Monday, March 26, 2007 Baumgart: The March Hype By Elisabeth Baumgart Ink blots
MARCH usually means three things to every young adult: the dreaded finals– which entails cramming sessions, accomplishing final requirements, clearances and projects; the onset summer vacation–which creates a huge hype among the youth, spending way too much on beach stuff (i.e. Speedos!) and daydreaming of the beach while in class; and every senior’s favorite–graduation, which on one hand means liberation from the clutches of academics and on the other hand, means stepping into the corporate world and earning your own money.
To many, March means the end of one stressful school year. It symbolizes the end of the piles of homework, projects and clearances. It certainly means the end of teachers following you everywhere, professors breathing down your neck and classmates harassing you about the group project. To others, it means the beginning of the so called “real world”, where they swap their school uniforms and school bags for carry-on cases and corporate attires. The ceremonial receiving of the diploma also means picking up the classified ads and looking for a job.
This year, another batch of fresh graduates joins the list of the employed and unemployed. Lucky are those who graduate with jobs already waiting outside the school gates. The pressure is now on for those grads who have yet to find a job.
Finding the right kind of job these days can be tough. It’s even more difficult trying to find a job that’s in the line of one’s degree. One has to get lucky to actually land a job that’s somewhat related the degree he or she has earned.
Graduating is a rather big step for anybody, I think. Even more so when one graduates from college. It’s certainly more than just finishing school and becoming a degree holder.
It’s about getting a job and earning a living. It’s about independence and responsibilities.
Ultimately, it’s about growing up, and (gasp!) becoming an adult.
Help me; I think I just had an aneurism.
March certainly brings us a lot of things. And when you thought that December was a heavy holiday, think again! Behind all the fun and games, sunscreen, tanned boys and girls and diplomas, there’s a deeper side to March!
As seniors all over the nation graduate and free themselves from the bony clutches of academics and fire-breathing professors, they deserve a round of applause for having survived all those years in the educational system.
Congratulations to all the graduates and happy job hunting!
