My rich dad, who is the dad of my classmate and best friend, says, "Son, it is alright if you don’t finish school. Put up your own business. Make money and invest for your future." In short, get just enough education and become an entrepreneur.
This is not originally mine. I am just relating what I learned from "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" best-selling author Robert Kiyosaki.
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My career as a journalist spans to 25 years this year. My learnings on computers and information technology is equally a quarter of a decade old. It all began during the Apple II + days, when personal computers (PC) and so-called IBM compatible PCs were still unheard of.
At that time, all I wanted was a magic typewriter that can electronically store the things I write. Also, so that I do not have to manually type each page all over again each time there is a correction e.g. typographical error to be made.
I have actually been writing since my high school days. It was tough then because I wrote news stories in Pilipino for the school organ. That makes it nearly 30 then.
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My poor dad sent me to a high school did not teach me to be an entrepreneur. Understandably, I was still a youngster who was looking forward to dates, sports and malling. Rather, my school prepared me for college to decide on a career. As an employee.
Yes. I became a reporter. An editor. I rose from the ranks. However, I was still an employee. I did not own the newspaper I worked for.
Memories of high school and university days flashed back to me recently during the STI Olongapo-leg of Career Factor. STI is the country’s largest network of colleges.
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"Now on its third year, Career Factor is a unique fun-filled activity that allows you to be a teenager once again. The STI Career factor is a college survival adventure that provides key learnings in Communication skills, Organization, Logic, Leadership, Energy, Group skills and Entrepreneurship – essential skills deemed necessary for high school graduates to survive challenges they would encounter as they enter the new and exciting world of college life," according to the course directors and organizers.
Putting together the first letters of the essential skills mentioned, the word COLLEGE is formed. What struck me is the last E, for Entrepreneurship.
I experienced how learning was much fun in Career Factor. All the lessons from STI-Makati to STI-Sta Maria and STI-Balagtas in Bulacan to STI-Olongapo to El Grande Island in Zambales were given in game format.
"This is called Active Training – to learn you have to play a friendly competition. Participants earn scores and champions are declared at the end of each session," said our STI counsellors.
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"What are its main goal and objective?," I asked.
Their reply: "The activity was created to help prepare Filipino high school students prepare for college. Its intention is to show that there are skills they have to acquire in order to survive college and a higher percentage of success in whatever field of studies they will pursue.
"At the end of the adventure, high school students will read the word COLLEGE in two meanings: The first meaning is it a level of study that you go for after high school. The second and deeper meaning is that it stands for seven sure-fire skills to survive and succeed in college and beyond.
I am glad to know that the Career Factor for high school students are being conducted for FREE in STI Colleges and Education centers nationwide.
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Last year, the IT Association of the Philippines conducted a survey on the Philippine Information and Communication Technology Workforce Demand. ITAP targeted 150 respondents, but by the end of 12 November 2004, 214 respondents participated (out of 448 or a 48% response ratio).
The survey showed that out of 100 people applying (not necessarily interviewed), 3.3 people are accepted for an ICT job.
What happens to the rest? Networkers, particularly network marketeers, say, "Join us in this business. Listen to your ‘rich dad.’" I agree. Send us your thoughts at Infotech section an e-mail e.g. itonair@edsamail. com.ph or redsamar@mb.com.ph. We would love to hear from you.
The survey also asked the respondents to indicate and rank the top three colleges/universities that they think provide adequate ICT/computer degree programs. The top three were De La Salle University, University of the Philippines and Ateneo Manila. STI was ninth.
When asked to indicate and rank the top three technical/vocational schools, they cited AMA, STI and Informatics.
Of the soft skills expected from an ICT graduate, personal skill received the highest rating in terms of competency. Personal skills include confidence, action oriented, self-motivated, perseverance, ability to handle stress and the ability to learn quickly.
So what will it be?
A career as an ICT worker? Or as an ICT networker?
That’s IT!
