As graduation looms, University of Memphis seniors are planning for their first summer with a degree. Students’ post-graduation plans range from trips to work to moving.
Irene Bailey is moving after she gets her diploma. Bailey is not moving down the road or even to a new city, however. Instead, she is heading south to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.
Bailey’s first experience in Costa Rica came when she participated in The U of M’s study abroad program. She has been back four times since then, including last year when she took a semester off and stayed with four other women.
After graduating with a geography major and photography minor, Bailey plans to move to Costa Rica to work as a photographer in the tourism business. In July, she is planning a trip to Cuba.
“I’m very excited,” she said. “I’m ready to be done with school and move on to work and play.”
Kai Oliver Werther is planning a much different summer. Werther is an international student from Germany. He plans to return there at semester’s end.
In Germany, students do not graduate with a bachelor’s degree for the most part. Instead, they go on to earn a master’s — two more years worth of classes.
Werther, who is both a student and a teacher at The U of M, will go straight into more class work on his return to the Universitat Eichstaett.
He said he would probably continue his education until he earns a doctoral degree, giving him status in Germany.
This semester, however, Werther will be behind in his classes. German universities have two semesters, and the most current semester began Monday.
Christina Hillhouse, a nursing major, is entering the world of work when she graduates.
She has been interviewing at Baptist Medical Center and hopes to work in their intensive care unit.
Since she did all of her nursing clinicals and hospital care education at Baptist, Hillhouse understands the hospital’s policy, making it easier for her to slip into a working role there.
Hillhouse, a member of Sigma Kappa, wants to return to school later to earn a master’s degree in anesthesia.
Otherwise, she plans to return home to Lawrenceburg, Tenn., to visit her family this summer.
“Maybe I’ll see if some of my sorority sisters want to hang out,” she said. “Maybe go on a road trip.”
