Students With Passion for Progress

Anyone who takes derogatory generalizations about college students seriously should spend some time at Montclair State University.

I had a great time last night spending time with students in several venues who were doing their thing, taking advantage of everything there is to offer here.?

My evening started with our inaugural cohort of the Next Generation Service Corps. Like their "forebears" who I recall fondly from the launch of the Public Service Academy at Arizona State University, these students are committed, enthusiastic and eager to figure out how what they're building can create opportunities for community engagement, empowerment and hands-on learning.

I was then lucky to have enough time to drop in at the Rathskeller lounge, where campus organizations brought together a large group to discuss growing up within the Black and Caribbean community and enjoy some “soul food." Unfortunately I missed the food, but I did get to hear some absolutely awesome conversation around toxicity in the home and the ways in which students consciously avoid perpetuating cycles of abuse and discouragement while embracing the positive and motivating. These students were open, honest and shared from their hearts. Why? To help each other. Just fantastic.

From there, I connected with our team representing Montclair in the Public Relations Society of America’s Bateman Competition, a prestigious nationwide competition for students in communications and public relations programs. This group decided to take on the problem of misinformation with a multi-dimensional news literacy campaign.?

I finished off the night enjoying a great session with our campus EMS crew. These students provide emergency response on campus while gaining skills, training and experience. Almost all are first-generation college students using this program to help them get a degree. Like all the students I saw last night, they were smart, positive, appreciative and filled with ideas of how to make things better at Montclair.

The whole night underscored one thing I just love about our Red Hawks: they are interested in solutions and eager to propose ideas. They listen, process explanations and try to adapt their designs. They take on challenges themselves and think nothing of it.

So don't let anyone tell you how young people are apathetic or unwilling to work. Just spend a little time at Montclair State University – touch the grass, as students Robyn Platz , Driton Cadraku and Miriam Aguirre taught me to say – to get the real story.