College and Career Journeys

MAYOR EMANUEL ON COLLEGE AND CAREER CHOICES

Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of the City of Chicago

WHERE DID YOU GO TO COLLEGE?

I went to Sarah Lawrence College. I went to Northwestern Graduate School. High school was New Trier West.

WHAT CHOICES DID YOU FACE ON YOUR CAREER PATH?

I had a career in dance and had to pick between academics and dance, obviously I chose academics. I had a… almost a… I wouldn’t say a life career choice, but had to make a choice early on, and I think figuring out how to make that choice was important in helping me figure out how to make decisions later on.

WHO INFLUENCED YOU?

The two most important people in anybody’s life are your parents. There are religious leaders, friends, aunts, uncles, extended family, without a doubt, teachers, but I actually believe there are two things that are essential to any child’s development: the love of their parents and their education, and my parents gave me both.

ANY ADVICE FOR STUDENTS?

Your studies are very important, because whether you go to college or to some other career training, that means junior college, that means a technical school or a school on a specific skill. You need something more than high school. A high school education may have been good enough for your parents, but it will not be good enough for your self. So that’s number one.

Second, is, you raise your horizons past high school you are also raise your horizons in your career for short order, because, you are growing up in a period of time where you will earn what you learn. If you expand your educational opportunities you will expand your career opportunities. It’s that direct.

To all our kids in Chicago, I want you to be safe, and I want you to realize you are very lucky to be in this great city, with loving parents who care about you and teachers who care about your education.