Lecture Notes: Interview with Craig, Co-founder of Secure My Scholarship

Introduction

• Craig co-founded Secure My Scholarship, an EdTech platform connecting students with scholarships globally.
• Works full-time and is passionate about creating impact for middle and working-class families.

Job Satisfaction

• Loves making a difference in students' lives.
• Always wanted a job that allows for social impact.
• No dislikes personally, but his fiancée feels his job takes up a lot of time.

Mobile Phone Usage

• Uses his phone daily for work; it’s essential for managing the company.
• Favorite apps include:
  • LinkedIn
  • Asana (productivity tool)
  • Slack (team communication)
  • WhatsApp
• Believes he uses his phone excessively but previously developed an app to encourage less phone usage in class.

School Experience

• Initially disliked school but appreciates it more with hindsight.
• Favorite teacher: Mrs. Mik Menan, a math teacher in grades 10 and 11.
• Disliked the overly academic focus, neglecting extracurricular activities.

Difficult Period in Education

• Struggled during second/third year of university (2015-2016) due to:
  • High expectations from parents who financed his education.
  • Multiple interests in courses, leading to time management challenges.
  • Graduated with a major in Economics and four minors: Political Science, International Relations, Mass Communication, Business Administration.

Discussion on Higher Education

Should Higher Education Be Free?

• In an ideal world, education should be free to ensure equal opportunities for all students.
• Rising costs of education are excluding middle and working-class students from quality education.
• Shared an example of a student who received a significant scholarship through Secure My Scholarship, highlighting the need for affordable education.

Scholarships for Gifted Children

• Scholarships should be allocated to academically or athletically gifted students due to limited resources.
• Emphasizes the need for unbiased systems in scholarship allocation to prevent nepotism.

Role of Different Entities in Providing Scholarships

• Government: Should ensure quality education for the bright future of society.
• Charities/Nonprofits: Vital in supporting education initiatives and providing scholarships.
• Universities: Should take social responsibility and offer scholarships, given their wealth (e.g., Harvard’s endowment funds).

Future of Higher Education

• Education will become more creative and less about rote memorization.
• Shift towards teaching students to analyze and utilize available information, rather than just memorizing facts.
• Skills such as problem-solving and creative thinking will be more valuable in the future.

Conclusion

• Craig aims to open free primary schools in the future to provide quality education.
• Interview concluded with encouragement to check out Secure My Scholarship for financial assistance in higher education.

Additional Info

• Craig's company operates independently and is free for students to use, offering potential scholarship savings.