Lone Star Lutheran

Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Features

Media Credit: Google Images

So, you graduated. What a spectacular milestone you have reached. For some of you, you are the first in your family to graduate college; you are making history. Now what? What's next in line as you step out of afternoon naps, talk shows and into the real world? Where will your unique path lead you next?

For some of you, a job and more money is on the horizon. You're tired of being a broke college kid, and all you want to do is make some money, live an apartment and buy a car. However, will 2010's job market be as dull as 2009's? Will searching for a job be harder than the past four years you worked your tail off to obtain your degree?

Kimberly Watts, Director of Career Development, advises students to be proud of what you have accomplished thus far in your life and to not sell yourself short when looking for a job.

"I find often times that students discount the experiences they do have," Watts said. "For example, they'll say I haven't had a 'real' job. I hate that phrase. Every job is a real job. Whether
it's work-study, whether it's being a resident assistant, whether it's being a reporter for the student newspaper or whether you've had an internship for credit, it's what you make of it. So I would encourage people to not discount the experiences they do have because often times you have more experience than you realize."

For those of you who aren't quite ready to give up your wonderful life and the homework that comes with it, your next stop is at the front of a new school, a graduate school. What do you plan on doing? And how hard is it to find the "right" graduate school for you with so many choices?

For the rest of you, joining the military is your dream. Maybe you already know what you would like to pursue and maybe you don't. For some, the idea of going in and immediately being recognized for the hard work you put in to obtain your degree is exalting and something you deserve. You dream of achieving
excellence and, to you, excellence is red, white and blue.

If you're just confused about the direction your life is heading, it's okay. A normal person would get a little confused thinking about their career, where they're going to live and what their finances might be like. The question, "What are you going to do now?" will turn into your least favorite phrase and, eventually, selective hearing will take over and you'll no longer comprehend the words.

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