Post College Community

When I graduated from college in 2009, the economy was slowly spiraling downwards. Well, I guess not so slowly. After a year of the so called "real world" I decided to share some insight with those college students who would soon be joining the struggling work force. I recently came across the article I had written for the student paper of my alma mater, and although it was never published (for reasons unrelated to content) I wanted to give it some light.  It hasn't been edited or changed since it was written almost three years ago.

So, here is a view of life from the perspective of a recent college graduate in 2010. Hopefully it will help those who are struggling to adjust to life after college and give those shortly facing the same challenge a leg up.

I’d like to start by saying that worry is a wasteful habit. However, habits are not easily broken. Perhaps the most important lesson that I learned during my time at this wonderful institution of higher education, is one that has little to do with books or professors. Life is unpredictable. The pattern of events, the sequence of time that will define our existence is impossible to determine. But have no fear, it is also largely under our own control. Hard work, honesty, and perseverance will almost always allow us to attain our goals. More on that later. Let’s take a little journey through the months surrounding graduation from Saint Anselm College, shall we?      

One year ago, as a senior, I was spending my days as an intern for the United States Probation department, and my nights searching for and applying to job openings (okay a few nights here and there). From that effort the only promising interview that I was able to secure wasn’t found on careerbuilder or craigslist, though. A friend suggested I visit the website for a youth home and apply for a position (she will probably still try to take full credit for my job offer there). Time sped by without so much as a pause and before I could even wave to say hello, it was time to say goodbye. After all the laughs and tears of leaving St. A’s in a black cap and gown with a rolled up piece of paper in my hand, the reality of graduating in the midst of the worst economic downturn since the great depression began to set in. It hit pretty hard right around mid July, when the job offer I had received was repealed due to a “hiring freeze”. Almost three months of job searching lost in a two minute phone conversation. So, what to do?     

Between days working part time for my father’s tree care company I was spending tedious hours searching for jobs related to my criminal justice degree (which is still rolled up on my bookshelf, but Father Jonathan I promise I plan to buy a nice frame for it). A few interviews later, I was offered another job. I wish I could tell you that I am now happily employed, working within my desired field toward a comfortable future. However, I am currently a Field Support Representative for Ikon Office Solutions (a supplier of copy machines). Such is life, however, and I am thankful that I have steady employment and the opportunity to gain some work experience. 

Back to that important lesson I spoke of before. Lets say that I were to jump into the DeLorean time machine with Doc Brown, set the time circuits to April of 2009, gun it to 88 mph, knock on the door of D2 and tell my past self what I would be doing in a year. Now I know that theoretically the universe would be destroyed (sorry, if you’ve never seen Back to the Future you won’t understand this elaborate reference), but getting back to the point, I would have thought that future me was fit for a straitjacket. Most days at the end of my college career I worried about what I would do for a living. What did I want to do? I had only small inclinations (even now I am less than confidently clear about what I would rather be doing). I worried about comps, I worried about writing my thesis sized internship paper, I worried about finding a job, I worried about moving back home. But you know what, all those things came and passed. I worked hard and prepared myself for these inevitable happenings and I realized that worrying about them is useless. I had a quality education, a supportive entourage of family and friends, and an open minded determination.

Now maybe you're thinking, why should I listen to this kid who couldn’t even get a job in his field? Well you would certainly have a valid point (even though I’m working on that), but I’d still like to offer some insight to you seniors who may be able to relate to my message.

First, stop worrying about jobs and apartments and bills and loan payments. Those things will all show their ugly faces soon enough. All you can do is be prepared.

Second, don’t put a label on your future. Expectations are made to be broken and they probably will be. Most of mine were shot after about a month in the “real world”. Now, I’m not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing. I’m just saying that you should be ready to roll with the punches and adjust to change. This flexibility will be a huge asset which will put you miles ahead of your competition in any field, and it will also allow you to pounce on opportunity when it presents itself.

Third, be ambitious but not foolish. Most of us need to find a happy medium between settling for something that is too far below our abilities and only reaching for our dream job. There is nothing wrong with living off mom’s cooking for a while (I definitely miss momma L’s Shephard's Pie when I’m eating a grilled cheese sandwich in my apartment).

A few weeks ago I found myself back in a state of worry. I was worried about females (go ahead and laugh), I was worried about bills, I was worried about hating my job, etc. It’s definitely tough to break this habit, but I have found that life is a journey most worth taking when you don’t worry about the ride. As long as you’re prepared. So, fill up the tank, charge the iPod, check the oil, and say a prayer.

           Saint Anselm College was the best decision I have ever made, it’s a spiritual place that can never really be duplicated. Last words of wisdom: enjoy the rest of the year. Take pictures, go on cruises and drink (water) outside with some polish horseshoes. Drag your cheap uppers couch outside and soak in every second of it. Oh, and don’t worry (not sure if I said that yet), life after SAC isn’t so bad.