Character Trait for the Month of April: “Deal or No Deal”
I had a freshman girl student/athlete in my office recently - all concerned about if she wanted to come back and play collegiate athletes again next year. She had several issues, some academic - but, mostly athletic concerns around her sport and she wanted my advice. Mostly I let her talk, and I asked the questions - - and at the end - - I told her that a college experience and college education is a lot like the TV show . . . . . Deal or No Deal . . .. however, with a little twist . . . in Deal or No Deal you want one case at the end . . . with the most money or . . . . choose to Deal out. In the collegiate experience Deal or No Deal, you want to end your collegiate experience with a desired degree and with five cases to carry with you. Each case contains the best experiences, challenges, opportunities, and/or networking that you can involve yourself over your collegiate years that will best prepare you for the work world, adulthood, and your career opportunities post college.
The young men and ladies that have the best five cases - traditionally end up with the best jump start in their careers, the best starting salary and the best jobs in their fields - sooner rather than later. The young men and ladies that end up with the worst five cases - spend the next several years trying to Deal or No Deal to improve their cases, so that they can improve their position to enter the job market, now that they are now several years behind their peers in earnings and promotion opportunities.
Then I told/asked her - - your Plan B that you just gave me, if you don't play sports next year, and you don't come back here . . . verses coming back and being part of something unique, in which you are already a part of a great foundation - with both blood, sweat, and tears investigated . . . . which choice provides you the better collegiate Deal or No Deal case?
