I am glad you could join me today as you begin your journey as a college student! Especially in this time of economic stress, you probably could not be in a better place. It may seem rough, but if you keep your eyes on the prize and focus on the light at the end of the tunnel you will soon find out how rewarding your college experiences will be.
I am going to tell you about my journey. I graduated high school in a class of about 500 students in 2005. I was then off to Luther College, a small private school in the corn fields of Decorah, Iowa. It was a city in itself but it forced me to be more independent than I ever had to be in my life.
Before I has even started high school, I had developed a very high work ethic and was then practically addicted to working. So what was one of the first things I did when I arrived at college? You guessed it. Looked for a job.
I was a music and theater student so I already had a lot of connections in these departments. When I was a touring the college as an incoming freshman I had met with the professor who ran the costume shop. He told me to come find him when I arrived on campus and he would give me a job. Always try to make these kinds of connections. When someone says “come find me and we will see what we can do for you” DO IT. Even if you aren’t that interested, it could be an essential launch pad.
So I started working in the costume shop which gave me another job opportunity in the scene shop. This then gave me another job opportunity to work in the theater department main office. And in turn, gave me another job on the fine arts building custodial staff during the winter break!
See what I mean?
As you could probably tell, I ended up transferring. I was very far from home and ear training kicked my behind. So I decided on Point because of the prestigious fine arts department and it is closer to home. I intended to somehow be involved in theater design tech, for obvious reasons.
I landed a job in the costume shop here and found it very challenging. I enjoy a little bit of challenge so I stuck it out as best I could.
I was fired halfway through the semester.
I decided to become a communication major after this. It was definitely career changing. It was not until second semester I found an open public relations position on campus. At this time, I did not realize the force that is the University Centers.
I was granted an interview. The Centers was then housed in the oldest (and probably scariest) building on campus. I had to trudge all the way over there in the March snow. Unaware of what I was about to get myself into. There were at least 10 people in that room, plus myself. It was quite intimidating.
But needless to say, I was hired as the public relations coordinator for Centertainment Productions.
Centertainment is the student event planning and programming board department of the University Centers.
After a year as the PR coordinator, the student manager position opened and I jumped for it. That was the second most awkward interview I had ever experienced because I now knew all 10 people on the interview panel.
That is where I am at now and have been for two semesters: the student manager of Centertainment. I had never even considered event planning as an option. But I find the joy it brings to audiences and to the event planners. Just as the joy costumes bring to a theater performance and the people who produce them.
As my graduation date approaches I am faced with a similar dilemma I had when I began my college journey. Looking for a job. I am journalism emphasis communication major and I read about newspapers folding (no pun intended?) every month. Like I said, you are in the best place you could be for employment.
There are jobs that open on this campus every semester!
College employment is so much more than a pay check every two weeks. It is a supplemental learning experience. If you play your cards right, or are picky enough, you will find something directly related to your area of study. Or if you are like myself, even if it is not related to your major or minor, you will find avenues in which it is. I will talk about this more in the future.
PLUS! You will meet some of the greatest, most unforgettable people you have ever met in your life. I have so many best friends that I have met by working on campus. I still am friends with people I worked with in the costume shop!
Stay tuned to my blog for updates on campus events, employment opportunities and how to get the best of your college career through employment.
I encourage you to start looking for a position on campus. It will ease the nerves of your parents and help you develop essential life skills. Simply interviewing is a great tool to practice.
It was nice to meet all of you!
*Avra*
Centers employment FTW!!!
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