Co-Op Confessions: Leaving College for the Real World
by Diana Gebbia
The semester is winding down quickly, and in December I will have completed all of my degree requirements and will no longer be a college student. People constantly ask me what I am looking most forward to about the working world, and what I will miss about being a college student.
Although I am very excited about life after college and starting a career, I am still very nervous. I will miss the safety blanket that college offered. Rider University has provided me with two campus jobs, a dining hall, and practically anything else I’ve ever needed all on one campus. Although I commute, campus has been a home base for me. After graduation, it’s going to be hard for me to learn to do things on my own, without having the constant convenience of campus right down the road.
In addition, I will miss having scheduled time off. In the working world, getting long breaks off for holidays and summers does not happen. It’s going to be a little strange having to adjust to only having a few days off here and there.
I am very excited about some aspects of the working world. One thing I’m looking forward to is not worrying about papers, tests or finals week. Although I know that work will present some projects that may take some time to work on, it will be much different from the stress that finals week places on students. Also, I am happy that I won’t have to worry about being graded on almost everything that I do.
If I end up in the broadcasting field as I hope to, I know I will wake up every day loving my job, rather than waking up and dreading going to a boring class. Graduating can be a scary thing to think about, but I am more than ready to finish my studies. I will miss college very much, but I am eager to get to work and leave my mark on the world.
