Can you say, “College is super-dee-duper”?

home > departments > afterwords > archive > Can you say, “College is super-dee-duper”?

afterwords archive
>	Are we on the air? By Linda Buchanan Wagner ’79
>	A generation in search by Nancy Obrien ’94
>	For you, A.J. by Ed Ziegler ’72
>	Whit one day, world the next by Marie Ranoia Alonso ’90
>	My brother’s keepers by Jim Koscs ’85
>	Can you say, “College is super-dee-dupor?” by Moira Jablon-Bernstein ’92
>	Project Santa from a New Perspective by Lisa Shea Linden ’86
>	The train to college by Dorothy Ciryak Clark Leonard ’76, ’84
>	Debating the future by Ron Weisberger ’65
>	A deeply-rooted relationship by Harriet Clevenger Lockwood ’88
>	Curtain or copy: a major decision by Susan Goodman Magod
>	The bear necessities of friendship by Qraig R. de Groot ’93
>	Special delivery by Darlene Beck-Jacobson ’74
>	A room of my own by Melissa F. Sherman ’86
>	The diploma by Ros Psolka ’90
>	Remembering Sabrina by Ros Psolka ’90
>	Who wants my 33s? By Jim Koscs ’85
>	Looking for a sign By Wendy Weber Crawford ’75, ’79, ’88
>	An ode to 27A South Main Street By Keith Forrest ’88
>	Our flag in the window By Lori Marshall ’92
>	Mail, mortality and American mettle By Brian Kass’85
>	Christmas trees in the Kremlin By Don Dunnington’97
>	Aimless and malcontent no more By Tim Zatzariny, Jr. ’94
>	Bringing the family By Susan Parker ’74
>	A little too soon for golden oldies By Keith Forrest ’88
>	Tale of a tile man By Sabatino Mangini ’01
>	Remembering Reagan By David Coyle ’81
>	Time well spent By Leigh Koebert ’97
>	Still a college kid... By Gregg Clayton ’81
>	What’s at the end of your “If only…”? By Carol Servino ’75
>	Catching the moment and the meaning By Casey Christy ’92, M’03
>	Starting at Glassboro, finishing at Rowan By Lori Samlin Miller ’77
>	Room to grow By Casey Christy ’92, M’03
>	Lifelong friends in spite of themselves By Patricia Quigley ’78, M’03

Can you say, “College is super-dee-duper”?
by Moira Jablon-Bernstein ’92

id Barbie attend Rowan University?” My daughter asked me over her morning bowl of crunchy cereal. I was not sure. I must admit, I do not remember her in any of my counseling classes. Her question is not that unusual—college is a topic that my husband and I routinely discuss with our children in an effort to get our kids to value higher learning. So how do we encourage our preschoolers to want to go to college?

As a career counselor that works with displaced employees, I know firsthand the advantages of a college degree and the lack of opportunities for those without one. With a two-and four-year-old at home, my husband and I have our work cut out for us, since college is not the usual topic on Barney.

Talking about our Rowan days is one simple technique we use. We have visited the college bookstore, walked through the library, tapped a letter on a computer keyboard there and eaten lunch at the school cafeteria.

And at bedtime, after reading a few books, we give each child some spare change to put in their college piggy banks. (We realize that by the time they enter college, their piggy bank savings will not cover the cost of tuition, room and board, but maybe they can buy a used textbook with it.) They may not understand the value of money, but if you happen to ask our children “What are you saving for?” in unison they will answer, “for college.” This has a delightful ring to great-grandparents’ and grandparents’ ears.

After they brush their teeth, change into pajamas and say their prayers, we share with them stories about our college and graduate school experiences. They love to hear how once I was lost in the Education Building, and to hear the mnemonics my classmate Shelley and I made up to prepare for our counseling theories final.

Does my daughter always ask questions about college life? No, not always. But it does come up, sometimes in surprising ways. When she heard on the playground that kindergarten is nap-free, she was excited to give up her required nap at day care. Then she asked if naps are required in college. They aren’t mandatory, I answered, but are often a welcome relief to sleep-deprived students. She also asked if her parents could go to college with her. I assured her that she could attend a local college, but I know that her desire to be close will fade in time.

My husband and I are not worrying about which college they will attend nor signing the kids up for pre-school SAT review. There is a difference between pushing children to learn too fast and encouraging enthusiasm for learning. We try to do the latter, although some people may say that we are starting a little early. Yet in our eyes, it is never too soon to instill the value of a college education.

__________________________
Moira Jablon-Bernstein ’92 is the mother of Simone and Jake and works part-time as a career assessment counselor for St. Louis Community College's Center for Business, Industry and Labor in St. Louis.