A View from: A Liberal Arts Job Seeker by Stacey Williamson ’00 would have considered that option, but given that even the Girl Scouts had abandoned this tactic, I thought that I could do better. I decided that maybe moving back to Palm Beach Gardens wasn’t the avenue for me. I resolved that I would move to a new city, and I chose Atlanta, Georgia, as my destination of choice. I started planning my trip, and realized, I don’t know anybody in Atlanta! That is where my ties with The Benjamin School really helped me. I went on the alumni website, and emailed everybody that was listed on that site who lived in Atlanta. I approximate that I emailed 15 people, and every single one emailed me back. I was stunned. I didn’t know any of these people, many of whom had graduated from Benjamin several years before I even entered high school. Yet, because of the bond that Members of the Class of 2000 RaeAnn Mitrione, Benjamin created, they were willing to help me in any endeavor I Stacey Williamson and Megan McLaughlin. wished. I felt like I could trust their judgments on everything from livfter graduating from college in the fall, I, like many of my ing conditions to job situations. I met a real estate agent who went to peers graduating across America, had absolutely no idea what Benjamin, who I knew I could trust to find the best apartment for the sort of vocation to turn to after receiving our respective best price. I even met with one alum for drinks who told me everydegrees. I graduated from Wofford College, a wonderful liberal arts thing I would ever need to know about living and finding jobs in school that is laden with southern charm. My degrees were in Art Atlanta. We talked about the good old days of Benjamin, reminiscing History and Government, a combination that usually raises some eyeabout our favorite teachers and memories. All of the alums I emailed brows. I can tell you all day long about atmospheric perspective or the proved to be the best resource for moving to a new city — far better political undertones of Homer’s The Iliad, yet I am still not quite sure than those websites I had been using. how to make double-sided copies, much less develop an investment In the end, I decided against Atlanta because I got a wonderful plan for retirement. However, a liberal job offer in Palm Beach Gardens at arts education is wonderful because it UBS Financial Services. I assist the shows you how to discover and learn a liberal arts education Senior Vice President with all client independently. I wouldn’t change my service issues and I am facilitating her is wonderful because it education for anything. I credit everymarketing campaign. It has been a lot thing to Benjamin and Wofford. I do fun, and besides learning so much shows you how to discover of have to admit, though, it makes the job regarding economics and my own savsearch challenging. Thank goodness ings plan for the future, (I would like and learn independently. millions of others are in my same posito retire as soon as possible!) I have I wouldn’t change my tion, and we will all gain job experience gotten to work with The Benjamin with time. School. I used my resources at education for anything. So off I went in search of fortune Benjamin to give my boss a unique after graduating from college. Of marketing opportunity to help parents I credit everything to course, I searched the usual websites pursue their college funding plans for Benjamin and Wofford. with job banks that have thousands of their children. I got to relive my years jobs listed, which lead you to believe at Benjamin, go to the BASH Fashion that finding a job isn’t so hard after all. Show, and introduce my boss to all of However, this imagination ends when those companies I had applied my old teachers and friends. This was a lot of fun for me. And yes, to started calling me for interviews. Even though my Benjamin eduI did eventually learn to make double-sided copies. cation had taught me to explore all options, I decided that some After much consideration, I have decided that I am going back stones were best left unturned. For instance, I highly doubt that my to graduate school for my master’s degree in mass communications education from Benjamin primed me for selling door to door, which and journalism. Those who know me, know that I have always had the company pitched to me as a “unique opportunity to personally something to say, so why not make it my profession? I feel really old involve yourself with prospects.” I had a distinct feeling that this knowing that my five-year reunion is coming up, but I can’t wait to probably would not lead to career growth. Perhaps in yesteryear I see what everyone else is up to!
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