Hey, students, "If you got it, flaunt it"

Daniel Jelski, a professor of chemistry at New Paltz and who previously served as dean of New Paltz’s School of Science & Engineering, has the following career advice to today’s students at the end of his commentary:

• If you passionately like something and are good at it, then do that. STEM, for example, will always have a place for smart, hardworking people. Likewise, good writing can’t be computerized, but you need both talent and passion to be successful.
• Start work on the 10,000 hours. Your education may help, but very little you do in school contributes to the total. Be it car detailing, truck driving, computer programming, drawing, writing – acquire an expert skill in something. Write a novel.
• Empathize if you can. Computers can’t do that. Jobs that involve empathy (along with other skills) will always be in demand.
• If you got it, flaunt it. That’s something else computers can’t do. Beauty has value, especially for women but also for men. This is wonderfully described in Catherine Hakim’s book, Erotic Capital. Even if you don’t got it, take advantage of youth. Acquire a fashion sense, take care of yourself, look as good as you can.

Work hard. Have fun. Get rich.

There is a little bit of exaggeration, especially about the flaunting bit.  But, what use is a commentary without an exaggerated argument, right?