by Juston Washington
In a generation where values have taken a backseat to materialism, many of today’s students feel that the cost of getting a four-year degree outweighs the benefits of having one.
In Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad Poor Dad”, he states that growing up he was taught to make good grades, go to college, and get a good job. He then goes on to say that this is no longer a recipe for success in America, and many students are starting to agree.
With college tuition being “sky high”, most students are unable to afford the tuition and fees or take out loans that put them tens of thousands of dollars in debt, sometimes more. Most students are content with the fact that they will have student loans for 10 – 20 years after graduating and get a job paying $30,000 - $40,000 at the entry level. However, there is a new breed of students emerging on campuses across the country that make various financial and business ventures while attending college.
During my freshmen year at Hampton University, I was a resident of James Hall. During my stay in James Hall, I met nine other students that I now call friends and would hangout with for the rest of my time at Hampton. Most of the group came from modest backgrounds and were facing the peril of being a “broke” college student, with loans. We also shared another common interest, like making money. After our first semester, we realized that having parties was a profitable venture on the Hampton University campus, so we immediately went to the drawing board. After much debate, we came up with Syndicate Entertainment, an entertainment company that would sponsor social events. By this time it was nearing the end of freshmen year and we all either had summer internships or jobs that would lead us back to our hometowns. When we arrived back at Hampton University for our sophomore year, we each had developed another common interest. We did not want to work a traditional “9 a.m. – 5 p.m.” job. This realization drove us to put our plans, for Syndicate Entertainment, into action. Our first Party was at the Hampton Golf Club, where we each took on different roles: securing a venue, promotions, and getting transportation for freshmen, to make the party a success. Syndicate Entertainment hosted three parties that year and still has yet to host its fourth, but the learning experience of putting together those three parties was invaluable and it led a few of us to set our eyes on bigger business ventures. The summer after our sophomore year, my current roommates Martin Williams and Anthony Reynolds and myself all took summer classes. We also came together to incorporate a limited liability company named WRW Investment Group, LLC. Williams and I also interned at Pulse Management, LLC, a company owned by Marquetta Tyson, a professor at the Scripps-Howard School of Journalism and Communications. After a few classes at the Small Business Administration, SBA, located on the Thomas Nelson Community College campus and meetings with the SBA Director of Minority Businesses Wauna Doomes, we learned that our business plans would not and should not be carried out hastily. We learned preciseness and order were some of the most important factors to starting a business. To this day, we are still working towards the goal of franchising several services and eventually moving on to economic development.
In Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad Poor Dad”, he states that growing up he was taught to make good grades, go to college, and get a good job. He then goes on to say that this is no longer a recipe for success in America, and many students are starting to agree.
With college tuition being “sky high”, most students are unable to afford the tuition and fees or take out loans that put them tens of thousands of dollars in debt, sometimes more. Most students are content with the fact that they will have student loans for 10 – 20 years after graduating and get a job paying $30,000 - $40,000 at the entry level. However, there is a new breed of students emerging on campuses across the country that make various financial and business ventures while attending college.
During my freshmen year at Hampton University, I was a resident of James Hall. During my stay in James Hall, I met nine other students that I now call friends and would hangout with for the rest of my time at Hampton. Most of the group came from modest backgrounds and were facing the peril of being a “broke” college student, with loans. We also shared another common interest, like making money. After our first semester, we realized that having parties was a profitable venture on the Hampton University campus, so we immediately went to the drawing board. After much debate, we came up with Syndicate Entertainment, an entertainment company that would sponsor social events. By this time it was nearing the end of freshmen year and we all either had summer internships or jobs that would lead us back to our hometowns. When we arrived back at Hampton University for our sophomore year, we each had developed another common interest. We did not want to work a traditional “9 a.m. – 5 p.m.” job. This realization drove us to put our plans, for Syndicate Entertainment, into action. Our first Party was at the Hampton Golf Club, where we each took on different roles: securing a venue, promotions, and getting transportation for freshmen, to make the party a success. Syndicate Entertainment hosted three parties that year and still has yet to host its fourth, but the learning experience of putting together those three parties was invaluable and it led a few of us to set our eyes on bigger business ventures. The summer after our sophomore year, my current roommates Martin Williams and Anthony Reynolds and myself all took summer classes. We also came together to incorporate a limited liability company named WRW Investment Group, LLC. Williams and I also interned at Pulse Management, LLC, a company owned by Marquetta Tyson, a professor at the Scripps-Howard School of Journalism and Communications. After a few classes at the Small Business Administration, SBA, located on the Thomas Nelson Community College campus and meetings with the SBA Director of Minority Businesses Wauna Doomes, we learned that our business plans would not and should not be carried out hastily. We learned preciseness and order were some of the most important factors to starting a business. To this day, we are still working towards the goal of franchising several services and eventually moving on to economic development.
Some of Juston's colleagues rush to a meeting; photo courtesy of Juston Washingon
For students who have to take on the burden of debt to attend college, I think that business ventures and financial investments are just as important as your education. For students who can afford college without any help, business ventures and financial investments should be considered to maintain financial independence.
