Writing a farewell column is a lot harder than it seems. I am not sure I could write anything about my exit from college that will empower my fellow students, and maybe that’s for the better.
Many columns will list a few rules on how to make the most of your college experience, and that’s great. But it seems only skin-deep, and maybe that’s because we are all dancing around a too-honest truth.Â
There is a daunting future filled with uncertainties ahead of many graduates who are leaving college without a job. After you’ve taken off your cap and gown and answered the last of the phone calls from far-away family members, a question still hangs in the air: Now what? Â
This is usually the point where after all this build-up, I offer a solution to this problem, but I am still struggling to figure that out myself.Â
However, I can offer some solace.
I started working at The Daily Helmsman as a desperate reach for something to put on my résumé. The lavish life of a Copy Editor at a newspaper did not seem to fit my track as an English major. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to read and edit articles; I just preferred reading poems more.Â
Now, having worked here for about two years, I can say the job grew on me. I’ve watched new reporters blossom into competent writers and grown as a writer myself. Most importantly, I’ve learned a newfound passion for helping people learn how to write. Appreciating the art of honing a craft has led me to consider different avenues I could take into my hunt for a career.Â
At the risk of sounding sappy, I wanted to write this to ease the anxiety of any graduating seniors in my position. The road may look tough ahead, but being open and receptive to opportunities that seem a bit beyond your comfort zone can have positive outcomes, like employment.Â
This doesn’t erase the barrage of question marks at the end of the graduation stage, but there is some comfort in my flexibility and willingness.
So cheers to our 2019 graduates and the comfort zones we are leaving behind. See you May 4!
