American InterContinental University

On April 20, 2010, President Barack Obama signed a Presidential Proclamation designating this date as National Equal Pay Day. It serves to symbolize the day when an average woman’s earnings match an average man’s earnings. And while challenges and barriers unfortunately exist, women play a critical role in our labor force, accounting for 46.5% of the total U.S. labor force.

For anyone going back to school after any number of years working, raising a family, or both, the university world can be a bit of a shock. In addition to all the expected adjustments one must make when returning to college, there is also the fact that the study experience has changed drastically in the last ten years. In fact, today a good computer and fast Internet connection are much more important 'school supplies' than any number of highlighters and textbooks.

I recently volunteered time during a state association of student councils convention held at my daughter's high school where over 700 statewide student council members converged for the weekend. The main purpose of the convention was to provide student leaders from across this vast state an opportunity to share some of their best practices, ideas and philanthropic projects while developing leadership, responsibility, personal growth and introducing students to the ideas of democracy. Many shared common character traits. They had great ideas and genuinely believed in learning about methods to improve their school and share in their ideas. It was reassuring to be around these students and easy to imagine these very students serving as tomorrow's leaders.

Leadership is often an innate character trait but it is also a trait that can be taught and honed. It is a skill that so many professions rely on from management to business to teaching. So what becomes of these student council members? What careers might they pursue? Here we take a look at a few industries that may best utilize their talents.