You need more than 'book knowledge' to be successful – Webster University Campus Director
The Campus Director of Webster University, Christa Elsie Sanders Bobtoya, has urged students to go beyond their studies in the classroom and acquire problem solving skills if they want to have successful careers.
According to her, it is not enough for students to simply reproduce what they’ve been taught in school.
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“You have to be innovative and be able to create solutions. I think it is very important young people are adaptable as the world is changing and they have to learn the skills to adapt to the change,” she said.
Championing the pursuit of soft skills outside of the classroom, she also called on the youth to be humble and receptive to constructive feedback.
“Through school, you’re receiving book knowledge but you also need a skill set to be able to succeed,” she stressed.
Speaking in an interview on Y107.9FM’s YleaderBoard Series hosted by Rev Erskine on the Myd Morning Radio Show, she highlighted on the essence of networking and leadership skills.
“The youth need to take up leadership roles in school and embark on community service. Beyond the book knowledge these things are critical,” she advised.
She further urged the youth to seek out good mentors.
“I still have mentors whom I talk to and exchange ideas with to make me a better person. So I’ll say one needs a lot of things in the pursuit of success but it is not impossible. You need to take the skills you possess and combine it with what you learn from school.”
She said at Webster University, students are engaged to be culturally sensitive and adaptable, accepting the world is much bigger “than their immediate environment. These amongst others are a combination of skills you need to have outside what’s being taught in school to prepare you for the future.”