Comments on: What Every Immigrant Parent Ought to Know About their Children

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:04:31 +0000

@Carol: Though I am forever thankful everyday that enough people actually care about me to want to force me back into school day after day after day and I actually like the fact that old folks take it upon themselves to interfere into the lives of younger immigrants and keep them in check, it’s sad that folks are unwilling to step out of that stereotype and realize there are actually many people who have succeeded, and many times at a higher level, than those within the college system.
Is dropping out suitable for most folks? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s sad that it’s never presented as fact that many people drop out and do well.

By: Carol

Carol — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 19:03:13 +0000

Thats cool Mwangi,go for it!Despite African stereotype mentality that getting more and more college diplomas is a direct gate to sucess, I see pple including you making it,so,whats the big deal parents?
As Mwalimu says,US is a land of milk and honey, Kenya is a land of bees and cows, who however do not produce what they should! That is a counry where economc growth is very high,7%, but life gets harder and harder, and joblessness is shooting up!
No wonder guys move out and no one wants to go there!

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:51:58 +0000

@Leeban: Any time I hear a major like Chem Engineering, Law or Med or anything like that, I always perk up because I know I’m in the presence of someone with an intellect that probably surpasses mine.
As for the tips for young students, watch this space, the Capital FM thing challenged me to get more practical information on the immigration process for students and workers and so am working on that now, its yet to bear much fruit but am pressing on.
I must say though, I have never had this urge to just travel and explore myself or this world, because I always knew at the back of my mind that I couldn’t afford it (I don’t want to have to always work boring minimum wage jobs to support this and know that I would probably not do this very well) and there is no way in hell my parents will support it.
If I ever travel, it will be because this blog is somehow making me enough money so that I can work about 2h a day (or less) on it and not have to worry about where the dollars and cents are coming from.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:47:34 +0000

@mwalimu: Thank you very much, I am very flattered by that. At some point I hope to do some work in the States but as far as I can tell, my “Western roots” for the rest of my life will be Australia. I just can’t get over the laid back, more human culture that this place has. But I will definitely see if I can fly over and package some of that milk and some of that honey in a bottle.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:44:32 +0000

@Julia: Hello, first lady on all things wonderful in marriage I can only speak to what I have done with this blog, and I can assure you that if I tried to straddle the whole, half here and half there, the blog would not be at the level it’s at now, and would take much longer to get wherever its meant to go. Concentration of focus and energy is so powerful, especially when you’re a man, from what I have seen so far.

The way I know this is because I work and talk to a lot of other folks who are also doing the online thing, “part time” and it’s amazing how so often they are unable to fulfill on promises they make to myself and to other readers, for lack of time.

In the few months I have been running this, I think the longest it’s taken for me to respond to anything is 48 hours and all the series that I promised to write I wrote. I have right now about six or seven podcast interviews in the archives while I am able to work on monetizing this site and trying to get some joint ventures done with folks in other industries.

Personally, I would actually recommend, if you are in my specific situation (in the West with family or here on permanent residence or citizenship while young and single) go out there and try to make it on your own immediately and skip Uni all together before responsibility and social pressure to conform becomes too strong. University will still be there in my late 20s, but the wealth of experience and knowledge I will have gained about the world, “the real world” in that decade or so of “messing up” is absolutely invaluable.
As far as I can tell, most of the education in Universities has its roots in people who were willing to test out the limits of their human experience.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:36:00 +0000

@Evan: Slowly but surely I am climbing the Mount, and as I climb, I thank you profusely for the good vibes you have radiated my way

By: Leeban

Leeban — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:10:09 +0000

lol, sometimes Mwangi I think we share the same brain. I believe time is the greatest currency of all, and thus revel in my youth. While the old saying is true “youth is wasted on the young” that does not apply to me. Im on the verge of dropping out after 3 years of chemical engineering at my university. My parents have FINALLY agreed to let me off for a semester, but would have a hernia if i told them my real wish of dropping out. I live in Canada, and so too see the abundant opportunities around me. But what I really wanna do is just get out of this bloody country. Which is why im on this blog in the first place, as Australia is one of the places I was considering going to. Best part is, I wanted to know what it was like for a young black male and now i do. One idea for a post on your blog that i would love to see, is helpful tips, for students like myself that want to study and work abroad there. Keep up the great work.

By: mwalimu

mwalimu — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:00:32 +0000

Mwangi,

if you think Oz is land of milk and honey, then,my dear, you should come to US of A, it is a land flowing with milk, honey, milk, honey, and more milk and honey.

And if you think oz says “it can be done”, USA says “you can do it”.

Seriously. You do have what it takes to succeed in USA

By: Julia Sanna

Julia Sanna — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:24 +0000

You have a great point in asking our parents to give us a chance to spread our wings. I agree with your concern that parents should not saddle us with the Africa-specific fears since we are breaking free as a globalized generation. However, I’m still old fashioned in encouraging guys to get an education whenever they have an opportunity. I know there are folks who are millionaire college drop-outs but the ratio of success is very small.

My advice for those considering dropping out of college to start a business is to drop you hours to part-time. Consider taking only one class and start your business at a small scale, maybe switch majors to reflect your business interest but get some education. One thing I’ve learned there are those blessed with street smarts to know a good deal but some education can let you know some bad deals too.

Back to the African-specific fears – in our circle of friends we always discuss the need to escape the African mentality that borders on inferiority and believing we have little to offer the world. When we look around, Africa is pretty attractive to investors, environmentalists, tourists, preachers, politicians, musicians, artists etc. Not bad – not bad at all. Thanks for covering this hugely important topic.

By: Evan

Evan — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:01:14 +0000

Here’s to your success in creating a new path in a new land.

It looks like it’s happening!