Danielle Rennard
Culture Editor
With graduation approaching I cannot help but feel a mixture of pure panic, along with sheer excitement for what the future has in store.
Do I have any idea what I’m going to end up doing with my life? Absolutely not–and originally this really concerned me. However, I’ve finally come to realize that it’s best to come up with multiple plans and see which falls into place down the road.
Throughout college, the concept that after you graduate you must immediately start searching for a job to begin your life-long career has been implanted into my mind. However, I’d constantly be thinking, ‘what about traveling?’ And, what if I feel like I’m not ready to jump into a career that I’ll most likely be invested in for the rest of my life? So, since this is my final semester here I started looking into options that seem both plausible and not too ridiculous.
First, I applied to be on the show Survivor on CBS. Originally, I thought it would be a terrible idea to graduate from college and then go on this television show, because how would that benefit my career path at all? Going to an island with strangers and seeing if I can survive while a camera crew is filming us slowly losing our minds doesn’t seem to have much to do with graphic design or advertising. But, the more I thought about it, I realized that I’ve always enjoyed challenging myself and joked about being on this show since I was 12 years old. Plus, previous contestants have gotten job opportunities just from being on television, and there is also the slim chance of winning a million dollars. So, I went for it.
Next, I looked up job opportunities abroad. I certainly have the travel bug and figured I’d try to live somewhere abroad and travel while also getting paid. The great thing about this is that I could get a job in the field I am interested in and get experience that will standout when I apply for a job once I’m back in the states. There are a vast amount of excellent programs, mainly called ‘gap year plans,’ that provide guidance and assistance for getting a job for up to a year abroad and finding a place to live.
Lastly, I started applying for graphic design and advertising positions in New York. It’s always a good idea to have a back up plan and there’s the possibility that after I walk across that stage and receive my diploma I might just want some time to figure things out and stay home for a bit.
With all the possibilities of starting a new chapter in my life I certainly feel more confident about the future due to my backup plans.
So whether it’s your first year here at SUNY Oneonta or your last semester, cherish the memories you make and don’t stress too much about the future. It’s always a good idea to have a backup plan in case things do fall through, but there are always multiple options. It’s your life, so do what you love.
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