President Obama to speak on Central Campus

**Rabbuk** · 08-24-2012, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by CyFan61

Does anyone remember a prominent speaker on Central Campus in the past? I thought it was an interesting venue choice

Mike Jones?

**shadow** · 08-24-2012, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Rabbuk

Mike Jones?

Hahahaha, I remember that. I was there to see if the crowd was going to riot. Pretty interesting group of people in attendance. On a more serious note, I believe Obama spoke during the primaries on the steps of Curtiss back in 2008.

**CycloneNorth** · 08-24-2012, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by WalkingCY

Biden just spoke here last year.

I saw Biden and it was incredible to see a man with that much experience speak. It was easy to see how a guy like that could go far in politics.

**fsanford** · 08-24-2012, 04:05 PM

I got to shake Jimmy Carters hand during his campaign down the Mississippi.

Saw George W in person as well.

Even if a President's views or his party differs from your own, it should never prevent anyone from seeing a President speak in person. For those of you who live in the area do not pass up the chance if given.

**Heilsqauvador** · 08-24-2012, 04:27 PM

Does this mean I get to go through security to go to class?

**cyclonez7** · 08-24-2012, 05:49 PM

Is he speaking on central campus like outside on the grass?

**wxman1** · 08-24-2012, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonez7

Is he speaking on central campus like outside on the grass?

No up by the bells in the campanile.

**cyclonez7** · 08-24-2012, 06:03 PM

How do the "doors open" for the event if it is outside? And will they not let you on central campus if you're walking to class?

**jaretac** · 08-24-2012, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by TXCyclones

Considering unemployment amount those with a degree is 4% while near 8-10% for those without, a degree is important. And since it's been brought up to eliminate Pell Grants it might be worthwhile to at least listen. Regardless of party.

How many of those with a degree and a job are facing bankruptcy in part due to high student loans and not a good enough job to pay them and support a family?

This isn't political, just a sad truth that people don't talk about enough.

If you just going because that is what you are supposed to do...DON'T DO IT! You will stack up loans, and with no direction you will likely end up in a low paying entry job anyway or a job you hate or both. This has happened to both my wife and me. My wife was on the deans list at WSU and decorates cakes for a living. I went to school for management and I'm managing low income apartments.

Get your foot in the door somewhere and once you have some work experience and some direction in your life you can start working on your college degree. I know several people who have GED's and are making more than my wife and I combined and have next to nothing for bills.

Disclaimer: If you know you want to go to college, that is the best place for you, I'm talking to those who is just going because they feel they have to. If I had it to do over again I would not have gone to college right out of high school. I wanted to get a degree at some point, but had no clue where I wanted to go with my life. Ended up switching majors several times and I'm still not where I would like to be.

**TXCyclones** · 08-24-2012, 07:39 PM

Go to school. Use the programs and facilities available to help you figure out your career interests. College pays off. I repeat again that unemployment among those with college degrees is 4%, while it's 8 - 10% for those who are non-degreed. Knowing this statistic it is important that both sides understand this and keep Pell Grants and affordable student loans within reach!

BTW - how was POTUS?

**jaretac** · 08-24-2012, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by TXCyclones

Go to school. Use the programs and facilities available to help you figure out your career interests. College pays off. I repeat again that unemployment among those with college degrees is 4%, while it's 8 - 10% for those who are non-degreed. Knowing this statistic it is important that both sides understand this and keep Pell Grants and affordable student loans within reach!

BTW - how was POTUS?

My dad was a career counselor in Des Moines while I was in college. It doesn't help to have a degree either and no direction on where to use it. I know now what I want to do, I knew not long after graduating, but now I can't afford to send my self back to college and in the mean time I lost a lot of time to gain valuable experience in the general field.

Having a job is good, but that is not a huge statistical advantage considering the investment we spend on college. Most people have jobs and if they are a good worker they can find something for a job. How good is the job though. Anymore, college graduates are making less and less and often are working in jobs that they don't actually need a degree for.

As I've said, I'm not against college. I know that I'm probably not typical, but I also know I'm not the only one who has had this problem and I'm not going to tell anyone to blindly go to college because "that is the only way to get a good job". That statement is not true.

**CycloneRulzzz** · 08-24-2012, 09:19 PM

I have an event tom. that will finish by around noon and I could be in Ames by 12:30. Anynone think I would still be able to get a ticket?

**TXCyclones** · 08-24-2012, 09:21 PM

My father was not a guidance counselor, nor did he have a college degree. Neither did my mother. In fact, I was the first in my family to go to college. My patents worked their butts off my whole life and provided me with a great foundation, but I was really an awful kid. I was bored out of my skull knowing that there is a huge world out there and that I didn't want to toil as they had their whole lives. I went to a community college for a year. It was OK and a good start and helped me realize that I was selling myself short yet again. So, I went to ISU using Pell and loans. I got my degree in engineering and started off with my foot in the door. Within a few short years I moved into Marketing at the company, and from there into Business Development, and then to an M&A team. Each time I realized that I liked the next move better than the last.

As I got into M&A I realized that there were things I needed to learn and the company sent me to first get my undergrad in Business and then my MBA. IT WAS AMAZING! I soaked up the opportunity like a sponge. I later left this company, as they went from near closure to the largest in world in their segment, as I had the opportunity to head global sales for a German company. Getting the international flavor of business was awesome, but I realized that the company felt too small after having been with the previous company. I was approached by the manufacturing company I'm with now to be the VP of Sales & Marketing. I've been here 5 years and have the opportunity to move into the president position in the next couple years. I'm no wear near the first emphasis that I started at the community college. But I've busted my ***.

Maybe I'm different, but I don't think so. I think people make their path in life. I also think the right foundation helps. College was hugely important to kick-start my journey. Iowa State was the greatest thing that happened to me. I hope future students get to make the same opportunities for themselves. My wife and I have set up an annual scholarship at ISU and we hope to continue to broaden it for more students as we're deathly afraid affordable advanced education is threatened today. I hope others will consider doing something similar. But even more, I hope they go to school.

Thank you Iowa State.

**CycloneRulzzz** · 08-25-2012, 01:24 PM

Got my ticket today. Line was insane I got there around 11:20 line was all through the union out the door all the way up the stairs on on to the upper MU patio. This will be my first in person exp. seeing a president, super excited.