope I can obtain a college degree. This talk was motivating.

[vincentmangal]

Lady, your heart is in the right place but we all know college is established as a BUSINESS not a place for learning. Your right but thats what it is.

[andrewwilkins]

I was upset about a lot of things in my college because I had such high hopes and I thought that I was going to have the best time and now because of the pandemic it has made me worried because I have lost a semester. Maybe I didn’t use my time well enough and I didn’t realize the value of time. Another thing is for some reason I wonder why are so many people mean in college? Never have understood why

[ChixelROBLOX]

KEY TAKEAWAYS: (yw)

01:37 💰 College graduates earn significantly more than those with only a high school diploma, with estimates of over a million dollars in lifetime earnings for four-year degree holders.
02:03 🎓 College graduates tend to experience better health, increased life expectancy, lower unemployment rates, and improved personal and professional mobility.
04:02 🌍 The question of whether college is for everyone is often raised concerning students from under-resourced communities, highlighting the need for tailored support.
09:11 💲 Rising college costs, low graduation rates, and a disconnect between college preparation and workforce skills underscore the challenges in higher education.
12:57 🤝 Rather than excluding some students from college, the focus should be on fixing the broken education system, aligning curricula, enhancing student support, addressing costs, and embracing new education models.

[Skullfire]

Success doesn’t need a degree that’s the truth, but I feel that everyone can have the ability to get through college and accomplish their goals with a degree. Will it be easy OF COURSE FUCKIN NOT but with the right mindset, mental state, powerful work ethic, and good time management anyone can get through college not with ease but with pride and strength.

[DethInHFIL]

Ironically, I have to do a college assignment about this video

[antwan]

I have a GED and have some college. I feel good that even though I didn't attain a degree I was able to pay for college without a loan. I just live my life this way, and I just keep making money. I sometimes wonder if the lean years during college teach us more so then the classes.

[Juggboy]

I’m in college now and it’s like I wanna go to college for music production I don’t wanna do school work and my mom always tryna push school on me like that’s the only way I will have a good futire

[ehgubqk]

Today was my first day and I already don’t wanna go, I’m doing business mgt because I have no idea what I wanna do, but I’m being forced to go by my parents. I don’t know what to do

[johnshafer]

I graduated from college and it's been a nightmare. I never could get a job out of college 21 years ago when I graduated with a decent gpa. To me it was an overated, worthless, and useless piece of paper. I saw no benefit of having a college degree.

[gregorysalazar]

My family never expected me to go to college, but rather wanted me to marry young, get a blue collar job and settle down. We were a blue collar family on the bad side of town, I am Mexican-American. I wanted to go to college, and to see the world before I “settled down” so I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1980, and got to travel a lot, Philippines, Japan, Korea, Panama, Hong Kong, Thailand and Mexico. Ended my Enlistment in 1984. Went to college with a very watered-down version of the GI Bill, and became a Federal Agent, and because I spoke Spanish, secured several assignments overseas, as a Law Enforcement attaché with the State Department. Got married, had kids, kids now in college and I’m comfortably retired in Mexico. Glad I didn’t take the blue collar route, I would have hated it. Good for some people, but it would have been a disaster for me.

[onewildandcrazyguy]

there's plenty of people who would be where they're at without a college degree that have a college degree because their jobs didn't require a college degree after they graduated they went through four years of college because they were told that's what they had to do