Despite economy, graduation holds its appeal

By Colleen Snyder

Graduation from college is typically a much-anticipated event. After 16 or more years of only knowing the life of a student, it is an exciting step into the real world. For the first time, we are going to be working for pay - instead of paying to work. After securing a job, of course, we are privy to the wonderful independence of adulthood and are finally free to make our own choices with no one to answer to but ourselves.

This is the sticky part, however. What if, after working just as hard as every past graduating class, we are welcomed to the real world with a harsh slap in the face? Such will probably be the case for many of us graduating this June in our not-so-stellar economy.

Unless you've already got graduate school or some sort of internship-to-job work all lined up, you might not feel as anxious as usual to get out of school. The realization that, in two months, I will either have to find a way to pay for my rent, my food, my gas, my insurance, my everything or move back into my parent's house is probably one of the rudest awakenings I've ever had.

I must admit, I was a little flustered for the first few weeks after I had this epiphany. However, this was last October. So, fortunately for me, I've dealt with all my "I'm a psychology major graduating in a bad economy" anxieties and have somehow managed to turn what should be feelings of depression and fear into an excited state of urgency.

Outsiders seem to have trouble understanding how I can be so excited about graduation despite the depressing economy and goings-on of the world around us. In all honesty, I don't have much of an answer other than the fact that I've been waiting so long for this moment of truth that a little, or big, slump in the economy isn't going to intimidate me now.

And quite frankly, I can't wait for these next two months to be over. Like many seniors, I'm taking only 12 units (I won't mention in what subjects) and in a way, wish we could just get this show on the road. I guess it's kind of like doing a class presentation - even though you're nervous as hell and have absolutely no idea what you're about to do, the impatient feeling that you just can't wait to see how it's going to turn out overcomes you - and you raise your hand to go first.

And so I am raising my hand, excited to try out my so-new-it's-still-shiny college degree on the world. I am ready to see how my interests fit me in the real world and determine my next step in my life. Who knows - maybe I'll end up waiting tables at Denny's in the meantime - at least I'll have gas in my car and a roof over my head.

As cheesy as it sounds, one of the most significant lessons I've learned in the last four years is that independence is one of the most valuable things that can be bought. While in school, we're incapable of paying our own way - and so it's a waiting game that takes a lot of work and even more patience. I've run out of the latter, so let's see if I can get by on just the work.