10 Reasons Why HBCU Students Need to Attend Conferences

[williamjackson]

10 Reasons Why HBCU Students Need to Attend Conferences
by Josh Rodriguez, Jon Gregory and Prof. Wm Jackson
Edward Waters College

Conferences like WordCamp, WordPress, Florida Blogging
Conference and others offer opportunities never before
heard of for HBCU students. The journey to start a
career comes with preparation that needs to be done
ahead of graduations and not rushed. Mistakes happen
when what should have been done was not, procrastination
can kill the beginning of a career and destroy a first
impression by not being prepared, and then rushing
causes mistakes that can keep a person from earning
a internship, scholarship or the dream position with
a corporation.

Conferences, workshops, seminars and technology camps
provide access to thought leaders, smart creatives,
programmers, developers and others that are involved
in the tech industry. The leaders, doers and those that
make things happen.




HBCU students must get out of their comfort zones, they
must climb out of being introverts and express their
passions when in the company of opportunity.
Students like Jon Gregory, Joshua Rodriguez Ramirez A.
Poole of Edward Waters College attend events that put
them in the position of sharing their knowledge and
speaking with those with the experience and connections
to take them to the next level.

HBCU instructors should take the opportunity as I do
to take students to these events to allow students
to spread their wings and apply what is learned in the
classroom in discussions with professionals and startups.
These suggestions were developed by Jon and Josh when
returning from attending WordCampUSA Philadelphia.
The international blogging and digital conference
held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
https://2016.us.wordcamp.org/



HBCU institutions should continue to provide learning
and networking opportunities to push, guide and inspire
their students to get to the next level.

10 Reasons why HBCU students need to attend conferences
and HBCU instructors need to support their students in
doing this.

1.To get off campus to experience new things.
All learning does not happen in the classroom setting.
Sometimes the best learning experiences are found with
industry leaders and professions at conferences where
sharing is valuable and current.

2.Awesome networking opportunities.
True networking is not friending on Social Media it is
handshaking, golfing, tennis, lunch and dinners.
True networking is the physical presence that happens
when people meet and build a relationship that grows
to opportunities for both.

3. Learn why it's important to build your brand.
Each HBCU student needs to develop their Brand and
find their niche. You Brand is your promise for quality
and service.

4. Learn Marketing strategies for your Brand.
Once your Brand is developed start planning to
strategically market for your audience you are
working to grab. Marketing strategies will be
different for each Social Media platform and the
demographic your addressing.

5. Seeking wisdom from professional elders.
Professional elders are the best mentors for growth,
exposure and knowledge. When a dope letter of
recommendation is needed or a word from an experienced
elder is in need this the way to go. Building relationships
is important with elders and carries a long way to
not making mistakes and overcoming professional
challenges that will happen.

6. Learning how to gain internships and career options.
Using LinkedIn and LinkedIn for Higher Education are
awesome resources that  help to get out what students
abilities, talents, skills and aspirations are.
Most Social Media platforms are free and even using
HBCU Connect (http://hbcuconnect.com/)
LinkedIn (http://linkedin.com)

7. Experience and learn new travel methods
Traveling  teaches many lessons about ones self and
how to conduct behaviors in public and private settings.
Parents that fail to teach when children are young
find out later their errors when as teens and adults
the lack of social skills hinders their growth.

8. Learn how to manage a budget for traveling.
There is more to traveling than just reserving
a plane ticket, hotel room or renting a car.
There is a process that includes good credit,
having access to finances that allow for rentals
and the maturity to be able to do all of these
with confidence.
Lessons must be learned in advance and this is what
is not taught in the classroom, these are real
life experiences that need mentoring and guidance.

9. Make sure you have a up to date resume,
business cards and curriculum vitae.
Imagine attending an international conference and
meeting the CEO of a corporation. He finds out he
is looking for someone like you, but wants to
know your experiences and to have you email
documents to Human Resources. Imagine that your
resume, business cards and even your curriculum
vitae are several years old? HBCU students must
take seriously that their information must be
up to date and accurate.

10. Opportunity will only knock once in some cases and
preparation can take you to new levels or being
unprepared can lead you to depression.