Written by Stephen H Goodale
For someHarding Universityseniors, December is the month they are looking forward to. For others it’s May. Graduation day can’t come soon enough for some and for others it’s coming too soon.
For students like Broadcast Journalism MajorAmanda Ricks, the thought of graduation means having to support herself by finding a job in a tight economy and competitive workforce.
“What scares me the most about graduating is being on my own, having to pay bills, and not have someone else take care of my responsibilities,” said Ricks.
Ricks plans to find a job as a reporter after graduation.
“If that doesn’t work,” she says, “I’ll move back home and find a job or go back to school and get my masters.”
Ricks does feel prepared for life in the working world.
“Especially Harding,” said Ricks “has prepared me in many ways for my career.”
She has completed two internships, both in Little Rock. She is now looking to take that experience and use it to support herself in the next stage of life.
For other students, like Ben Graves a communication sciences and disorders major, graduation is one more semester away. Ben plans to work as a speech and language pathologist, specifically working with stroke patients.
Ben acknowledges that graduation will be great, but that it signals an end to undergraduate work and the beginning of rigorous masters work. Ben is split down the middle when it comes to overall feelings about graduation.
“I’m scared of grad school. I’m not ready to apply. I haven’t taken the GRE. I’m not ready to leave my friends, but I am ready for the next stage of life. I think,” said Graves.
