A new class developed by the Pat Tillman Foundation should be a model for other similar programs at ASU; it bridges the gap between the classroom and the real world.
Classroom experience and internships in the working "real" world are beneficial, even though neither completely prepares us for our first job.
Although school isn't exactly like the working world, there are definitely skills we can take from the classroom to our first job.
Internships allow students to put some of those skills to good use. And a class that seeks to bridge the gap will give students an even better leg up in the world after graduation.
It has been said before that college doesn't prepare you for the working world. One-hour classes that change every 15 weeks, and hours of homework each night seem to encourage cramming and procrastination rather than developing the kind of stamina necessary for the daily grind of an 8-to-5 job.
Classes also teach us to wait for an official assignment without taking initiative - there's no real reward in starting early.
But even if the structure isn't the same, the lessons are there. Juggling five or six classes teaches us to manage our time and to prioritize according to deadlines. Working in groups helps us learn to manage different personalities we may encounter in the world. And arguing the intricacies of Plato's "Republic" teaches us to communicate clearly by breaking a complex argument into its components.
The trouble is that implementing those skills are often left to the individual.
We're not advocating that the University hold students' hands until they land that first job. But some of the skills employers look for - the ability to enforce a policy or experience leading meetings - can be hard to develop within the confines of a classroom.
Internships are a good way to transition into the working world. They expose students to the rigors of the workplace and (hopefully) help them utilize skills learned in school, while developing new skills.
But internship mentors still have a job to do. And it can be difficult to get the answers to all of your questions when they've got deadlines of their own.
Translating classroom skills into an entrepreneurial project should help smooth the transition for students taking the Pat Tillman Foundation's new class. In the project, they get the best of both internships and classes.
Not only are they given an opportunity to implement their own ideas, but they also have a professor and other resources to draw from as they build the skills needed for success in a results-driven world.
So, way to go Pat Tillman Foundation - helping students get a jumpstart in the job market while encouraging them to produce meaningful community service projects that will impact their community.
If Pat Tillman were here to see it, we're sure he'd be proud.