PARENT & FA MILY NE WSLE T T E R
Volume XI, Issue O ne
Supporting Students in Finding their Passion
Armando Contreras, SSHA Academic Advisor
How do you prepare for success after graduation? This question is the cause for much anxiety and stress among the students we interact with in our advising office. This anxiety can lead to the desire to add a second major or even multiple minors, thereby perpetuating the myth that a student’s courses and choice of major must relate directly to a specific career or job after college. Recent data demonstrate that college graduates must be flexible and open to taking positions outside of their area of study. Branching out in unexpected directions is common after graduation. Although a college education does provide an advantage in the job market, it is the flexibility
and willingness to explore many options that will help your student identify career choices that fit his or her interests.
Although lists of “hot” majors for the job market are easy to find on the internet, a student’s major doesn’t create a direct path to a job
after college. According to recent national surveys of employers who hire college graduates, a job candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than the undergraduate major (Grasz, J. 2013. One-Third of College-Educated Workers Do Not Work in Occupations Related to Their College Major; Hart Research Associates. 2013. It Takes More Than a Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success. Hart Research Associates, Washington, DC). Employers also seek candidates who demonstrate capacity for continued learning, can work effectively with others, and demonstrate ethical judgment and integrity. All of these skills, knowledge, and values are important outcomes of college, regardless of what major a student chooses. If a student focuses only on his or her major and neglects these other outcomes, he or she is at a disadvantage in work and life after college. As academic advisors we find this same disconnect between students’ choices continued on page 4
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REACHING OUR ACADEMIC GOALS When I was a high school student, I became aware of the University in my hometown, and since then, it is a school that has been close to my heart. As a college freshman, I would interact with different students, faculty, and staff members, all while realizing that this University is a hidden gem. The atmosphere here is incredibly friendly, our faculty and staff are extremely helpful, and as a bonus, our campus is state-of-the-art with amazing facilities. I have had the pleasure of working for the Library’s Administration Department since the start of my freshman year and the experiences I have gained in over the past two years are those that I will use in my future, but they also have made me grateful to be a part of the UC Merced family. As a part of the Library team, I can definitely say that our student assistants and staff are dedicated to improving everyone’s experience here by answering a variety of questions and providing the best customer service around. Our Librarians are always happy to help students that need assistance with developing research questions and finding information. Recently, the Library welcomed Mr. Haipeng Li as University Librarian. His addition to the Library will ensure the Library grows as part of the campus’ 2020 Project. Additionally, the Library is the social hub on campus because it allows cohorts of college students to study, have meetings, and collaborate, all while being able to enjoy simple things like having a meal or socializing. UC Merced’s Library has allowed me and other students to reach our academic goals. Maria Higareda-Marquez