Flyer

Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Health

Media Credit: UKStudentSecrets.com

For some of us, graduation is impatiently knocking at the door as we are completing the final tasks of college.

We are preparing for the moment that we have anxiously been waiting for ever since we first stepped foot on campus-to walk down the aisle and receive our coveted Bachelor's Degree on Sunday, May 17.

Despite anticipating this moment for years, many of us have developed ambiguous feelings. School has been a part of our lives for, roughly, the past 17 years. We thought we'd be joyous to see the day in which we have conquered a college education. After all, a college education allows us to enter the real world and act fully as "adults."

Isn't this all we ever wanted? Think back to your childhood and teen years…

I'm sure that most of us anticipated our birthdays and becoming another year older. At first, it felt as if age 16 would never come-when you longed to receive your driver's license more than anything else in this life. After 16, it was the five year "long haul" to 21-the age to legally drink.

After 21, the thrill of birthdays slowly begins to disappear for many of us. At 21, we are adults; however, many of us are still attending school. Thus, we are still living under our parents' roofs and clinging on to the last bit of ground before we truly enter "the real world."

Graduation is a bittersweet time. We receive our diploma, our ticket into the real world. Furthermore, our diplomas symbolize an accumulation of four (or more) years of hard work. A diploma is something in which we should be proud of. It allows us to finally begin our careers and move out from mommy and daddy's roof.

However, this idea is scary to some individuals. For many, college was a fun time-the last "big hurrah" before reality sets in. Many individuals do not want to let go of this time period, but we must face the facts-it is time.

We worked hard, and as scary as it might be, we are embarking upon a new chapter in our lives. This next chapter is the "unknown." Yes, the unknown can be a bit intimidating, but we need to make the best of it.

We need to tackle the future. Now is the time for us, the graduates, to start preparing for our futures. Take the following steps to ensure success in "the real world:"

1) Create a resume. It is easiest to use a template off Microsoft Office.

2) Visit Career Services on campus. Career Services will help proof read your resume. In addition, they will help make suggestions to make you stand out in comparison to other applicants.

3) Begin searching job posting sites. Use the "major" job sites, such as Career Builder and Monster. However, ChicagoJobs.com offers several great local positions. Oodle.com is also a useful tool. This job search site will combine listings from several Internet job posting sites.

4) Be prepared for your interview. Be well-prepared for the company in which you are applying for. Perform internet research to become well acquainted with the company and the company's history. If you have "interview jitters," visit Career Services. Career Services will conduct a mock interview and give you tips to succeed.

5) Dress to impress. If you don't own a suit. Go out and buy one. An employer is not going to hire you if you don't look the part.

Entering the "real world" doesn't have to be scary. It's all in what you make of it. Stay confident, and stay on top of your game. If you follow these tips, it is less likely that life after college will be scary and "the unknown."

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