Category: Education

When I got my job with Accenture back in 2007, it wasn’t because I was an incredible programmer.

It was because I fit the profile of someone they thought could have a long and productive career with the company. It’s true, I could have, but I brought no noteworthy technical skills with me when I started.

This resulted in a frustrating catch-22 after I was hired as a consultant: no projects wanted to bring me on since I was both new and lacked a technical competency, but there’s virtually no way I could have developed the experience needed in a vacuum without someone giving me a chance.

I finally built rapport with a manager who foolishly brought my onto his project and I had little trouble finding work after that, but this is beside the point. The point is that I didn’t graduate with the hands-on experience needed to be successful in my field.

Many of my peers failed to transition successfully into the workforce in a timely manner because of this. Some went back to grad school and subsequently missed the market completely — overqualified and inexperienced. An unenviable plight.

Does this mean that my alma mater failed me or that I was an apathetic student? I’m not sure either of these things are true, but I’m certain that different opportunities would have changed how I approached the job search back then.

I had a professor during undergrad named Melissa Raulston. Melissa was a no-nonsense small business owner with a lot of experience and an intense passion for young people. Under Melissa’s direction, I blossomed both as a student and as a leader.

[Ready for a good laugh? Enjoy.]

She saw strengths in me that no one else saw, and often held me to a higher standard because of it. Melissa’s story is remarkable and I’ll let you read about it yourself, but what I love most about Melissa is that she’s doing something about the problems she sees.

Most notably, she’s starting the Wellspring Studio School.

What are the causes of a lack of workforce preparation and endemic disengagement among college students? What can be done to improve workforce-readiness and post-graduation outcomes? The WellSpring Manifesto proposes answers to these vexing questions that are endangering America’s competitive position in the 21st century.

I love that. Take a look at the Wellspring Manifesto to get a sense for what the school stands for. If you’ve got some ideas for Melissa, let her know.

And if the project resonates with you, spam everyone you know share it.

It’s no secret that the education system is failing.

For highly motivated individuals, this doesn’t matter so much. There’s the old Mark Twain quote…

I never let my schooling get in the way of my education.

The more I reflect on education and watch in horror at the classes of apathetic and clueless masses spill into a job market that doesn’t exist, the more I grow concerned for this generation.

What’s needed is a radical rethinking of what education looks like, and for everyone to care a lot more.

I think Amber Rae cares.

Either that or she’s completely crazy, but I’m not sure that the distinction matters.

Amber recently announced The Bold Academy which is perhaps her most audacious adventure to date. I had the pleasure of working with Amber last year for The Domino Project where she served as the Chief Evangelist.

During Domino, Amber launched The Passion Experiment, which helps people get “unstuck.” Smart people. People like you.

And The Bold Academy is a more fully-realized version of the Passion Experiment.

The Bold Academy is 4-week experience designed to help college students and recent grads find clarity, build confidence, and unlock their full potential. If you want to do big things to “change the world” but aren’t sure how to get started, we’re creating this for you.

I’m not sure anyone is better at what she does than Amber is.

So if The Bold Academy looks like something that you’re terrified to apply to, then you should almost certainly throw your hat in the ring.