College doesn’t equate success...Trust me, I’m a teacher | Melanie Whitney | TEDxCSULB

Many of us spend countless hours investing in our education and our careers to make a better living, but how much time do we invest in ourselves to make a better life? In this painfully real but hopeful talk, CSULB Instructor, Melanie Whitney, elaborates on 3 things you will not learn inside a traditional classroom, but are absolutely necessary to create a life outside of it. Whether you’re a student or professional, this one will inspire you to finally answer the question, what am I doing with my life?

Melanie Whitney is a Communication Studies educator at CSULB. For six years, she developed community programs targeted towards underprivileged youth. Upon receiving her Master’s Degree in Communication Studies she left for Los Angeles in search of her dream job in Event Planning and Public Relations (that was short lived). After many let downs and lessons, she found herself in a unforeseen career that made her happier than ever, being a teacher. The biggest lesson she has learned is that college prepares us how to make a living, but not a life. Obtaining your degree is a small part of the equation. The real key to “success” is understanding who you are, what brings you joy, and accepting that those things will inevitably change.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx