College Grads
Converse and commiserate with other newly minted adults.
How To Succeed In A Business Environment As A Young Person
As a student, finding a summer job to earn money for the upcoming school year can be a troublesome task. Many students stick to jobs that are traditional "student" jobs, such as working at coffee shops, fast food restaurants, or at a camp. While these jobs are of course fine for thousands of students, I had the absolute pleasure of working with a fantastic Toronto-based company, which I will leave nameless as these steps can apply to a variety of business-type jobs. Here's how I had fun learning, meeting amazing people, and saving to pay for University while doing it.
By Justin Tavares8 years ago in Journal
You Can Be Anything You Want to Be
My parents always had a plan for me. They've been saving since I was just a tiny girl with barely any brain cells, that I was going to graduate with honors, attend post secondary shortly after, and then finally bring home the big bucks. They made it very clear from a young age that I am capable of anything I put my mind to, that I can be whoever I dream of being. Thankfully, I did graduate with honors, I worked my ass off to be able to have multiple options in career paths and make everybody who loved me proud. I thought that was good enough. However, their dreams extended my own. My cousin is a chartered accountant, very good looking girl with her head on her shoulders, big house, no kids, and a successful husband. One day, after taking a year off school to work full-time and save some money (I saved a lot) my parents sat me down and told me I need to hurry up and go to college, that I'm "wasting precious time." Tired of hearing it, I decided I would walk in my cousins footsteps and get a degree in Business. I was rushed into the decision, and there was no turning back once it absorbed into my parents head. Now, I'm not saying that I didn't want to go to school, I very much did, I hoped for a career that I could brag about and be comfortable with financially. I did enjoy the thought of being a business women. However, this is coming from the girl who flunked grade ten math, and I thought it would be a good idea to be an accountant...yeah, right. Anyways, I get accepted for school, my parents are on top of the world, and I kinda am to. Yay me, I got accepted, life was going to come together. Then it all sunk in, four years of being broke and attending school for something I don't even have a passion for. I wanted to work in education, less money but more desirable, for me. I hinted to my mom that I wanted to become a teacher just shortly after she purchased my thousand dollars worth of business textbooks; she basically turned her head the other direction. Apparently that idea was a bust and was to be forgotten. School starts, I'm getting A's, and I'm proud, but I am anything but happy. Accounting class comes, and it is the WORST thing to sit through. You know when you kinda just have to listen to someone ramble on for hours about something you really just don't care about and nod your head like you understand? Ya that was me, and I planned on being the accountant. I dropped out of school four weeks into the program. I felt lazy, stupid, and selfish for doing so. But why? Because I let my parents down? My dad was ridiculously rude about it, passing passive aggressive comments my way every chance he got. I wasn't useful, and I better find a rich husband, according to him. I did not deserve to feel bad over my own life choices. I must admit, I did want to go to school, I didn't want to sit at home and work some shitty retail job for the rest of my being, I just didn't want to do something that didn't make me happy. Don't get me wrong, a business degree is an amazing thing to achieve, and I would love to have achieved it, but why waste my time. I quickly applied for the education program, and I got accepted for the Winter 2018 term. My heart is warm knowing that I get to do something I have a passion for, I'm quite content and humble now knowing that this is what I get to do with my life. My parents aren't the most impressed with my choice, but I refuse to let others dictate my future. I'm grateful for all they've done for me in regards to pushing me to be my best, but they have no right to tell me what is and what isn't going to happen for me. My career choice may not make me rich, but it will fulfill me with joy that other jobs cannot provide me. Of course I know money is an important factor in all things, but money will never mean everything. Do not let anybody tell you what's best for you, figure it out all on your own and pave your own path to success, whatever success may mean to you. Whether it be to travel, start a family, or to just live day-by-day and figure it out from there, do exactly how you see fit.
By kelsey newhook8 years ago in Journal
Government Jobs for History Majors
Back when I was in college, one of the first classes I took was with a New Jersey history professor. When we had our first class, he told us about how he chose a doctorate in New Jersey history, and how his parents "basically expected him to live in their basement forever."
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Journal
Becoming Wilder
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do, with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver, “The Summer Day” This question is one that I have been asked (albeit prosaically, tinged with skepticism and something more along the lines of “so what do you plan to do with that Visual Communication degree?”) by countless adults, and I have always nervously replied with “graphic design?”—until today.
By Savannah Robar8 years ago in Journal
How to Get Your Resume on the Top Stack
Getting a job in today’s society is not only tough but is extremely competitive. Employers are tasked with reviewing page upon page of potential employee resumes which are almost all in the same format and include the same general information. Here are five tricks to use when creating a resume that are guaranteed to help your effort stand out among the rest.
By Hannah Joy Stacy8 years ago in Journal
Questions to Ask at a Job Interview
The interview process can be scary and cause you to tense up when you're unsure of what to expect and how to land a successful job. But these tips on what to ask at a job interview will help you feel less stressed and more confident in landing the job of your dreams. To give a killer interview make sure to de-stress before you go in for an interview, have an adequate night of sleep, and do research about the company ahead of time.
By Glenn Bushinski8 years ago in Journal
Let's Talk Passion and If You Have Any
Know that you are unique... We all have been endowed with incredible talents, gifts, and abilities from birth. Our gifts mean that each of us carries on the inside a solution to a particular problem. How amazing is that? You may not think you're something special but you actually are. You have a unique DNA makeup and fingerprint; even the pattern of your iris (the coloured part of your pupil) is not the same as anyone else's. I hope that you're inspired enough after reading this to discover (or rediscover) your passion, and to do something positive about it. So let me start by asking you this: are you doing currently spending the best part of your day doing what you absolutely love? If your answer is yes, well done. From the sounds of it you're already walking in your passion so I don't need to encourage you about that ;) However, if your answer is a no then we should talk...
By Precious Ofoegbu8 years ago in Journal
What to Bring to a Job Interview
Most people can tell you that wearing a suit is a wise choice if you're heading to a job interview. They can also tell you that being on your best behavior, having a good resume, and bathing before the interview is a wise idea.
By Mackenzie Z. Kennedy8 years ago in Journal
