Every year, more Hispanics graduate from high school. That’s great. But far too many never graduate from a four-year college. Their jobs will be less exciting, and they will earn a cool million dollars less than those who do.

Money should not be the main reason for going to college. But don’t under estimate its importance either! Higher paid positions also afford individuals opportunities to institute needed changes and a higher degree of independence.

A wide variety of college majors are available. One should select a discipline one likes, one that offers personal and professional rewards.

Not Your Grandfather’s World

It most assuredly is not your grandfather’s world. A high school education was a rare achievement in 1900 and a pathway to a decent job. Some 60% of youngsters quit school before graduating from high school.   

Only the wealthy elite attended college in 1900, a mere 8% of high school graduates. Today, 51% of high school graduates pursue post-secondary education.

In 1900, hardly any middle or lower economic class students went to college. Colleges were male-oriented.  Few women were accepted and not very warmly welcomed.  A handful of female colleges existed; their students were invariably wealthy.

Later, most who graduated from college in the 1920s secured good jobs regardless of their majors.  That changed when the stock market collapsed in 1929. The Great Depression lasted over 10 years. It ended only with the advent of the World War II.

A Marked Change

After the war, the G.I. Bill of Rights, vigorously advocated by a man who never spent a single day in college, President Harry Truman, provided millions the opportunity to go to college. Usually, they were the first in their family to ever attend college. It sparked a social and financial revolution, which many economists credit with fostering America’s subsequent economic successes.

That economic boom rolls on. New professions or variations of old ones are creating fantastic opportunities. Many require specific curricula.

Worldwide sophisticated competition is challenging the United States. For decades, much of Asia and countries such as Germany have forged forth educating their youth to assume tomorrow’s leadership positions.

STEM

President George H. Bush mobilized bipartisan Congressional support that culminated in significant federal funding for the crucial STEM professions: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.  President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump continued to support that initiative, which funds institutions and students.   

Unfortunately, among all the ethnic groups, Hispanics rank last in taking advantage of these new opportunities. STEM professions have not generally been pursued by Hispanics. That has to change.

For Hispanics to take advantage of these many opportunities there has to be changes in our homes, our communities and in our elementary school curriculum. It is too late to come to STEM disciplines in college.

The Challenge

Late introduction is onerous and one sprinkled with failure. But if the magic of science through hands-on experiments and inspired teaching or the joy that is mathematics is presented to curious elementary age children, it can nurture lifelong learning.

Children are inquisitive and enthralled with new ideas. If they are introduced to new stimulating concepts, they will learn them.

The challenge is to introduce Hispanic children to the building blocks of STEM professions.

I know that for a family, which struggles every week to make ends meet, this will be a very difficult task. Difficult but not impossible. Those families will need the help of the community including the elementary school.

Children should be introduced to the excitement and benefits of those disciplines.  Science fairs, weekend projects to foster interest, and ways of involving parents so they can motivate their children are a few steps to be undertaken.

Many Hispanic lawyers, physicians and businesspersons support programs that encourage youngsters to learn about their professions. Hispanic engineers and scientists should do the same.

Pie In The Sky?

Are STEM jobs wishful thinking, pie in the sky?  No. A Spring 2019 study from WalletHub compiled the “Best Entry Level Jobs.”

They are:

• Electrical Engineer I

• Systems Engineer I

• Engineer I

• Environmental, Health, and Safety Engineer I

• Hardware Engineer I

• Web Applications Developer I

• Electronics Engineer I

• Industrial Engineer I

• Architect I

• Operations Research Analyst I

All of them are STEM professions. So, we are not talking of a far-off future. The STEM reality is now.

Recruiting Worldwide

I worked in Silicon Valley for most of the 1980s. It was an unusual place, a world onto itself. Fiercely independent, devoted, hard-working individuals toiled around the clock creating a new reality.

They didn’t want government direction or even assistance.  But every year the Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and the Andy Groves of Silicon Valley would fly to Washington to ask Congress for hundreds of special visas, so they could hire more foreign engineers.

To the man they argued there weren’t enough engineers in America to meet their needs. That was 40 years ago. The yearly trek continues. The need is that great. Parenthetically, it is interesting to note that three out of every five Silicon Valley millionaires is foreign born.

What About Hispanic Women?

Very few Hispanic women pursue STEM professions. One reason, it is suggested, is that there are few women faculty members or administrators—few compassionate, competent role models—but that is changing.

Women are more visual than ever before in the “hard sciences.” More are in research and leadership positions.

To the point, among the nation’s 10 leading engineering schools with the largest research budgets, women comprise roughly 17% of the faculty—a huge improvement from years past.

Further, at the respected University of Michigan’s College of Engineering women comprise half of the uppermost leadership positions. They serve in 13 of the 25-top faculty-leadership roles, department chairs, associate deans, etc. Such visibility and leadership help female students succeed.

Bottom Line

There is an abundance of interesting and well-paying STEM positions right now not in the far distance but right now.

That demand will not shrink. It will continue to grow.

The Hispanic community must organize and proactively encourage and assist its youth to enter these quality professions. •