So a new semester, and more broadly a new year, is finally upon us.
After a hopefully relaxing summer, students all over the world are easing back into the way of school. Some are recent high school graduates starting their college careers as freshmen, and some are starting their senior year, preparing for the prospects beyond higher education.
I would fall under the latter category. Starting in Fall of 2009, I will be graduating at the end of the spring semester of 2013, making me a college senior.
For me, it has gone by so fast. It seems like just yesterday I was having the jitters about starting college.
I felt unprepared, and wasn’t sure how everything would go. Looking at it from my current perspective, I’m not sure what I was so worried about.
Many of you reading this are probably seniors. Out of all the seniors, some of you would probably say that you don’t really feel much different. It’s just another year, another 12-21 credit course load to balance along with work and other extra-curricular activities on campus.
I think it’s a matter of perspective, though. If we were to go back and re-experience even a week of our perspective and attitude during freshman year, then suddenly be transported to where we are right now, many of us would notice the abrupt change.
I can only vaguely remember my feelings and emotions freshman year, but I can tell that the person I was back then and the person I am right now are two very different people.
It’s interesting how four years can completely change a person.
Speaking with a few seniors, I noticed that many of them are swamped with a variety of responsibilities.
Many are trying out new things, as they want to make sure they get the full college experience by the end of their college stay.
Others are struggling and striving to take all the classes they need to in order to graduate on time, or within their expected window.
Students in my major, Communication, are focusing on finding and securing an internship, as this is one of the stipulations of our major.
I’m sure many in other majors have responsibilities they have either put off until now, were unaware of a specific responsibility until now, or couldn’t actually accomplish a certain responsibility until now.
Whatever the case, it seems as though our senior year could be the most time-consuming and hectic year out of them all.
The main responsibility that seems, or in my opinion should be, on everybody’s minds is finding a job out of college. We always get conflicting reports on the state of the job market, and usually it falls in under one of two extremes: you’re going to have a really hard time finding a job, or, with the right qualifications, the right job will be a cinch to find.
I believe both of these perspectives lack the moderation and balance needed when handling such a daunting prospect. I’m not sure exactly what the situation will be in every major or case, but I believe it all boils down to what you have been doing over your college career to secure yourself employment. With extra-curricular activities, internships, high GPAs, and a diligent eye towards finding a career, we should be able to find the job we are looking for.
We’re all in the same boat. We want to finish out strong, we want to enjoy our last year of higher education, and we want to leave college with employment lined up so we can make a smooth transition into the working world.
I believe with enough work and dedication, these goals are well within our reach. So whether you transferred into Slippery Rock University your sophomore, junior, or senior year, or you went all four years, we’ll all be graduating from the same place.
Same with the different majors: you could have changed any of your years, or you could have stayed with the same major the entire time.
Once again, we will all be receiving a diploma from the same University. I know I’ve enjoyed my time at Slippery Rock University, and don’t regret my decision at all to get my higher education here. So this is my wish to all seniors out there: enjoy your time, work hard, prepare yourself for the future, and most important of all, remember everything you’ve done here, and the person you were at the beginning and the end.
You’ll be surprised as to how a simple four years can change you.
