So earlier this week my seniors had a bit of a meltdown. They're graduating soon, you see, and that carries big implications. As one of them put it, so sadly and sweet, "Don't you think I'm sad for having four years of college and still not knowing what's next?"
No, obviously, I don't. I've got a lot more education than that, and a quick scroll through the rantings here will let you know that I don't know quite what's next.
But how nice that they thought I would know - that they'd actually ask for a day of class to talk about these things. And of course, I'm going to give it to them. I'm pretty sure at this point they've earned the right to demand my perspective now and then. The hitch in the matter is the question they've asked is so big, I'm not quite sure what to tell them. In finest academic form (here's what I've learned from my work on University committees), since I don't know what to tell them, I've put off the discussion.
But what I'm hoping is that some of you able-bodied, employed readers will step up with some practical advice to offer my poor, stressed, soon to be grown up monkeys. Looking back at that moment before you were kicked out into student loan debt and nine-to-fives and what-not, what do you wish someone would have said to you? What strategies worked and what didn't?
My emotions around work
2 days ago
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3 Responses to “Doctor, doctor, give me the news...”
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I don't think anyone ever really knows what's next.
October 2, 2007 at 11:30 PMWhy not have a panel of people come in and talk about their post-college experiences, mistakes, etc? Personally, I'd love to warn them about credit cards!
I tell them that their education here has gotten them ready to start learning at a real job. And to expect to feel like an idiot the first year. And that their boss is not likely to give them lots of positive feedback like a professor will.
October 9, 2007 at 9:19 AMGood advice from both of you - and MommyProf, thanks for stopping in; hope you'll stay awhile.
October 9, 2007 at 1:20 PMI've had the class sending questions to help me focus what to talk with them about, and I have to mention this one here because it made me laugh, but I can't laugh when I talk about it.
So filed under, If Only It Were True, one student asks:
Is it true that if one goes on to graduate school, a job is right after is
guaranteed?
It should make for an interesting class if this is part of where we're starting from. The discussion will happen on Thursday, so I'm sure I'll be talking about it.
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