Senior Year

Senior Year:  Keep your focus!!!  End strong.

You have been goal setting, keeping your attitude positive, networking, imaging your success for four years.  Let’s put some other obstacles in your way.

I know many people in their forties (give or take) that hate their job and their lives.  Maybe they are stuck in a job that goes nowhere, but with a family, a mortgage, car payments, braces, glasses, health issues, they think they can’t switch jobs and start over.  These people are also facing other issues – like having been out of college for several years, they have lost some of their technical skills. They have failed to ‘sharpen the sword’ and feel like they have a mountain to overcome to get back into the field.  Or, it might be a female who has taken time off to raise and nurture a family. And, a comment, if you ‘hate’ your job – that also is an attitude issue – adjust your attitude and talk to yourself. There are aspects of almost every job that are negative. Adjust your attitude and beat the problems.  For me, there are times when things seem bad, and if I can sleep on it, my attitude becomes better in the morning - and the problems become smaller!!! (I can even do that with a good nap!!)

As you go off into the work world, really work on what makes sense for you.  Do you want to be an entrepreneur? Would you prefer a small or large company?  What about work/life balance? The time it might take to get promoted? Getting experience in multiple areas (aside – some companies have leadership development programs where you in several departments over two to three years to really get to know the company). 

Time management:  Don’t lose sight of ‘the prize’ – that is graduation.  You may be out interviewing and could miss classes – make sure you communicate with potential employers about not wanting to miss classes and with faculty so they know that you are out interviewing.

In my experience, most companies like to hire new college graduates in the fall semester =- to start work right after graduation (assuming a traditional four-year/eight-semester program), so the fall semester can be a busy time with interviews and classes.  Also, many companies like to hire those that interned with them the previous summer.

Many students come into college with advanced placement credits.  Thus many students might have a lighter course load during their senior year.  Some students opt for early graduation and others opt for the lighter load. I suggest filling the lighter load with additional experiences.  Take more courses, get an additional minor, take some courses in other departments, take a psychology class about getting along with others, take an art class, take a biology class, take a computer class.  In many colleges, you can take a class as a “Pass / Fail” if you don’t want to work hard enough for an “A” – but sometimes you will slack off in a pass/fail class, so taking it as a graded class can keep you learning.  

This year is the LAST year that you are not working until you retire.  Find some friends and do a special spring break trip. Try some other adventurous activities.  Skydiving? Hiking the Grand Canyon?

As you make that transition to the workplace, add to your network.  Find new mentors. (And … be sure to thank your faculty mentors – take them for lunch to say ‘thanks’).

Adjust your goals for your new life.

As you leave, remember back to the adage that “College is the best four years of our life”.  Some students manage to never take an 8:00 class; never have a Friday class (three-day weekends are so nice!!); manage to avoid tough challenges.  Hopefully, you did keep the end in mind and forged on to meaningful experiences.  

And … continue to give back – and give thanks for those that have helped you on your way.  Honor your parents for their commitment to you (assuming they did); honor your professors, staff, and others on campus that made learning worthwhile.  

Continuing tomorrow - with graduate school - should you go right away or not?