Jason Lum

Lum’s volunteer work doesn’t just inspire high school students. The School of Public Policy and Administration faculty member finds that his role as a scholar-practitioner translates into valuable real-world knowledge for his Walden students too.

“When we’re discussing things in a classroom, such as public policy issues about school vouchers or wider access to higher education, I talk about my work with these high school students and how there is oftentimes no expectation in going to college,” he says. “It reinforces in my mind that what we are doing is so vital.”

He urges his Walden Ph.D. students to use their research as a way to push for social justice. “I always tell them about the work I do and how rewarding it has been for me,” he says.

Here, Lum shares tips on motivating teens to find money for college:

Share real-life stories. “I use my experience as an example to those who say that it cannot be done. I grew up in a very poor family. There was no money to pay for college. Instead of giving up, I applied for every award I could, and I won more than $250,000 in scholarship money. Today, I see a lot of kids who are either lethargic or shell-shocked by the costs of education, but they have got to do something. I want to make it clear to these teens that they can find the money if they take the time to apply.”

Know rejection isn’t personal. “In life, teens must look at every rejection as a learning opportunity. I always use the example of a specific scholarship rejection I received. Instead of mulling over the loss, I called the scholarship committee, asked what I could do to improve, reapplied the following year—and many times won. If teens do not succeed the first time, the worst thing they can do is get angry.”

Emphasize personal experiences. “I volunteer at the Hmong College Prep Academy [in Saint Paul, Minn.], where virtually all of the students are immigrants and live in families below the poverty line. When they apply for schools, I advise them to describe their unique experiences, such as arriving in the United States without knowing a word of English. I don’t believe that any good school in America takes a grade point average and simply adds on an SAT score and says whether a student is smart or not.”

Encourage volunteer work. “It is essential students volunteer to give back and display an interest in their communities. Colleges and universities today are simply not going to give scholarship money to someone who does not show compassion toward others. It’s not just the right thing to do; it will also give them an idea of what they want to do later in life.”

Fear is natural, but it should not stop them. “Some teens experience trepidation about the idea of leaving home and the friends they know very well. I tell them that I’m from Honolulu, and the first time I left the islands was to go to college. I realized once I got to college there was an entire new vista of learning out there. I tell students that these will be some of the best years of their lives.”

June Ponder front page