Subscribe to RSSSeniors anticipate graduating in December
By Emily Bridgewater
Although it feels like the year has just started, this is the last semester for some Lumberjacks. Students graduating in the winter are preparing for the next step in their lives. It’s a long process but, now that students are here, they are ready for the next step.
Grad student and sociocultural anthropology major, Lauren Copeland-Glenn, is preparing for her December commencement. She doesn’t have anything lined up, but is planning to do something with Native American groups or working with education.
Copeland-Glenn wants to work on changing things. Her main focus is to help people and teach.
“My plan after I graduate is to find a job doing something in educational policy, or working with Native American groups on indigenous issues of some sort with maybe health or education,” Copeland-Glenn says. “Those are my big goals. I know that is pretty broad, but there are a few things within that I guess I can do.”
She is looking forward to moving on from college to bigger and better things.
“In my immediate future, I am looking forward to not having to go to school and work. But really, I mean my plan is to do work that is meaningful for other people.” Copeland-Glenn says. ”It will be fulfilling for me too but I want to do something that will make a difference in other people’s lives. Change things for the better.”
Although nothing changed about what she wants to do, the way Copeland-Glenn is doing it has changed since she was an undergrad.
“You know, what I wanted to do hasn’t changed but the vehicle for how that will happen has changed in the sense that, when I was an undergrad, I really wanted to do non-profit work, and I am still interested in that, but my scope has been broadened by going grad school,” Copeland-Glenn said. “And I am looking more toward working in the government somehow and facilitating change in that way . . . Just the way things have come about has changed a little bit. But in terms of what I want to do and knowing that I want to do something that helps other people, that has always been there.”
During grad school, Copeland-Glenn taught at the community college.
“And also, when I was an undergrad, I never thought of being a teacher or mentoring students in that way, and that’s come about since I have become a grad student,” Copeland-Glenn says. “I teach at the community college as well,” .
Senior Erin Kennedy is majoring in hospitality with an emphasis in Spanish. Kennedy is also preparing to start her life after graduation.
She currently doesn’t have any jobs lined up but she is trying find work.
“I am pursuing a few with connections that I have, some with Marriott and LiveNation,” Kennedy says.
Kennedy looks forward to beginning her life with a job and accomplishing her dreams.
“[I am looking forward to] just pursuing my goals and stop being in school,” Kennedy says.
Though nothing has changed in her major, Kennedy’s ambitions have become more real to her.
“My goals now are more realistic than they use to be,” Kennedy said.
As for Brian Bailey, a senior environmental science major with an emphasis in communications, he plans to find a job to begin his career.
“[I hope to] find a job, hoping for a federal job,” Bailey says, “but we’ll see what pans out with the economy right now.”
Bailey has looked for jobs but is waiting to hear back from them, and right now he does not want to continue with school.
“I want to get into the job market,” Bailey says.
Bailey looks forward to living without having the worries of a college student.
“[I look forward to] actually having the money to do stuff, not living on a college budget,” Bailey says.
After years of hard work, it finally pays off once graduation comes around. It all becomes real. The Commencement will be held on Friday, Dec. 14 at an allotted time depending on the degree and college.
