I want to wish all of the seniors graduating this semester good luck in the next stage of our lives.  I think many of us have benefited from taking L.A. 200 and the guest speakers we had the priviledge of listening to, definitely provided us with some useful tips and lessons that may help us in our lives.  I know there are seniors graduating with jobs in the class and I want to wish you good luck, and I hope you are doing something you enjoy doing. To all those who are searching for a job, there is something out there for all of us, we just need to cross the right bridges to get where we want to go.  I know I will take some of the stuff I learned this semester in this class with me to the next phase of my life and possibly as long as I am working.  Again, good luck to all the seniors!

When I first showed up at 104 Keller in February, I did not know what to expect.  All I knew was that I needed this class to graduate and they were experimenting with a new format.  The first day, I was a bit skeptical.  I was not sure how interesting or relevant any of the information was going to be.  Today, I am happy to say that I was wrong.

 

To my surprise, all of the presentations turned out to be well organized and interesting.  The hosts did fantastic jobs introducing the guests and keeping the show flowing.  The teams did an incredible job researching each guest and providing accompanying industry and company profiles.   The essays that I read were very informative and appeared very professional.  My fellow bloggers did a great job of bringing up issues for discussion and offering advice to the rest of the class. 

 

Basically, I cannot say enough good things about this class.  I regret to admit that I missed a few classes.  Not only do I regret this because I will receive a lower grade, but I actually regret missing the presentations that my peers worked so very hard on.  In closing, I hope that this class continues to be offered in this format for many years to come.  I have never been a part of a class that incorporated so many different roles into one well oiled machine.  Congratulations to Jack Selzer and Jon Belk for a job well done.  Also, congratulations to all of my classmates for completing their tasks in such an impressive manner.  Finally, congratulations to all of the graduating seniors who are moving on to the real world. 

Tom Giotto earned a scholarship as a defensive back on the Penn State football team.  However, this is not the reason that we know who he is today.  I do not know how many student athletes are enrolled in this class, but I assume there must be some.  Long ago, I came to terms with the fact that my athletic career has ended.  If I was a student athlete, I would look at Tom Giotto as a reminder that there is life after sports.  At this point in time, it may seem as though nothing is as important as your sport.  Mr. Giotto even admitted that he did not take his academics as seriously as he would have liked during his time as a student athlete.  According to a recent NCAA study, less than 2% of collegiate student athletes make the transition to the professional level.  This statistic in itself should be a motivating force.  The odds of making it to the next level are stacked against you. Therefore, it is very important to keep your future in mind.  Even top prospects are not guaranteed to have a professional career because there are so many variables that could affect the final outcome.  If you are a scholarship athlete it is imperative that you do not waste the opportunity that has been given to you.  Or, should I say, you have earned.  Take the time to learn the information and develop the skills that will help you succeed off of the field, court, rink, or track.   

While listening to Dan Cwenar speak about his experiences, a question popped into my mind.  Is it better to enter graduate school right away, or does it make more sense to work for a few years first?  Many of our classmates are likely in the process of making this decision.  Personally, I have decided to test the waters of the job market before applying to graduate school. 

 

There are several reasons for going straight to graduate school after earning your bachelors degree.  First of all, we are used to being students.  We have been fine tuning our studying skills for several years and have momentum on our side.  For the most part, we have few real obligations.  Most of us do not have spouses, children, or anyone else depending on us.  Many of us may simply have our eyes on positions that require an advanced degree.  In this case, it is a question of whether or not the experience gained from working is worth the time spent away from higher education.

 

On the other hand, there are several reasons for working for a few years before going to graduate school.  Some of us may not have formed specific career goals.  In this case, you can get to better know you career goals by working in the field for a few years.  Another common reason is poor grades; some of us did not perform as well academically as we would have like.  Often times, work experience will increase your chances of being accepted to graduate programs.  Many people accept positions with companies that are willing to pay for graduate school.  Also, some graduate programs require work experience, making this decision an easy one.

 

Whatever reasoning you use, the decision whether or not to attend graduate school right away is ultimately up to you.    

While listening to Dan Cwenar speak about his experiences, a question popped into my mind.  Is it better to enter graduate school right away, or does it make more sense to work for a few years first?  Many of our classmates are likely in the process of making this decision.  Personally, I have decided to test the waters of the job market before applying to graduate school. 

 

There are several reasons for going straight to graduate school after earning your bachelors degree.  First of all, we are used to being students.  We have been fine tuning our studying skills for several years and have momentum on our side.  For the most part, we have few real obligations.  Most of us do not have spouses, children, or anyone else depending on us.  Many of us may simply have our eyes on positions that require an advanced degree.  In this case, it is a question of whether or not the experience gained from working is worth the time spent away from higher education.

 

On the other hand, there are several reasons for working for a few years before going to graduate school.  Some of us may not have formed specific career goals.  In this case, you can get to better know you career goals by working in the field for a few years.  Another common reason is poor grades; some of us did not perform as well academically as we would have like.  Often times, work experience will increase your chances of being accepted to graduate programs.  Many people accept positions with companies that are willing to pay for graduate school.  Also, some graduate programs require work experience, making this decision an easy one.

 

Whatever reasoning you use, the decision whether or not to attend graduate school right away is ultimately up to you.    

While listening to Dan Cwenar speak about his experiences, a question popped into my mind.  Is it better to enter graduate school right away, or does it make more sense to work for a few years first?  Many of our classmates are likely in the process of making this decision.  Personally, I have decided to test the waters of the job market before applying to graduate school. 

 

There are several reasons for going straight to graduate school after earning your bachelors degree.  First of all, we are used to being students.  We have been fine tuning our studying skills for several years and have momentum on our side.  For the most part, we have few real obligations.  Most of us do not have spouses, children, or anyone else depending on us.  Many of us may simply have our eyes on positions that require an advanced degree.  In this case, it is a question of whether or not the experience gained from working is worth the time spent away from higher education.

 

On the other hand, there are several reasons for working for a few years before going to graduate school.  Some of us may not have formed specific career goals.  In this case, you can get to better know you career goals by working in the field for a few years.  Another common reason is poor grades; some of us did not perform as well academically as we would have like.  Often times, work experience will increase your chances of being accepted to graduate programs.  Many people accept positions with companies that are willing to pay for graduate school.  Also, some graduate programs require work experience, making this decision an easy one.

 

Whatever reasoning you use, the decision whether or not to attend graduate school right away is ultimately up to you.    

Looking back on my four years here at Penn State, I do not have many regrets.  One of the biggest regrets that I do have is not studying abroad.  It was never a lack of desire on my part; it was more of a lack of motivation.  In retrospect, the time that I would have spent planning would have been worthwhile.  Both of my sisters had incredible experiences studying abroad when they were in college.  My oldest sister actually met her husband while studying abroad in London.  I also have many friends that have studied abroad, all of whom have nothing but positive things to say about it.  There are many advantages of studying abroad aside from the experience.  For starters, it looks good on your resume.  It puts you in a position to expand your network, thus increasing the opportunities available to you in the future.  Studying abroad also shows character, moving to a foreign place where you don't know anyone exhibits courage and confidence.

 

My main point is that studying abroad is an unbelievable program that is offered to us.  If you can learn anything from my mistakes, it should be to not sit idly by and let the opportunity slip through your fingers.

I found the "A Social Media Revolution" by Megan E. Hershey to be very informative.  While I was familiar with a majority of the social media networks discussed, there were several that I had never heard of.  The amount of information available to us is staggering.  Even though we are about to begin our professional lives in a less-than-stellar job market, we are in a better position than ever to network and stay connected.  Some people argue that social networking sites are not effective tools, that they merely have entertainment value.  I disagree with this idea.  Even the seemingly pointless information available on sites like Twitter and Facebook can be very useful to people looking for opportunities.  Also, networks like LinkedIn are rapidly replacing job search websites like Monster.com.

 

That being said, social media networks can be a double-edged sword.  Think about it, there may be some things posted on social networking sites that can come back to haunt you.  Nobody wants a potential employer to watch a Youtube video of them doing something stupid or seeing a picture of them in a compromising situation.  If you do choose to use social networking sites, it is probably a good idea to use strict privacy settings and of course, discretion.     

After Mr. Rodgers presented, one of our classmates asked, "Can you give any advice on finding a job after graduating college?"  This is an excellent question to ask an individual who seems to find success so easily.  Mr. Rodgers' response is something that we should all keep in mind in the coming weeks, months, and years.  "Your first job does not have to be your dream job. Don't be afraid to take a job to get your foot in the door if you work hard, your employer will see it. Look for employers who are interested in the growth and development of their employees. Take advantage of every experience and opportunity you have, because these have an impact on your life."  I have noticed over the past four years that many of my fellow students seem to expect a great job to fall on to their laps as soon as they graduate.  This does happen, however it is usually due to their hard work and determination.  For the rest of us it is important to remember that we likely will not be doing exactly what we want right away.  If you are patient, work hard, and take advantage of opportunities, success will find you.  Just ask Mr. Rodgers.       

This is all great information and having traveled and lived abroad for several years, I can say from personal experience that culture shock can be a big deal. I never suffered from culture shock myself but met some who have. Its not a fun thing to deal with but as the article says if you prepare ahead of time or just wait it out living abroad can be a great experience.

While I was reading the information about William Oldsey, my main goal was to discover something that Mr. Oldsey had in common with the students in LA200.  There was one obvious similarity:  Mr. Oldsey is a graduate of the Penn State Liberal Arts program.  Unfortunately, this was not a fascinating revelation.  The piece of information that caught my eye was the fact that Mr. Oldsey graduated with a liberal arts degree in an uncertain job market.  Does that sound familiar to anyone?

 

The current economic climate is an obstacle that we all must face in the coming years.  Mr. Oldsey can not only serve as a success story for the liberal arts program, but also as an example for those students who find themselves facing uncertain career futures.  It is important to realize that it is not unusual for a college graduate to feel lost in the whirlwind.  The lesson that we can learn from Mr. Oldsey's example is that it is good to be open to all sorts of opportunities.  In the months or years leading up to graduation, many of us feel certain of which career path we will take.  More often than not, this path will inevitably change in some way.  It is important to be open-minded when exploring the job market.  Perhaps accepting a job in a slightly different field than you originally intended could be a blessing in disguise.          

Tim Buckley was out last speaker for the semester and, wow, what a great way to end the semester. He started right off by telling the students that he was there to help prepare us for life after college. He said that he wasn't there to talk about his accomplishments which I think was missing from a lot of the other shows. The hosts seemed to focus on that a lot. I appreciated Mr. Buckley's advice about characteristics, the fast pace industry sectors (finance, technology, energy, medicine), and taking risk.

Characteristics that employers will be looking for and being capable of risk taking have been major themes throughout the semester. I'm glad that he made the focus on the students. He was a great motivation and a wonderful not on which to end the semester.