College Grads
Converse and commiserate with other newly minted adults.
Young Entrepreneur Status
The biggest change of my life all started during the first semester of my graduate program in Psychology of Counseling. Since the beginning of high school, I was told that my kind personality and ability to listen to others would be ideal qualities for a therapist and that I would one day succeed in the field of psychology. After four years of mindless following towards my future, I moved three hours away to get in the best psychology undergraduate program in the state and went through four years of debt to achieve a degree (which I still have not been able to pay off!). Although I found my program intriguing, I still felt as though I was missing something in life.
By Kendra King9 years ago in Journal
The Famous Question For Any University Graduate: What Now?
So, you finally did it. After years of sleep deprivation, self-induced panic attacks due to deadlines looming over you, and the literal gallons of caffeine that you consumed have finally helped you reach the peak of your higher education: graduation. As you catch yourself for a brief moment in the mirror on that final day, regardless of what grade you earned, you can smile at yourself and think, "Yes! After all this time, my work has finally paid off!" You arrive at the venue, walk up that stage the minute your name is called, you collect your certificate, you shake hands with someone important, and just like that, all those years, that crucial chapter of your life, has finally come to a close. And now you're here, waiting to start the next chapter with a broad mindset and all doors open to you.
By Nyisha Colquhoun9 years ago in Journal
A Flight Risk?
If the answer to this question for you, is "yes, duh", please let me explain. A little background first. I'm a late-twenties woman who is still trying to figure life out (I know, no one is supposed to have all the answers). I went to college, graduated in 2013 with my Bachelor's in Law/Justice and held my fair share of crappy jobs like serving, cashier, retail, you name it after graduating. However, I still live at home, never had a full-salaried-401k-2-weeks-paid-vacation job. You're probably thinking that I'm a whiny, ungrateful, self-absorbed person for even thinking that I should have all of those things I mentioned. You want to know the truth? I haven't exactly earned all of those things just yet because I haven't been somewhere long enough to be able to earn all of those things. There's no shoe that's been the right fit, no porridge that has been exactly right, there's been no easy way into the field I chose to study all those years ago. And that's what is so incredibly daunting and humiliating for me. I paid how much to get this degree and still haven't been successful in finding a career? Why is it that I can't seem to feel happy about the choices I've made so far? All I've done is get stuck in this black hole that I can't seem to get out of.
By Erin Leahy9 years ago in Journal
I'm Stuck
I'm 18 years old and just finished at Sixth Form (Senior Year). It's been around three months now and most of my friends are attending University. I also was going to attend University but changed my mind and decided I didn't want to sit in lectures, make notes and then be examined on those notes later on. I feel like I'm at a place where I just don't know what to do.
By Nabeela Pathan9 years ago in Journal
Escaping My Dream Job
October 8, Wilmington, NC—I had just finished my freshman year with a double major in International Studies and Political Science when I was offered an unpaid internship to work for a non-profit on Capitol Hill. My transportation was covered. I would be flying. My living arrangements were covered. I would live with a roommate, one block from the Washington, DC capitol building. This was where I wanted to spend my summer, so as according to Politico, I joined the other 20,000 interns packing their suitcases. I had landed my dream job at the age of eighteen.
By Mackenzie Watson9 years ago in Journal
Simple First Job Interview Tips for College Grads
Having a great resume doesn't mean you'll get the job, especially if you tank the interview. No matter how great of a job you do filling out the application, no matter how much interest in the position you express, it's all for nothing if you show up and have the personality of a cadaver. Now, you don't have to be Richard Pryor, but it would go a long way toward landing the job if you came across as somebody other people would want to be around.
By Joseph Farley9 years ago in Journal
How To Succeed In A Business Environment As A Young Person
As a student, finding a summer job to earn money for the upcoming school year can be a troublesome task. Many students stick to jobs that are traditional "student" jobs, such as working at coffee shops, fast food restaurants, or at a camp. While these jobs are of course fine for thousands of students, I had the absolute pleasure of working with a fantastic Toronto-based company, which I will leave nameless as these steps can apply to a variety of business-type jobs. Here's how I had fun learning, meeting amazing people, and saving to pay for University while doing it.
By Justin Tavares9 years ago in Journal
You Can Be Anything You Want to Be
My parents always had a plan for me. They've been saving since I was just a tiny girl with barely any brain cells, that I was going to graduate with honors, attend post secondary shortly after, and then finally bring home the big bucks. They made it very clear from a young age that I am capable of anything I put my mind to, that I can be whoever I dream of being. Thankfully, I did graduate with honors, I worked my ass off to be able to have multiple options in career paths and make everybody who loved me proud. I thought that was good enough. However, their dreams extended my own. My cousin is a chartered accountant, very good looking girl with her head on her shoulders, big house, no kids, and a successful husband. One day, after taking a year off school to work full-time and save some money (I saved a lot) my parents sat me down and told me I need to hurry up and go to college, that I'm "wasting precious time." Tired of hearing it, I decided I would walk in my cousins footsteps and get a degree in Business. I was rushed into the decision, and there was no turning back once it absorbed into my parents head. Now, I'm not saying that I didn't want to go to school, I very much did, I hoped for a career that I could brag about and be comfortable with financially. I did enjoy the thought of being a business women. However, this is coming from the girl who flunked grade ten math, and I thought it would be a good idea to be an accountant...yeah, right. Anyways, I get accepted for school, my parents are on top of the world, and I kinda am to. Yay me, I got accepted, life was going to come together. Then it all sunk in, four years of being broke and attending school for something I don't even have a passion for. I wanted to work in education, less money but more desirable, for me. I hinted to my mom that I wanted to become a teacher just shortly after she purchased my thousand dollars worth of business textbooks; she basically turned her head the other direction. Apparently that idea was a bust and was to be forgotten. School starts, I'm getting A's, and I'm proud, but I am anything but happy. Accounting class comes, and it is the WORST thing to sit through. You know when you kinda just have to listen to someone ramble on for hours about something you really just don't care about and nod your head like you understand? Ya that was me, and I planned on being the accountant. I dropped out of school four weeks into the program. I felt lazy, stupid, and selfish for doing so. But why? Because I let my parents down? My dad was ridiculously rude about it, passing passive aggressive comments my way every chance he got. I wasn't useful, and I better find a rich husband, according to him. I did not deserve to feel bad over my own life choices. I must admit, I did want to go to school, I didn't want to sit at home and work some shitty retail job for the rest of my being, I just didn't want to do something that didn't make me happy. Don't get me wrong, a business degree is an amazing thing to achieve, and I would love to have achieved it, but why waste my time. I quickly applied for the education program, and I got accepted for the Winter 2018 term. My heart is warm knowing that I get to do something I have a passion for, I'm quite content and humble now knowing that this is what I get to do with my life. My parents aren't the most impressed with my choice, but I refuse to let others dictate my future. I'm grateful for all they've done for me in regards to pushing me to be my best, but they have no right to tell me what is and what isn't going to happen for me. My career choice may not make me rich, but it will fulfill me with joy that other jobs cannot provide me. Of course I know money is an important factor in all things, but money will never mean everything. Do not let anybody tell you what's best for you, figure it out all on your own and pave your own path to success, whatever success may mean to you. Whether it be to travel, start a family, or to just live day-by-day and figure it out from there, do exactly how you see fit.
By kelsey newhook9 years ago in Journal
