Not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition…… beyond definition….. beyond the image. – Mona Lisa Smile
All your life you may have been on a set track. This “track” normally goes: high school, college, career, and family. But what about those who choose not to follow the beaten path, and instead mix it up a little? Don’t worry, you’re not doomed for failure or even “living on the edge.” In fact, not going straight into the job force after college can end up working to your advantage. So before you get that “senior itch,” consider these alternatives offered by those who took the “road less traveled.”
The Long-Distance Wanderer
Ever wanted to travel abroad, but with purpose? Grad school in a foreign country is an interesting and exciting way to look into other cultures while still remaining focused on your future career. Hannah Brady, a Harvard grad, has experienced more than many have in a lifetime. She currently describes herself as a “jobless traveler,” but she doesn’t seem concerned about that. After graduating Harvard, she moved to Korea to work as a teacher in Seoul. That decision was based on Brady’s two goals: to work in a different country and to earn money for grad school. She used the money to help pay for grad school in Cambridge, England. There she pursued a Master’s of Philosophy degree in Screen Media and Cultures, a new program at a very old university; Cambridge was founded in 1209. The nine-month program studies the history and theory of modern screen media (for more information visit www.screenmedia.group.cam.ac.uk). Brady says that the program was a “tremendous and valuable exercise in self-discipline” requiring her to focus and overcome procrastination. Since the program was primarily research-based it left students to structure their own work. In college Brady studied English, but had worked with several media outlets including MTV. Interested in learning more about the history of media, Cambridge’s program proved to be a perfect fit. There Brady met friends from South Africa to Ireland and says “it has been the people that have made life so rich these last 18 months.” Brady advises graduating seniors to “be open to new directions — to surprising yourself. Don’t get ahead of yourself — see how you like things as you go along. The time after graduation may be the easiest time to move freely between locations and careers. Five year plans are valuable, but they are made less so if not flexible.”
The Laid-Back Wanderer
The pressure and anxiety that goes along with post-graduation plans can be overwhelming. What if you could bypass all of the stress while you figure out your dreams? Former HC contributing writer, Caitlin Hardgrove is taking a much more laidback approach to life after college. When asked about her “path” she laughed and referred to it as “a vague pattern in the grass.” Hardgrove hopes to move to Dewey Beach in Delaware, work as a waitress, and freelance or intern for a magazine called Delaware Beach Life. She chose Dewey Beach because she heard the crowd was young there, and it offered many restaurants to waitress in and a “fun nightlife.” She’s not too concerned about her parents’ reactions considering both her dad and brother moved to the beach right after college. She’s also been surprised to hear the support of other adults. “What every adult has told me when I asked for their opinion was that I should go for it while I’m still young,” she says. After her stay at Dewey Beach, Hardgrove plans on trying to work or intern for a magazine. She’s interested in Paste Magazine, a music magazine based out of Georgia. “I might even consider grad school if I feel like I need to expose myself to something other than journalism,” she explains. She decided to room with a close friend on the beach and doesn’t appear to be apprehensive in the least. “Moral of the story is that I’m in the prime of my life, and I want to take full advantage of it at the beach with my best friend before I’m slaving away in some cubicle.”
The Benevolent Wanderer
Want to make a difference? Service fellowships, like the Peace Corps and Teach for America, let do-gooders give back while earning some cash. Some even help pay for grad school. Morgan Saxby, who graduated from the University of Virginia, started teaching full-time with the Teach for America Program. The program works to attract recent college grads to teach in impoverished and rural schools for a minimum of two years. Saxby taught fourth grade in DC; though he enjoyed the experience, it was tough. “Teaching is a really great job, but it’s a ton of work if you’re doing it right (and often even if you’re not),” he says. And it was even tougher because he was simultaneously working on a Master of Arts in Elementary Education at American University. “I would NOT recommend going to grad school simply because finding a job is hard,” he warned. “Unless you have a very clear focus on exactly what you want to go to grad school in, I’d recommend working or interning for a while, even if it’s not an ideal job. Grad school can be an expensive mistake.” Thankfully, through an Americorps stipend and the money he earned teaching, Saxby was able to get a free ride to grad school.
Grad School
Don’t feel like college has quite prepared you for the job market? Or just love to learn? Grad school is a common job market alternative, but isn’t for everyone. The average salary of someone with a graduate school degree is about $20,000 more than someone with only a bachelor’s degree. But just because it could help you earn a higher salary doesn’t mean you should go. Dr. Randall Hansen, Founder and Webmaster of www.quintcareers.com says, “You need to have a clear understanding of what you want to do with your career — and how earning a graduate degree will help you reach that goal.” Grad schools benefit those most interested in specialized careers such as education or engineering. Trudy Steinfeld, the Executive Director of the New York University Wasserman Center for Career Development, says often students don’t go to grad school directly after college. “We’ve had a lot of students who have said we’re going to take the next year or two and do something meaningful,” she says. These “meaningful” ventures have ranged from traveling to community service and Steinfeld recommends that path to students who aren’t sure about their career goals. She attended grad school at NYU and notes that it’s necessary for certain fields, including her own. Steinfeld says that grad school “honed my skills” which included analytical thinking, assessments, public speaking, and writing. If you’re considering grad school, you have to figure out how to pay for it as well. There are many options to consider that could significantly cut or eliminate the cost of graduate school. Many grad students pay for school through fellowships — grants provided by government agencies, institutions of higher education, and other organizations. Apart from fellowships, scholarships and financial aid are also available through organizations and schools. Websites such as www.gradview.com and www.scholarships.com give lists of scholarships that could be applicable to you! Sources: http://www.screenmedia.group.cam.ac.uk/ http://www.delawarebeachlife.com/ http://www.teachforamerica.org/ www.gradview.com www.scholarships.com http://www.quintcareers.com/considering_graduate_school.html Hannah Brady, Harvard University Graduate, Class of 2008 Caitlin Hardgrove, James Madison University, Class of 2010 Morgan Saxby, University of Virginia, Class of 2005 Photo: http://weblogs.wpix.com/news/local/morningnews/blogs/itch0715.jpg