Tipsters As someone born in '72 (yes believe it, people my age are graduating with Ph.D.'s this year)... I think that young people will always be the same. Older people always think that they were different when they were young-- I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it narcissism, but you pick a label. Social psychologists, is there a name for this phenomenon? However, more young people are going to college, particularly those that would have taken up a trade job or factory work 20 years ago... I know here at VCU there's so many first generation college students and they're just not convinced that college will really help them. So they appear to be in school out of 1) fear that they won't make it because EVERYONE has a college education now or 2)there aren't many other good options. The only thing that motivates them to do is get straight Cs. To handle this with my students I tell them they're RIGHT! A college degree really doesn't get you anything. But a real education, and a decision to take your career seriously will get you everything--and that they're worth it. I think these kinds of beliefs are what motivated me to do well in college, that and guilt that my parents were footing the bill. I just try not to forget that most students are doing very well in school and enjoying it. The tyrrany of the problem students should not dominate what I do. Jennifer Ripley (Ph.D. in a couple months) Psychology Intern Virginia Commonwealth University Counseling Center Box 842525 Richmond VA 23284-2525 804-828-6200 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
