Sharmonica Carter
MC Contributor/Staff Writer
Ebony Brown, a twenty-eight year old former Jackson State University is one of many graduates who found themselves faced with challenges and career changes after graduation.
“I completed my degree in elementary education K-4 and with certifications in science and English. I was pretty good with interviewing and I followed the advice of my instructors and attended the Teacher Recruitment Day Fair,” said Brown.
She continues, “My job as a kindergarten instructor paid just enough to cover rent, utility bills, groceries, and gas for the car. That may sound like a good job but when you have to put clothing on the backs of two other persons in addition to yourself, pay student loans, school activities/extra-curricular activities for the children, etc., you have to pick up a second job.”
Brown stated that teaching was rewarding but she did not have the peace that she thought would come once she earned her degree and began her career.
“I had to go back to school because I knew working two jobs for the rest of my life in order to not live paycheck to paycheck was not my idea of success,” said Brown. “I was very diligent and determined to find the correct nursing position for me. I had saved enough money to cover my bills for about a month after I obtained my nursing license. Therefore, I knew that I had less than a month to find employment.”
She added, “I took that motivation and made it happen. I actually did not start working at the first place that offered me a nursing job but now I work as a critical care nurse and I am happy. I am full-time, working only 3 days a week. I make almost twice the salary I was making teaching which gives me more time to enjoy life and travel. I am not saying that teachers are not happy and successful but I am saying your condition has to be right.”
Students from different departments on campus share similar emotions about post-stress graduation and finding work after the big day.
Itetra Smith is a 24-year-old senior psychology major from Jonestown, Miss. who strongly believes that it sometimes depends on your major, location, or level of degree earned. Smith graduates next semester in April, but already has her goals set for the future.
“I plan to go for something higher. I really can’t do what I want to do or make as much money as I want to make with Bachelors in psychology,” said Smith. “In my department, tools are provided and we have a lot of professors that don’t teach on the undergrad level but they teach as if we’re on the job already. We get many case studies and experiences of things they have had. This gives us more information and prepares us for life outside of undergrad.”
Alisa Hughes, Career Service Coordinator for the JSU Career Services Center feels that students should not wait until graduation to take advantage of their services.
“We start with them when they’re freshmen. But upon graduation, you’ve missed out on four years of opportunities, businesses visiting the campus, career fairs, graduation fairs, and all the other opportunities that aren’t in the career services. Job opportunities are available in Tigers2Work,” said Hughes. “I do want them [students] to understand that if a student waits until they graduate to use Career Services, regardless of what school they’re going to, if they wait until graduation, they’ve waited too late.”
