Page 3 - April 23, 2015
The Blue & White Flash
Opinion
“What are some challenges you expect to face when you graduate college?”
Compiled by Reese Tornes
Avery Allen Senior Computer Engineering Killeen, Texas
“Stepping into an undiverse work environment plus trying to see the transition from the theory taught in class to the real applications in work.”
Clincy Harris Senior Social Science Education Jackson, Miss.
“The good and bad experiences I faced here physically and mentally at JSU will make me a selfsufficient and successful African American male in the workforce.”
Cordarius Hill Senior Speech Communication Memphis, Tenn.
“I except to face turn downs from job opportunities and learn from the experiences. Also to be prepared for the real world.”
Cartoon: Reese Tornes
Life After College ain’t no crystal stair Demonte Rule Senior Mass Communication Atlanta, Ga.
“Trying to find a good career to establish in and moving out of the state to start a new life.Also to try and maintain confidence to stay positive.”
Denzel Thompson Senior Biology Jackson, Miss.
“Being in a PT Program and doing grad school.”
Jazmyn Hunter Senior Psychology Goodyear, Ariz.
COMMENTARY
“I expect to compete with PWI degrees since I am going back west after graduating.”
Mark Braboy Associate Editor
Jessica Gilbert Senior Biology Pre- Med Monroe, La.
“The transition from just being an undergrad to a graduate then going to medical school.”
Nick Allen Senior Accounting Killeen, Texas “Finding a job that I actually like and being successful and truly happy.”
Kendrea Millbrooks Senior Vocal Performance Olive Branch, Miss.
“To work a year before returning to grad school.”
Alonzo Jackson Senior Biology Secondary Edu. Jackson, Miss.
“I’m ready for actually full fledged adulthood. I’m looking for the world to be my oyster and have a career instead of just a job.”
Piere Crawford Senior Interdisciplinary Studies Utah, Ala. “Getting a job the reason cause, I am in a major that I didn’t want to take.”
Tiara Perkin Senior Social Work Moorhaven, Fla
“Basically, just looking for employment and debating if I should stay in Jackson or return to South Florida as far as graduate school.”
The first few months after graduating college can be a long and grueling experience. How much you have prepared up until now can determine just how rough the beginning of your new stage of life will be, but nevertheless it’s a rough experience. The post graduation stories I hear from many of my friends who graduated from Jackson State usually range from relatively positive to flat out nightmares. And when I say “post-graduation” I mean about three to twelve months after graduation. In a best case scenario, some of my friends have hit the ground running. They are about to start their careers with either a job or internship right after graduation and then begin graduate school
later that year. Either that, or they are about to receive a promotion after they have received their degree. In a worse case scenario, some of my friends are not even working at all. In fact, some are having a hard time finding regular jobs, hearing either that they don’t have adequate experience or that they’re overqualified. To me, hearing stuff like that is more frustrating and somewhat demoralizing than being told that you don’t qualify at all. None of this is as black and white as it is often portrayed to be. When Sallie Mae (Navient) sends you that first email about making plans to pay your student loan, life starts to get real. No matter how well you do in school and despite the book knowledge you have acquired, nothing can really cushion you from the hard fall of life. Sometimes life just doesn’t always go as planned. For example, a friend of mine had an internship that led to a job with one of the biggest corporations in the world. Later on, he was laid off and at the same time, he wound up homeless and for some time. He was living in his car and had hit rock
bottom. Even looking at the current market today, it is very hard for recent college graduates to find jobs, whether it’s in their field or otherwise and it has been this way for some time now, especially if you are a Liberal Arts major. It all boils down to the fact that life just doesn’t always work out the way you want it to. The first months after graduating from college are a crash course in being able to survive in the real world. It is also a lesson to show that the struggle is only a period before the shining rays of success beam down. No matter what your circumstances are, you have to keep working hard. If you didn’t get that internship or job you dreamed about, regroup and keep grinding. If you did, then work harder. As long as you have a vision and can maneuver through the roadblocks of life, then you can survive the rough and winding road of post graduation.
The views expressed in the commentary are those of the writer(s) and in no way represent the views of The Blue & White Flash.