 |
.jpg) |
Early in my second semester of college, I began to realize that French major was not going to work. So, I went hunting through the catalog for something to major in. Luckily for me, I found the perfect major - Letters. ‘What in the world is a major in Letters?’ you might be asking. A perfectly reasonable question since no one has ever heard of it, but it was a great degree for me. I loved it and I was good at it. Several years later my older daughter decided she couldn’t dissect anything, meaning a degree in biology was out of the question. One day, during her own hunt for a major, she told me she was doing extra problems from the back of her calculus textbook. When I asked her why, she said she liked it, she was good at it, and it was fun. While the idea that calculus could ever be fun was a foreign concept to me, I recognized the ingredients from my own and countless other students’ perfect majors and suggested math as a major. She asked what she could do with a math major and my response was anything you want to do. Some of you and your students are already in the middle of these conversations. Sometimes the discussion is spurred by first semester grades. Or perhaps your student took a course and found out that the major was different from what they envisioned. Regardless of the cause, the second semester is a time for many students to be thinking about changing their major or choosing one for the first time. I write to encourage you not to stress about the major too much. Except for some specialized fields like engineering and architecture, the major is less important than the skills students learn while they are in college. An article in the New York Times cited a recent survey by the Association of American Colleges and Universities asking employers what they want institutions to teach. “…89 percent said they wanted more emphasis on ‘the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing,’ 81 percent asked for better ‘critical thinking and analytical reasoning skills’ and 70 percent were looking for ‘the ability to innovate and be creative.’” Susan Dollar, Director of UTSA’s Career Center, says that is exactly what they hear from employers and, more importantly, they see it in the way employers hire. What major students pick is not critical. What is critical is that they decide on a major that engages them. Then they are more likely to do well and to learn those skills that employers care about and look for when they hire. The reality is that students graduating today will find great careers in jobs they never dreamed of which makes it hard to choose the perfect major for a job. By the way, my daughter majored in math and psychology and is running her own landscaping business. And that degree in Letters? It required that I take classes in literature, philosophy, and history, and to have taken a modern language and a classical language. It turns out that is a perfect major for a university administrator, a job that never would have occurred to me oh so many semesters ago when I was hunting for the perfect major. Cited article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/education/edlife/03careerism-t.html?em=&pagewanted=all Back to Top
UTSA Today article: http://utsa.edu/today/2010/01/h1n1clinics.html Back to TopThe UTSA Inclusion and Community Engagement Center invites the community to participate in the Martin Luther King Day March on Monday, January 18th in downtown San Antonio. The center has chartered two buses that will leave from the Convocation Center parking lot at 8:30 a.m., to take marchers to the site. The university will be closed on January 18th in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Please contact the Inclusion and Community Engagement Center (210-458-4770) for the latest information regarding the MLK March itinerary.
Participants of the 2009 MLK March
Mark your calendars! The 2010 Homecoming and Family Weekend events are just around the corner. Everyone should be on campus February 19th -20th for what is sure to be an exciting weekend of Tradition-Spirit-Pride. This annual celebration gives alumni, parents, students, faculty and staff a chance to come together for an assortment of fun filled activities. It all leads up to the Roadrunner basketball game on the evening of February 20th. It will be a “Bearkat Beatdown”, as the Roadrunners take on Sam Houston State for the Homecoming game. The following events will take place during the weekend: Beginning January 19th, please visit the UTSA Homecoming page at: www.utsa.edu/homecoming, for the latest information regarding times and locations. The Family of the Year Award, is an essay contest open to all UTSA students. The university recognizes that without families, great institutions are not possible. UTSA needs families to prepare students to meet the challenges of higher education and provide support throughout their undergraduate career. While most consider “support” as financial assistance, UTSA understands it comes in many other forms. Current students are encouraged to submit a nomination by crafting an essay on how their family has influenced and inspired them to achieve their academic and personal goals. The winning family will be honored by UTSA President Romo at halftime of the Homecoming basketball game. Prizes will also be awarded to the family.
Back to Top
|
.jpg)
With a new wave of the flu season upon us, the UTSA community is encouraged to receive their H1N1 vaccination through Health Services. Students can receive the shot free of charge, while others will be charged $5. A Main Campus clinic was held January 13th and a Downtown Campus clinic will be held on the 20th. Those unable to attend a clinic session can still receive the vaccine on a walk-in basis at UTSA Health Services. Please visit the links below for more information: 
VOICES (Volunteer Organization Involving Community Education & Service) and The Inclusion & Community Engagement Center are hosting three service trips for students this spring break: 
|
College of Engineering Expo |
February 17, 2010. 2 PM -5:30 PM |
BSE Atrium |
|
Health Professions Fair (for those of you considering a move into a health profession) |
March 3, 2010. 10 AM – 2 PM |
UC Lobby |
|
Spring Career Fair |
March 3, 2010. 2 PM – 6 PM |
UC Ballroom |
|
College of Architecture Fair |
March 11, 2010. Time TBD |
Monterey Building, DT Campus |
|
College of Science Career Expo |
March 25, 2010. 2PM – 5:30PM |
BSE Atrium |
|
College of Liberal & Fine Arts Career Expo |
March 31, 2010. 8 AM – 12 PM |
UC III Ballroom |
|
Educator Career Fair |
April 8, 2010. 8:30 AM – 12 PM |
Convocation Center |
Back to Top
Thank you for visiting the Family Connection.
| © The University of Texas at San Antonio | One UTSA Circle, San Antonio TX 78249-1644 | 210-458-4724 |