Life After College
Posted By: Elynor Moss on April 15, 2013 By Zeena Garnett I can remember it like it was yesterday. May of 2011, I proudly walked across the stage at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Forum Auditorium, to receive a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from Central Pennsylvania College. Finally all of my hard work had paid off; late nights studying, early morning cram sessions, noisy roommates—It was all worth it! Despite the ups and downs leading up to the event, it remains one of the proudest moments in my life. Graduating from college is a great accomplishment, especially if, like myself, you are one of the first in your family to do so. Fast forward a few months ahead. Instead of landing a job as a journalist, public relations specialist, social media coordinator or another fancy title within the communications field, I found myself as a team member at a fast food restaurant, juggling two jobs on and off. I didn’t understand how this could be! I had maintained good grades throughout my college career, even making Dean’s List on numerous occasions. I had established a good rapport among classmates and faculty members. There wasn’t a professor who wouldn’t give me an outstanding recommendation. I was active in campus activities, assuming the role as president of my school’s public relations club and the list goes on and on. It was mind boggling and discouraging that I found myself in this predicament. The very point of attending college was to get a degree that would allow me to have a career, not just a job, or so I thought. Out of all of the things that I learned in school, this was the one thing that college did not prepare me for. Confronting this adversity was a lesson I would only learn once out in the real world. Attending college does not guarantee you a job. What it does guarantee is for most people, an enormous amount of debt.. It is up to the individual with the potential and drive to land the job. The most important thing the graduate faced with this situation to do is to never give up on one’s dreams, no matter how dark or unpredictable even in unstable economic times. The job market is tough. Some graduates will go on and land a job through their internships, for others it might not end that way. What keeps me going is that I know all of my hard work was not in vain. There is an appointed time and place for everything. I know that when I am ready, God will bless me with the job of my dreams. Just think about it, parents don’t just hand you the car keys and say, “Here, drive.” They wait until the perfect moment when they know their child is mature enough, has passed all required road tests, obtained their drivers license and has had ample amount of time behind the wheel. Parents do this because if done too prematurely, it could end up in disaster instead of smooth sailing. Connect with Zeena Garrnett: http://hbcuconnect.com/cgi-bin/show_member... If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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