Blog | Topic: Video

The Defining Decade: Why 30 is Not the New 20

My previous post about the novel Early Decision by Lacy Crawford reminded me of this important and insightful TEDtalk about emerging adulthood. Enjoy!

defineThere are 15 million 20-somethings in the United States. According to clinical psychologist Meg Jay, the 20s are not a developmental downtime, but a developmental “sweet spot.” The “benign neglect” of this formative phase in life, by some, is a real problem with real consequences. In this TEDtalk, Dr. Jay explains why the 20s is the “defining decade” and what steps young adults can take to “claim their adulthood.”

Related Resources:

Article: “College grads, 30 isn’t the new 20” by Meg Jay

BookThe Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter–And How to Make the Most of Them Now by Meg Jay

Expert Interview: “Understanding Teens After High School” (.pdf) with Tim Clydesdale

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John Ortberg on Faith & Doubt

KnowDoubtNext Wednesday (October 30) I’ll be speaking at Malone University. I’ll do a chapel presentation in the morning, taking a deeper look at the implications of Colossians 1:15-20 for college students in a talk entitled “The Lord of All Learning.” Wednesday evening I’ll do a workshop with students about the place of doubt in the life of faith in a talk entitled “The Sunnier Side of Doubt.”

While doing a little prep work for next week, and thinking about my previous post, I was reminded of a lecture John Ortberg gave at Calvin College a few years ago. I highly recommend this video as well as the book it was inspired by Know Doubt: The Importance of Embracing Uncertainty in Your Faith. Enjoy!

Pastor John Ortberg of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church addresses the place of doubt within the life of faith. The lecture was a part of Calvin College’s January Series in 2009.

More resources for helping young people navigate doubt and take ownership of faith can be found here.

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Student Loan Default Rates On The Rise (Again)

DebtRise“The rate at which borrowers of federal student loans default on their debt within two years after beginning repayment rose for the sixth consecutive year, reaching its highest level since 1995, according to data released Monday by the Education Department.”

So begins yet another article about the current debt crisis facing current college students and graduates, this time from Inside Higher Ed’sDefault Rates Rise Again.” The image above is from an NPR story worth listening to: “College Student Debt Grows. Is It Worth It?” And this video from Newsweek shouldn’t be missed:

The last thing I want to do is be all “doom and gloom,” as if I’m trying to scare people into coming to a seminar or something. Would that work? Maybe I do want to do that! But the sad reality is that too many families are making bad decisions concerning college debt and many of those bad decisions can be avoided by asking better questions about life after high school. What is the true cost and value of a college education? Is it possible to go to college without going into debt? What are the best strategies for financially planning for college?

College Choice - CTI HomepageThe College Choice Seminar will seek to answer these questions (and more!) on October 12 in Lancaster, PA. CPYU’s College Transition Initiative continues to strive to provide resources for helping students and parents make wise decisions about life after high school.

In addition to the new seminar, here are a few more resources to help you in your college planning.

College Planning Resources:

Speaking: Northeast Christian College Fairs (NACCAP)

Blog: “College Financial Planning: Advice for Parents and Students

Blog: “Is College Worth It?

Article: “How to Choose A College: Pray, Prepare, Pursue” by Matt Reitnour (.pdf)

Expert Interview: “College, Crippling Debt and the Need for Financial Wisdom: J. Steve Miller Interview” by Derek Melleby (.pdf)

Book: College Bound: What Christian Parents Need To Know About Helping Their Kids Choose a College by Thomas A. Shaw

Book: Make College Count: A Faithful Guide to Life and Learning by Derek Melleby

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