Weekly Web Roundup (10/30/16)

Photo Credit: Guitguit

Here are some interesting stories that I have noticed from around the web this past week:

6 Primary Life Patterns of a Mature Leader by Dan Reiland

"Maturity isn’t merely about age and experience. You can be young and mature, or older and immature. Maturity is an inner quality that resonates through all the components of a leader’s life. This doesn’t mean that a mature leader has “arrived.” We all have moments of immaturity, but it’s easy to identify the primary patterns of a mature leader."

Here's What the Average American Owes After College by Maurie Backman (The Motley Fool)

"So just how much does the average American owe post-college? Here are some key statistics on student debt, courtesy of Student Loan Hero: The average Class of 2016 graduate racked up just over $37,000 in student debt, up 6% from the previous year. The average 20- to 30-year old American's monthly student loan payment is $351. 43 million Americans collectively owe $1.3 trillion in student loans."

How Millions of Good People Can Vote Differently Than You Will by Conor Friedersdorf (The Atlantic)

"Imagine that you were conceived by different parents––that your very brain was shaped by different genes. Nine months later, you were born into a different household. Different people raised you, teaching you different values, both by word and example. They shared different religious beliefs with different intensity than your parents. And they instilled different loyalties, prejudices, and emotional ticks."

Where are all the White American NBA Players? by Marc J. Spears (The Undefeated)

"According to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, the NBA was 74.3 percent black during the 2015-16 season and 81.7 percent were people of color. The study said that the NBA was 18.3 percent white last season, which was 5 percent less than the season before. The league was also a record 22.3 percent international last season."

Powerful Photos from the Dakota Access Pipeline Protest as Cops Prepare to Make Arrests by Inae Oh (Mother Jones)

Protests in North Dakota continue as hundreds of demonstrators voice their disagreement with the Dakota Access Pipeline. Here are a number of photos capturing the demonstrators.

Guy dresses up as dog's favorite toy

A man decided to dress up as Gumby, a lifesize version of his dog's favorite toy. Here was the result was his dog saw him for the first time dressed up in the costume.

Debt Is On The Rise For College Graduates

Photo Credit: 401(K) 2012

From USA Today:

"It's the latest snapshot of the growing burden of student debt and it's another discouraging one: Two-thirds of the national college class of 2011 finished school with loan debt, and those who borrowed walked off the graduation stage owing on average $26,600 - up about 5% from the class before. 

The latest figures are calculated in a report out Thursday by the California-based Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) and likely underestimate the problem in some ways because they don't include most graduates of for-profit colleges, who typically borrow more than their counterparts elsewhere. 

Still, while 2011 college graduates faced an unemployment rate of 8.8% in 2011, even those with debt remained generally better off than those without a degree. The report emphasized research showing that the economic returns on college degrees remain, in general, strong. It noted the unemployment rate for those with only a high school credential last year was 19.1%. 

"In these tough times, a college degree is still your best bet for getting a job and decent pay," said TICAS President Lauren Asher. "But, as debt levels rise, fear of loans can prevent students from getting the education they need to succeed. Students and parents need to know that, even at similar looking schools, debt levels can be wildly different. And, if they do need to borrow to get through school, federal student loans, with options like income-based repayment, are the safest way to go."

To read the rest of the article please click here.