E ducation
SPECIAL EDITION
pages 4-7
p ia r ti a nh
bspruer 4
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Read back issues of the Portland Observer at www.portlandobserver.com
'City o/Roses’ NWF*
Volume
Volume XXXXI,
XXXXI. Number
Number 21
21
\ Wednesday • May 25, 2011
P
i r h h o e r d l ¡n
070
E r s H ta k b l lis
in 1 1970
,
Committed to Cultural Diversity
service
Dreams and Uncertain Futures
Students face
job prospects
with hope, fear
C ari H achmann
T he P ortland O bserver
by
A variety of sentiments stirred among students
of varying degree at the Cascade Campus o f Port
land Community College when asked to describe
their expectations for the future.
Reared in an unstable economy during our
country’s worst recession, this generation knows
too well the fallacy of the American Dream. It wants
nothing more than to look forward to a fulfilling life
of self-sufficiency, but sigh at their prospects with
mixed feelings of hope and fear.
They hope for a better future, an improving job
market and an education that brings something
other than a minimum-wage job. Yet they also fear
the unknown and the potential of debt, unemploy
ment, unsteady work, and an increasingly large and
competitive labor force.
“It is really scary seeing my roommate with a
PHO to by C ari H achmann /T he P ortland O bserver
master’s degree not have a job. It doesn’t give me Maggie Heath works on her general education requirements at Portland
much hope,” said 21 -year-old Maggie Heath work- Com m unity College in north Portland. Like other students, she faces a
ing on general education requirements before she lot o f unknowns and hopes as the nation com es out o f its worst
plans to transfer and pursue Portland State recession.
University’s community development program in
hopes of landing a nonprofit job.
Jaded to age-old promises o f a better, richer life
with opportunity abound for the hard working, able
and achieved, some students chuckle at the idea of
a living a life better than their parents.
“Our grandparents and parents didn’t have to get
an education as much as we do now, but now it’s so
necessary, that its putting people in debt,” said
Rachel Dibble, a second year PCC student o f elemen
tary education, who believes her generations has got
it harder than previous ones.
Ben Stanisel, a nursing student living with parents
to ease financial pressures, agreed, “Education was
less costly back then and things were moving, now
things are slowing down,” he said, adding that
healthcare and social security are not even a guaran
tee.
Many of the students interviewed simply wanted
to see that when they finished school, it was worth
the time and money invested, meaning they can get
a job and pay back debt for college tuition and
expenses.
But with 10 percent of Oregon still unemployed,
the 8th highest in the nation, and two-thirds of
students in the U.S. graduating with an average of
almost $20,000 in debt, the aspiring higher education
graduates feared the worst.
“Debt is scary,” said Dibble, “Right now it’s easy
because I ’ m living off loans, but when reality kicks in
and I have to start paying them back...” She pauses,
continued
on page 8
Portland Peace Prize for an Unsung Hero
Jefferson students
shine light on
community leaders
B» M indy C ooper
T he P ortland O bserver
After studying the International Peace
Prize, local students from Jefferson high
school are bringing the significance of the
award closer to home as they honor those
within the Portland area who they believe
deserve recognition for the unsung services
they provide the local community.
continued
on page 9
r
—
———
Jefferson High School
seniors greet Debra Lippoldt
after interviewing her about
her non-profit public service
work helping people with
disabilities and those on low
incom es grow gardens.
Lippoldt is am ong a group o f
unsung heroes the class is
considering for its second
Portland Peace Prize.
photo by M indy C ooper /T he
P ortland O bserver