A A A A Search :
Toledo Talk   (musing about Lake Erie West and beyond)
From JJFad's workspace   

OCC commercial

Last week I saw a commercial for Owens Community College on TV. The thrust of the commercial is how comfortable a student can be while living at home; the fridge is always stocked, someone to do your laundry and cook meals are all listed as comforts of pursuing a degree while living at home.

I've always been a fan of comedy, but I find the comedic attempt of this commercial misses its' mark. I wonder who from OCC has any say in releasing commercials, because this one was a horrible decision.

Having seen recent graduates with little to no work ethic enter and leave my workplace is what drives my distaste for this particular commercial. I've encountered numerous new employees who feel that have a right to more days off and a pay raise just because they have been working for the firm for a year. The "you owe me" mentality has been mentioned during annual reviews and when two employees were caught stealing.

I went to OCC before moving on to UT for my BS and Master's. I will always recommend attending Owens to anyone who is thinking of pursuing a degree because the faculty is great -- usually very interested and knowledgeable in the subjects that they teach. But... this commercial should be taken out and shot.

created by JJFad on Jan 08, 2008 at 12:16:59 am     Comments: 24

print      source      versions

Comments ... #

I think the entire college experience is important. It is more than just showing up for classes. I can't imagine how living at home and going to a school where everyone lives at home can be the same.

posted by babbleman on Jan 08, 2008 at 07:13:43 am     #



I keep telling my wife that the best thing I learned in college is how to make do when you dont have the bucks!!

We get out of college and get so wrapped up in the rat race and keeping up with the Joneses, but when we think back to what we consider "the good old days" often it's the college thing when we didnt have two nickles to spare and sat on a couch held together with duct tape, and drove a clunker car...

posted by billy on Jan 08, 2008 at 08:12:34 am     #



Babbleman, for such comparisons try Pascarella and Terenzini’s: How College Affects Students: A Third Decade of Research (Jossey-Bass)

posted by Offshore on Jan 08, 2008 at 08:27:02 am     #



I agree with all of you, but I suggest that the purpose of the commercial was to show one way of saving money while going to college. With college costs today, it's necessary to step back and try to figure out what you will owe when you graduate after 4 or more years. $50,000 is not an outlandish number. And, with interest figured in, it becomes a ball and chain as you start out in the real world.

posted by lew on Jan 08, 2008 at 09:12:04 am     #



JJfad, it's not just an Owens thing. This sense of entitlement is cross-country.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/230177_entitlement27.html

http://www.boston.com/jobs/news/articles/2007/10/14/ambitious_young_workers_want_good_fast_start/

http://media.www.the-telescope.com/media/storage/paper749/news/2006/09/25/News/Young.Workers.Want.Flexible.Jobs-2307112.shtml

posted by jhostetler on Jan 08, 2008 at 03:35:39 pm     #



It's all that 'self esteem' hogwash they practice in schools. When a kid fails at something they don't tell the kid - you goof you failed. Instead they find all kinds of ways to soften the blow and inflate a kids ego these days. They don't want to hurt their self esteem. When an under perfoming kid comes out of high school these days he/she has no idea that they have to work to succeed. It's supposed to "happen" because they deserve it. Failure is a teacher. When you don't let a kid fail you don't teach him anything. Let a child fail. Tell the child that they have it in them to do better. Tell them that to succeed they have to work. OK I'll get of my soap box now. I just had to vent. God knows how many idiots I've hired who were surprised thay had to work to get paid.

posted by holland on Jan 08, 2008 at 05:28:05 pm     #



I was talking to a new co-worker about a test they'd have to take to get to the next level. It's a test we all had to study for and take to ensure we had the required knowledge we'd need to handle that role.

His comment was, "yeah, unless of course I can get that part waived..."

WAIVED??? Why would that even cross someone's mind???

posted by billy on Jan 08, 2008 at 07:07:49 pm     #



Live with mom = WIN
Pay for all that gasoline = LOSE

Oh, who am I really kidding, here? OCC students can always take out loans from the "Bank of Mommy and Daddy" (BoMD) for gas. I was SHOCKED to see all the great cars packing the student parking lot at Clay H.S. in Oregon. The BoMD must have a terrible loan portfolio by now.

posted by GuestZero on Jan 08, 2008 at 11:52:39 pm     #



Holland, I hear ya. However, if you don't pump up those egos, how do you expect them to run into Wal*Mart with all alacrity and wave their plastic most frantically, if they didn't believe they were assigned Humanity's role of being the ultimate consumer?

posted by GuestZero on Jan 08, 2008 at 11:55:44 pm     #



you are enjoying the result of "Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child."

Try dissecting that and analising all you want, but that's the bottom line.

It's because for years after being properly discipling your child, the "guilt" shoved down the throats of parents by nannies has enabled those children to call DCF on you when you raise your voice.

And therefore expect their unrealistic demands to be met, thinking they're irreplacable.

Time to change perspectives.

posted by BrianInFlorida on Jan 09, 2008 at 07:12:18 am     #



Yes I agree, those damn kids, throw them out in the cold and let the scratch on their own. Actually, when I was in school, 40 years ago, I made more money than they can now while digging ditches. Remember, the good paying jobs have gone to the American multinationals' partners overseas and in good ol mexico. don't worry, today's kids spoiled by the parents good job won't last. the next generaton will have parents who work for peanuts. So they won't be as spoiled, but will be plenty ready for change. Here's to more government of, by, and for the corporate hoggies.

posted by prime3end on Jan 09, 2008 at 08:18:58 am     #



As a small business owner we get relentssly solicited for contributions for school activities. One young man came in with his Mom asking for money to help fund a trip to a national wrestling match (Springfield Schools). My husband said that we would be glad to offer the teenager a few hours of work in exchange for the donation. We needed some simple inside cleaning chores in the stock room. Mom and son turned down the offer. I rest my case.

posted by holland on Jan 09, 2008 at 10:54:05 am     #



I took the commercial a different way...living at home always has benefits over living in dorm. I started doing my own laundry as soon as I could reach the controls at the back of the machine because 1) mom/dad thought I needed to know how and 2) if I did my own, my mom didn't have to...lol!

But, I also had to pay a small amount of 'room and board' to prepare me for what it'd be like when I was on my own. That small amount didn't cover the costs I generated in food, electricity or water - but that wasn't the point.

And yes, the refrig was always stocked and when the family went out to eat, I didn't have to pay my own way.

But when you live on a campus, those things are all upon the student, with no 'perks'...

Owens is competing with schools that have dorms...this is just one of their commercials to get people to think about OCC and some of the things that may be a plus to some students.

In the end, though, whether you live on campus or at home, it's the lessons your parents teach and the ones your actually learn that are relevant - not the place you lay your head at night...

posted by MaggieThurber on Jan 09, 2008 at 12:01:49 pm     #



Hey Prime? In all honesty, that's what happened on the morning of my 18th birthday. After comming home from a long night of celebration, I found two garbage bags on the porch with $50 clipped to one of the bags with a note saying, "Good Luck!". And yes, they changed the locks and wouldn't answer the door.

And to look at me today, you wouldn't think I had that happen to me, God rest their souls, but I am humble and appreciative for all my efforts because I was forced instead of coddled. Combine that with the work ethic instilled while maturing, and you're looking at a success story.

I learned at a time where you were appreciated for climbing a ladder, not taking an escalator.

posted by BrianInFlorida on Jan 09, 2008 at 05:05:19 pm     #



Wow Brian, if that truely happened to you that's just sad. To toss any child out on the street with $50, is just.. wow.

I can't imagine any loving parent actually doing that to a child.

posted by OhioKat on Jan 09, 2008 at 10:48:58 pm     #



"I took the commercial a different way...living at home always has benefits over living in dorm"

I see where you're coming from Maggie, but the commercial is about as tactful as receiving a "We were upset the condom broke, but we're glad you're here now" birthday card from my parents. Not that they ever sent me such a card, but...

posted by JJFad on Jan 10, 2008 at 01:22:20 am     #



It's ok Kat, I wasn't the perfect child either. I somewhat may have deserved to be booted at 18, but to find the locks changed was a bad personal experience.

Sure it was a tad extreme in my view and altho it was harsh, it put my priorities on a new level and conditioned me to understand I'm responsible for myself.

I did, afterall, come from a family of hard-core Catholics.

But it is a true story.

posted by BrianInFlorida on Jan 10, 2008 at 05:33:45 am     #



Studies have shown (can’t cite them now but they seem valid) that American kids lack not in technical skills, but so-called soft skills like a strong work ethic.

Many state governors and staff credit community colleges with their state’s workforce development (or what’s left of it).

posted by Offshore on Jan 10, 2008 at 09:49:20 am     #



OK, so here's my million dollar question. I'm an OCC student and I live at home, does this mean I should instead move out? LMAO! PLEASE tell me yes, you would make my day ;o)

posted by justsimplyholly on Jan 10, 2008 at 08:48:09 pm     #



I’ll take that million! (How do you become a millionaire in Ohio? Bring two million when you come….snare roll..cymbal crash). Some 30 thirty years ago two researchers in higher education engaged in a longitudinal study to measure (also the book’s title) How college affects students.

The premise of that study was to gauge many variables against attending college or not. Of the many variables was how college affects maturity, responsibility, and independence for traditional (under the age of 25) students.

This of course meant looking at students that lived in dorms, those that live at home and individuals who choose to enter the workforce. If I remember correctly there were strides made my students who lived away from home in that they were forced to do, for some, vastly new and simple things like laundry, thus contributing to growing up.

On the other hand, those whom decided to avoid college, enter the workforce and begin raising families were obviously quickly guided to maturity.

It seemed that commuter students also had to work thus gaining in the worth ethic/maturity department. So, all in all, it was a probably a wash.

My own testimonial: I could have attended school almost anywhere on my parent’s dime, but, after a couple of motorcycle trips across country and avoiding school for a while, my Dad’s offer was null and void. But, I was welcome to live at home, contribute, and attend college.

I believe that it is prudent to save as much money as one can on higher education without sacrificing quality. Since most major cities have large research universities with transfer and articulation agreements with comprehensive community colleges and high schools, it behooves one to not piss away a lot of cash on room and board.

posted by Offshore on Jan 11, 2008 at 11:05:54 am     #



You know what the funny thing is? I went to college right after high school. I wanted to get FAAAAAAAAAAAR away from home (Michigan), so I enrolled in college in Florida. I did know how to take care of myself for the most part, but I was TOTALLY miserable, so after 1 semester, I came home and went to work.

It was 10 year later before I went back to college, by that time I was married and my oldest child was 1. I went to a local community college and LOVED it! But had a near catastrophic series of events that landed me in the hospital because I had a nervous break down, so I ended up withdrawing from school and didn't go back until 2007.

I LOVE being a 40 something year old student at Owens! I was scared to death at first thinking all the young kids would be rude and mouthy...LOL! But so far the younger people that I have come across have been amazing! I'm glad that I'm doing this for myself, and my hope is to be done with college before my son graduates from High School in 2011.

posted by justsimplyholly on Jan 11, 2008 at 01:39:56 pm     #



Holly, good story except for the catastrophe part. For someone who has had a breakdown, you seem to be very upbeat now. Best of luck coed!

posted by Offshore on Jan 11, 2008 at 01:47:11 pm     #



Offshore you can do anything you want in ohio even become a millionaire,you just have to find the right vechile to get ya to that point.

I've been pretty lucky in my life financially and have been able to provide myself pretty much whatever I wanted.

I didn't go right back to school either I went right to work the next week after I graduated high school and didn't go back until about 2000 or 2001.

Now I'll be 30 in two months and decided both me and the wife are going to go back and its all paid for from our own pockets and it won't effect us finacially at all.

posted by camaroman2125 on Jan 11, 2008 at 04:15:26 pm     #



Thanks Offshore, I put on a great front most days ;o) But honestly, I LOVE school, I love learning and I REALLY love the thought of doing something for myself after spending the bulk of the past 15 years taking care of other people. I think that's why school means so much to me this time around! Heck, I didn't even mind sitting through a 4 hour Algebra class tonight...LOL! See, I told you I put on a good front cuz only a total nut case would do something like that on purpose!

G'night all!

posted by justsimplyholly on Jan 11, 2008 at 09:46:06 pm     #