Pressures of post-graduation plans

Dave's Digressions: Procrastination: the art of delaying, not ignoring

At some points in our lives, most of us have received some sort of "preparing for college" type lessons. Whether it be in high school, with an "Effective Note-taking Seminar" or during Orientation with a "Balancing your Time" discussion, there has been an emphasis on teaching us how to succeed in college, not only within the classroom but outside it as well.

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Dave's Digressions

Pressures of post-graduation plans

This piece represents the opinion of the author:

February 18, 2005

For those of us who are seniors, it is soon to be the official date of "100 days until graduation," which means the graduation season is finally upon us. For many people, this is a sad time, as people begin to realize that soon they will leave the comfortable confines of friendly Bowdoin and be thrust into the cold, uncaring reality that is life. For others, particularly those who have been here for longer than the recommended four years, this is a time for rejoicing, as the end is finally near.

Either way, the graduation season is marked by two overriding themes?frantic nervousness about plans for next year and trying to make the most of the time remaining here. The next four months will be a veritable cornucopia of emotions, ranging from tender farewells, to false promises of keeping in touch, to nervous anticipation about graduating, and finally to the severe hangover/boredom that characterizes Graduation Day. (As a slight digression, is it just me or is it Bowdoin policy to select the least entertaining speeches for graduation? Honestly, the people there are either waiting impatiently to graduate, or waiting impatiently to watch someone graduate?there really is no interest in hearing an extended metaphor about how life after Bowdoin is like a ripe orange or whatever it is people choose to ramble about for 10 minutes.) Anyways, back on topic...

This is the time of year when those of us?let's be honest, most of us?who don't have definite post-graduation plans yet start to feel a little nervous about that fact. Of course, there are those people who have had jobs locked up since September, usually in consulting or investment banking or some other soulless activity, but they are in the minority. The rest of the senior population falls into a few categories. One is those who plan on immediately going to some other form of school?medical school, grad school, law school, clown college, etc. Members of this group are not that worried about next year, as they know that they have a reprieve from thinking about the real world for at least a few more years.

Then there are those who don't plan on getting started on a career, but instead choose to do something that "means something" to them. This can take many forms, from backpacking across Europe, to working with the disadvantaged youth of the inner rainforest, to living in a grass hut in Tahiti while building boats from coconut shells, to hugging trees in the Pacific Northwest and channeling energy from their roots to the environmental movement in Brazil. Whatever path they choose to follow, I applaud these people?no matter what anyone else (read: your parents) says, you have enough time at age 22 to do something you really love, at least for a while.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are those who are desperately trying to find some sort of entry-level position in whatever field they wish to pursue for their lives. The descriptions of these jobs may vary, but most of them involve long hours, not much money, a lot of copying and stapling, and a good amount of, "Black, two sugars, and be quick about it." Sound exciting? Not at all, but many of us (myself included) are still doggedly pursuing this path, hoping to someday go on to do great things (or at least passably mediocre things).

Finally, there are those who don't really have to worry about finding a job on their own, because they know that no matter what they did or did not do while in college, Mommy or Daddy will pull some strings and get them a nice cushy job. These people I absolutely love, and I think they and their contacts are some of my favorite people in the world (not sure if I've mentioned this yet, but I also am in need of a job for next year...).

Aside from looking at plans for the future, the thing that will occupy much of our remaining days as seniors is a desire to make the most of what time we have left at Bowdoin. This means that, on the one hand, people will want to spend more time with the people they have grown to know and love over the past four to six years, and on the other hand, will want to do things they didn't have the chance to do in previous years. So look forward to an abundance of those awkward, "I've liked you for four years, but never had the guts to say anything" conversations, usually followed up by the equally awkward "Yeah, her boyfriend punched me, but the doctor says the stitches should heal before graduation" conversations held with one's parents.

However, making the most out of our remaining time should not mean rampant awkwardness, nor should it mean just shutting ourselves off with our close friends. Instead, we should revel in the fact that we have 100 days before entering the real world, in whatever form we choose to do so. Let's use these 100 days to have a blast, and to do things that we can look back on in 30 years and remember fondly, not to stress too much about plans for the future (though seriously, I do need a job?please help), and let our final memories of our time at Bowdoin be great ones.

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