Grad School 101
On the path back to happiness
10 Tips to get into graduate school
CONTEMPLATING LIFE AFTER COLLEGE
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The Wolf
Editor’s Note
magazine
I
still a have another year at Loyola University New Orleans before I am obligated to put on my cap and gown and take the first step towards my future. However, in the spring of 2016, hundreds of seniors will be saying farewell to their pack and taking the journey to discover the world for themselves. Whether it be attending graduate school or joining the work force, the future Photo by Starlight Williams is murky for those getting ready to graduate. I wish this magazine was like a magic lamp that could answer all your questions, but I am not going to lie to you. Hopefully though, this magazine will help you contemplate your own life after college. Whether you are discovering that your major does not define you (p. 8), you need help navigating the differences between PCAT and GMAT (p. 12) or you are one of the few to realize you are not ready to leave Loyola (p. 20), then maybe this issue of The Wolf can help you. Remember that even though you may venture away from the Wolf Pack, the pack always has your back.
Issue 3 / Volume 74 November 6, 2015
STAFF Wolf Editor STARLIGHT WILLIAMS Editor-in-Chief MARY GRACI Managing Editor for Print EMILY BRANAN Managing Editor for Electronic Properties REBECA TREJO Maroon Minute Executive Producer RAYMOND PRICE Photo Editor ZACH BRIEN Copy Editor EMILY BRANAN Copy Editor LAWSON BOX Design Chief NAASHA DOTIWALA Contributor EMILY BRANAN Contributor MARK ROBINSON Contributor DEVINN ADAMS Contributor BURKE BISCHOFF Contributor ZAYN ABIDIN Contributor LAWSON BOX Contributor REBECA TREJO Contributor LAUREN SAIZAN Contributor ZACH BRIEN Sales Manager ALISHA BELL
Good luck and happy hunting,
Business Manager CAROLINA ARIAS Distribution Manager GABRIEL GARZA Sales Representative SCOTT GONZALEZ Sales Representative BETHANY WASHINGTON Sales Representative EMILY MCLANEY Social Media Coordinator LESTER DUHÉ
Starlight Williams Editor, The Wolf Magazine
Advertising Art Director KHADIJA AZIZ Faculty Adviser MICHAEL GIUSTI
CONTACT US
ABOUT US
Visit Wolf Magazine online at loyolamaroon.com email us at letter@loyno.edu.
Wolf Magazine is a publication by Loyola University New Orleans Student Media and does not necessarily reflect the views of Loyola’s administration. Unless otherwise noted, all content is copyright to the Wolf Magazine. The first copy is free to students, faculty and staff. Every additional copy is $1.00.
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FRONT PAGE PHOTO BY ZAYN ABIDIN
The Wolf Magazine | 3
10 tips to get you into graduate school
E
Graduate school application deadlines are approaching. You are feeling a little stressed out, and your hair may or may not be falling out. It may seem overwhelming to think about tackling applications and studying for and taking entrance exams while still trying to juggle the rest of the semester’s assignments. But this process does not have to be stressful. Here are 10 tips to make applying for graduate school a little less scary: 1. Pre-plan The first thing students should do is plan out their time. Figure out a flexible plan and start early. Baker said if students are considering taking a year off before graduate school, they should figure out what they need to do in that year that would help them be admitted and plan their time accordingly. 2. Understand exactly what each application entails Does it ask for a writing sample or a personal statement? How many letters of recommendation does the program want? Make a list of everything each school asks for so you can start gathering materials and are not surprised at the last minute by another requirement or a quickly approaching deadline. 3. Don’t compare your process to another student’s Each grad school application process is a little bit different, so be aware of what your program needs. 4. Start early Spend junior year researching the different programs and figuring out what it is you want to do. “If you have any doubts of what you’re studying, I would suggest taking some time off,” Baker said. 5. Think outside the box Schools want to see that you were involved. Did you research or intern somewhere? Any experience you have is valuable, whether it is trying something new, helping you figure out what you want to do or learning that you don’t like something.
6. Take advantage of the resources at Loyola Talk with your professors about what they researched and what their graduate school experience was like for them. Take your papers to the Writing Across the Curriculum Center for help. Baker said she helps a lot of seniors with the application process and keeping them on track with their deadlines. 7. Ask questions and research See if there are any faculty members doing research that interests you at the schools to which you are applying. These faculty members and their research will probably impact your curriculum, so make sure you find something that intrigues you. 8. Work backward from your deadline Identify the program’s deadline and then starting with what will take you the longest to perfect. 9. Don’t be afraid to be afraid It can be overwhelming, but once you understand exactly what you need to do and how you will tackle the application, you should feel a lot better. It’s a big decision; it’s natural to be a little worried about the future. 10. Breathe, relax and stay calm Everything will work out as it should. Stress can self-sabatoge you out of a score you need for your dream school or just make you generally miserable as you go through the application process.
By Emily Branan with advice from Tamara Baker, Director of Loyola’s Career Development Center MCT Campus
The Wolf Magazine | 4
L S
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Editors’ Decisions
Where will they go next? Editors reveal their plans for after college
Mary “The Fearless Leader” Graci hopes to find a job or go to law school
Lauren “The Cat Wrangler” Saizan is undecided and a junior
Zach “The Photo Master” Brien wants to make pictures
Lawson “Out of the” Box would like to be involved in anyting media, visual or written
Mark “Sports Guru” Robinson would like to work for the Pelicans
Gabriel “Captain Wordview” Garza wants a career in sports broadcasting
Emily “The Hammer” Branan plans to attend graduate school
Rebeca “Sweetheart” Trejo wants to tell people’s stories
Kristen “Look at that cat” Stewart wants to be the future Beyonce
Starlight “Wolf Editor” Williams is currently having a mental breakdown. Ask again when she is a senior.
An Le Master of Bioscience Future Career Goals: Consultant for Biotechnology Industry
The Wolf Magazine | 5
Horoscopes
For the week of Nov. 6 - 13 For entertainment purposes only
Deadlines are approaching. Make sure you check your task list twice, otherwise you may find yourself repeating another year.
Call your mother. She has words of wisdom and virtual hugs to share with you.
Your lies will catch up to you. The truth is not as distasteful as it seems. Remember honesty is the best policy.
Appreciate the small things. Embrace change. Stay away from penguins.
Calm down. An alphabet soup exam will not determine your future. Keep your head up.
Graduation can wait. Take a break and sleep for a semester. Make it two.
Alright, grumpy cat. Turn that frown upside down. All you are doing is causing early wrinkles and memes.
Tomorrow you will get a glimspe of your future. Try to wake up in time so you don’t miss it.
Suffering in silence is fine. Just remember that you have a pack of friendly wolves that got your back.
When you graduate, do not put the cat back.
Graduation is still a possiblity! If you actually get to class and turn in your assignments.
It will all make sense eventually.
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Job hunting will leave you hungry By Burke Bischoff Illustraction by MCT Campus Foolishly, I believed as soon as I graduated, all I had to do was send someone a resume, wait to get called in for an interview and the job would be mine. Sometimes, harsh reality can be the most valuable instructor of our lives. I graduated from Loyola with a Bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a concentration in journalism. I knew before graduating that the job market for journalists was difficult, especially with how the industry is changing as it grows accustomed to online needs. However, I never thought the process of finding a job would be as difficult as it is. It does not help that with all of the recent job cuts The Times-Picayune made, the possibility of finding a job as a journalist is growing smaller. I am thankful for the education Loyola provided for me because it did prepare me for post-grad life with a resume in my hand and a portfolio on my computer. However, there were some aspects of job hunting for which I do not feel I am completely prepared. I have applied for reporter positions, and I was slightly intimidated at the process of applying for a job online. I recognize that it is pretty short-sighted on my part to as-
sume that I would apply for a job differently, but I was a little shocked when I first had to fill an online application and it took me a few hours. I would sign up for an account with whatever job host site the application is on, put in my resume and cover letter with sample work, fill out an extensive online questionnaire, submit the application and finally, wait. The most unbearable thing about the job hunting process for me is the waiting. I would wait for days hoping someone would contact me back. I would wait for weeks, considering if I should contact the organization again and remind them about me. I have waited for months on a number of jobs thinking there is something wrong with me and that is why no one is answering me back. All of the constant waiting is painful for me and it is even more agonizing whenever I think I am a burden to my parents. My parents reassured me they would let me live at home until I find a job, as long as I can take care of most of my amenities, and I am truly thankful for them housing me. Sometimes, though, I feel shame that it is taking me this long to find a job, not having the proper tools to take care of myself and
having to fall back on people who have spent years doing so much for me already. While the hunting has not produced much and the waiting is very lonely, I do have a saving grace in the form of volunteer work at WYES-TV. What started as an internship through Loyola has turned into a way to keep myself sane and active. The station does not have the funds to officially hire me, but I am glad to continue giving my time there in order to keep strong connections. I love the people at WYES because they are always willing to help me find an opening for me at another station and provide recommendations or letters whenever I ask. Plus, it helps that they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. If I have any sort of advice for my recently graduated peers or for students who are on their way to graduating, I would say to just apply as soon as possible and to keep trying. It is going to be a long, hard process and sometimes you may feel like you will never find anything. Nothing in our lives at this point is going to be easy anymore, but you cannot give up. Work as hard as you can and it will pay off for you. Your job is waiting for you. You just need to go and find it. The Wolf Magazine |7
By Devinn Adams Graphic by Starlight Williams
Don’t be chained to your major
Facebook sucks. Let’s be honest, all social media sucks when you get past the cute animal gifs. Beyond the cute animals are the updates about how awesome that former classmate of yours is doing. Seeing those updates can be a real bummer when you realize that they’re doing remarkably well, while you can’t figure out what direction to go in (and even more of a bummer when you realize you’ve used the word “bummer”). When you see all the awesome things your peers have lined up before they’ve even been notified they’re eligible for graduation, it makes you question some choices you’ve made. When I decided to major in psychology, I knew what I was signing myself up for, or at least I seriously thought I did. The plan was simple – do my four years, maintain good grades and get into a stellar grad school. I was not naïve enough to think it would be smooth sailing, nor could I fake being enough of an optimist to think this would all come about easily (let alone at all). So how did I do? Well I survived my four years – with the fleeting thought of quitting a few times. I got my diploma, which means I passed what I needed to and can proudly say I’ve never withdrawn from a class (mostly for fear of seeing a dreaded “W” on my transcript because though grad schools may excuse one or two, I feared being looked at questionably).
And I was a dedicated member of the Psychology Club. I was in office probably longer than I should’ve been, but I’m proud of some of the things I’ve done with it and being able to pass it onto capable hands. All of that aside, one of the best lessons I’ve learned from the psychology department came from a freshmen seminar class: your degree can never limit you. That day in class, they had speakers come in to tell us all of the different things that people went on to do with their undergrad psychology degrees. And the lesson was given the stamp of approval by Tamara Baker, the director of the career and development center. Of course during that lesson, I was most likely thinking of how I could never become one-tenth as successful as any of the speakers, but nevertheless, the lesson stuck. And little did I know that year would be when I would start a tumultuous affair with the newsroom. I don’t regret a single moment of signing up to do work study with The Maroon. If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I didn’t know what all the various options for work study were, but in my head, it involved being a not-at-all dignified secretary, so I took the assistant job simply because there was no experience needed. If it weren’t for being advised to switch things up, I would’ve been content being the puppet master of the website. I’m glad I did though because doing those
different jobs loaded me up with a bunch of transferable skills that helped me figure out that I loved working in a newsroom. Despite finding joy in something other than what I went to school for, I still hear things like this: “You went to school for psychology and that’s what you should be doing, Devinn. That’s what you need to be doing.” And that’s a direct quote from someone who loves me. Major wise, I never wavered from my interest in psychology and at this point, I doubt I will. I’m not a cat trying to fit myself into a box, my interests are varied and that’s how majors tend to work – because of their intersectionality. Because psychology is a diverse field, I want to be sure that if I go any further into it, I’d be doing something I’m not only interested in but also passionate about. It’s more than OK to not be sure about what direction you’re going in because everything you experience is a lesson to take with you for the next one. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a remarkable woman who went to school for possibly six different things – from floral arrangement to pharmaceuticals – because there was something new she wanted to learn and go into. She told me that with each new skill under her belt, she was able to use it with the next thing. That’s what I’m looking forward to – exploring all of my options and passions while seeing where they take me.
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Final advice:
Graduating seniors share words of wisdom before they walk the stage Compiled by Kristen Stewart
Any regrets? I wish I had taken more opportunities and not allowed myself to be scared. If you have the chance to sit at the table, then sit there. If they don’t give you a chance, then pull up your own chair. Is there a specific event that students should be a part of? Take Back the Night - It’s such a moving experience and you also get to share it with the community, and I think at Loyola that’s really important because it’s really easy to get trapped in our little bubble and forget we live in an amazing city.
A'Niya Robinson - political science senior Photo by Kristen Stewart
What are the best places to go in the city? Don’t let anyone tell you Bourbon Street is the best place or even remotely worth your time. It’s not. The best places, in my opinion, are: the stretch of Magazine Street between Napoleon and Louisiana Avenues (great food, bars, and stores). Cochon Butcher (try the Pig Mac and call me a liar). The Fly at the edge of Audubon Park(everybody knows, and everybody goes). Oak Street between Broadway Street and South Carrollton Avenue. Is there anything you encourage other students to try? Try some unique classes that you wouldn’t normally lean towards. I took that approach and took a film scoring class last semester, and by finals, I heavily wanted to pursue it as a career. I’m not saying you’ll find your calling in a weird pottery class, but be open-minded to new things that fit into your class requirements. The class may turn out to be eye-opening, legitimately fun, or you might meet new people you wouldn’t meet normally through typical classes in your major.
James Hartman - music industry studies senior Courtsey of James Hartman
When is the best time to start thinking about life after college? Whenever you want to. I came in with this big dream of like becoming a doctor and creating a schizophrenic drug better than what is currently available. I came with a five-year plan and everything, and it crashed all around me. I was a big planner, and now I’m really just taking whatever opportunities that come to me and just running with them. I don’t exactly know what I want to do but I’m following a vague idea, and being the extreme workaholic that I am, I’m not afraid of not knowing exactly what I want to be when I grow up.
Stephanie Benitez - psychology senior Photo by Kristen Stewart
Is there a specific event that students should be a part of? Go to anything that offers you free food just for attending. It is my fourth year here and if I could relive college again, I would work my schedule around all the events I could attend in order to receive free food – you just don’t get that sort of thing in the real world. College kids get free stuff no strings attached and I can assure you that will never happen again in your life. Even at weddings, yeah you get food, but you also paid $50+ on that wedding gift, didn’t you?
When is the best time to start thinking about life after college? The best time to think about what you want to do after college is all the time. I just let my mind take over and think about options for next steps constantly. I've been doing that since the middle of highschool but as you get closer to the end of college you start realizing what the immediate next steps will most likely be. But you can plan as far ahead as you want. Is there anything you encourage other students to try? Study abroad. Not in a stereotypical place where people speak English or in a program where you'll be crammed with a bunch of Americans. Take a language for a year or two. Find a location in the ISEP program and totally escape America. Challenge yourself. Do it for a year if you can. It will change your life. Travel in general.
Alex Asdourian - business management senior Courtsey of Alex Asdourian When is the best time to start thinking about life after college? Thinking about life after college is always on the mind, but it should not be the primary focus just yet during your four years. Really immerse yourself into both the campus and city life and all they have to offer you. Enjoy the present and don’t spend too much of your time planning for the future because there will not be much time to make those awesome memories with awesome people. Is there anything you encourage other students to try? I encourage students to be fearless during their college years. Take risks and try new things because you have only one life to live. At the same time, be vulnerable to the new world around you. Experience these new people and events and allow them to change you. No matter where or when, always be a student; be open to learning new things, and use them to the build onto the foundation you’re creating here.
Akeem Biggs - language and cultures Spanish senior
Photo by Kristen Stewart
An MBA looks good on a resume. A Loyola MBA plus REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE looks fantastic.
WHY NOT GET BOTH AT THE SAME TIME?
At Loyola University New Orleans, it takes as little as a calendar year to earn your MBA and the concrete work experience it takes to excel in the work force.
Explore Loyola’s unique MBA program at www.business.loyno.edu/mba and learn how our students regularly make multi-million dollar decisions with New Orleans entrepreneurs and start-ups—from the classroom and beyond.
For more information, please contact Christina Morales at mba@loyno.edu or 504.864.7953.
Grad School 101 Starting a new chapter in life can be scary, but graduate school exams are there to guide you on the path to success. Here’s all the information you’ll need to know about each exam, where you can take it and how much it’ll cost you (sadly, they don’t take Wolfbucks). Plan for the future before closing the books, and remember to pack your IDs and #2 pencils, sharp and ready for game day—I mean, test day.
GRE (Graduate Record Exam) Thinking of pursuing a master’s degree, a specialized master’s in business or a doctoral degree? The GRE is a great place to start. This test goes hand in hand with your undergraduate records to analyze your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing skills—all which are key in successfully completing graduate or business school.
Cost: $195
Take the test at:
Upcoming Dates: April 16, 2016
University of New Orleans Testing Services
LSAT (Law School Admission Test) Sadly, we don’t live in a world where Elle Woods’ version of law school exists, but law school can offer you a chance to hone your legal skills and work toward a professional career. The LSAT consists of five, 35 minute, multiple choice sections, and a 35-minute writing sample, which is not scored, but could be read by potential law schools. This fourhour exam measures your reading comprehension, analytical reading and logical reasoning skills. Buckle up, kids, you’re in for a fun ride!
Cost: $175
Take the test at:
Upcoming Dates: Dec. 5, 2015; Feb. 6, 2016
Loyola University New Orleans
GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) The GMAT is the gateway to business school, helping you take the first steps to achieving your MBA or varying management degrees. Different from the GRE, the GMAT is geared more toward quantitative thinkers than creative or flexible thinkers, according to Kaplan Test Prep. Geared for a career in business, the GMAT is accepted by all business schools.
Cost: $250
Take the test at:
Upcoming Date: Nov. 9, 12, 17, 18, 19; Dec. 1, 3, 5, 8, 12, 14, 15, 22, 30
Pearson Professional Centers
The Wolf Magazine | 12
Complied by Lauren Saizan Graphic by Naasha Dotiwala
MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) The MCAT is the test to take when applying for medical school. Beyond testing your knowledge of natural, behavioral and social science concepts, this exam requires you to demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking skills. The recently changed MCAT will better prepare students for med school, as it is redesigned to reflect the medical field as it evolves.
Cost: $300
Take the test at:
Upcoming Dates: Jan. 22, 2016, Jan. 23, 2016; April 1, 2016,
University of New Orleans Testing Services
April 23, 2016; May 6, 2016, May 14, 2016, May 20, 2016
PCAT (Pharmacy College Admissions Test) Those of you hoping to become a pharmacist will take this test, which is key when applying to pharmacy colleges. The test has 232 multiple choice questions, as well as a writing topic, all which tests your scientific knowledge necessary for pursuing pharmaceutical education.
Cost: $210 Upcoming Dates: Jan. 5-6, 2016
DAT (Dental Admissions Test) Dream of becoming a dentist? Conducted by the American Dental Association, the DAT is an important part of all dental school applications. The test analyzes academic and perceptual ability in addition to scientific comprehension and consists of four tests: Survey of the Natural Sciences, Perceptual Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Quantitative Reasoning. Like any graduate school admissions test, studying for the DAT is important, and practice tests can be found on the official website. The total time for this test is five hours.
Cost: $415
Take the test at:
Upcoming Dates: Computer-administered tests available yearlong.
Prometric Educational Testing Service The Wolf Magazine | 13
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There and back again
By Lawson Box Photo illustration by Zach Brien
Back in the dark ages of 2006, I received some harsh news from Loyola. An administrator told me that the Fall 2005 semester I spent at Santa Clara University, when Loyola was closed from Katrina, wasn’t going to get me out of my academic suspension. A series of buffoonish and irresponsible behavior the previous year had lead me down a path to mandatory time out of college, a hold on my financial aid plus an outstanding tuition bill. When I broke the news to my parents, they said, “If you’re not in school, you’re not on the family meal ticket.” In other words, the time be a grown-up and get a job had arrived. In the void that was New Orleans after Katrina, there was a plethora of businesses in desperate need of employees. I eventually ended up at Commander’s Palace, one of the city’s oldest and most respected restaurants. My close friend Andy had worked there a few years earlier and informed me that servers made “bank.” It would turn out he was right; within a few months, I was buying a car with my own money and paying my way with cash to spare. There was no worrying about classes, grades, mean professors or gossipy peers. Life was good for a 23-year-old kid with total freedom and all the time in the world. After about a year this would begin to change rapidly. It’s the Spring of 2007 and all my friends were graduating. Guess who wasn’t invited to any of the graduation events and festivities. I was genuinely happy for my friends, but deep inside, I felt lousy. It was like I was being
rejected from a club that all my friends for the past four years were joining. The next big punch to the stomach was when I started getting bills from Sallie Mae because my deferment was up. Now I was paying 200 bucks a month for something I didn’t finish while serving food and drinks and kissing the asses of strangers for tips. Spending time with family and friends got increasingly depressing too. My oldest sister was running her own successful design firm while the other was doing very well with her new P.R. company. Then, there was my brother who was moving up fast in the tech support industry. Of course, many of my friends were starting graduate and law schools as well. Some were already doing well at other jobs. “So what are you doing now?,” people would ask. “I’m still working at Commander’s,” I would say, followed by an awkward pause. “Oh, OK, cool,” was the typical response. As noble and profitable as working in the service industry was, and still is, I wanted to do more with my life. It turns out that some of the cliche and preachy things parents say to their kids were right. The one that turned out to be most true was that nothing in life worth having comes easily. It also became very clear that being a successful college dropout like Mark Zuckerberg or Oprah was light years from the norm. I thought about some of my coworkers who came from backgrounds far more humble than mine. For them, getting a job at a place like Commander’s Palace was an achievement.
I had just walked in scored a gig because of extenuating circumstance from Katrina. I was lucky; that was it. I wanted to work for something and achieve it. Getting back in school and finishing became my first real mission in life. After a few more years of work and saving, I resolved my problems with Loyola. That first semester back was fantastic. Unlike the first time I attended Loyola, I was damn proud to be a college student. I must admit, I was even a little smug when I told people I went to Loyola. I noticed a lot of things at school, more was at stake this time around. Plus, I was dealing with the financial aspects on my own, without my parents’ help. When my classmates would skip, show up late or frequently screw around on their smartphones during class, I would actually get a little annoyed and think, “THIS CLASS COST $4,000. ARE YOU F-ING STUPID?” Being back in school by no means meant the real world paused or slowed down; it kept on happening. In fact, it actually got harder. I had to start making an effort to not think about how much easier college would be if I didn’t have to worry about work, bills or the future zeroing in at the speed of light. Challenges have come my way far more intensely than I could have imagined, and I am certain others are still to come. I’m not worried, however, because I’ve learned that worrying is a waste of time and all anyone can do is keep their head up and push through.
The Wolf Magazine | 15
On the path back to
happiness Photo illustration and article by Rebeca Trejo
My morning routine included hitting the snooze button to gain an extra 10 minutes of sleep, followed by 10 minutes of sitting on my bed and thinking about how tired I was. And as I pushed my body out of bed, the vicious feelings of uncertainty began. I dreaded the day ahead. Stale coffee, a boss who’s lost sight of the big picture, superficial meetings, money-driven clients and being surrounded by inauthentic connections. I wanted more, but I had no energy, physically or mentally. I felt trapped in a cage, forced to do something I hated every day just so that I could afford to pay the bills. I often asked myself, “Why am I alive? Is there reason to even live life feeling so purposeless and uninspired?” Self-conscious about my own personal predilections and desires, I declared advertising as my major. I’d be working in an interesting environment, breathing the same air as those lucky creatives. I was 19 years old. I had it all figured out. Truth is, when your career has no meaning, and you go to a job you hate, only to do it all over again the next day, your spark starts to die out and you begin to lose purpose. Before I knew it, two years had passed while I waited for someone else to come along and motivate me. Problem is, no one ever came.
The | 14| 16 The Wolf WolfMagazine Magazine
As I grew conscious of how fragile life could be, I began to listen to myself and realized that my happiness is central to perform and advance both in my career and my life. I didn’t want to sell my soul anymore; I craved a career that would make a difference by creating positive social change. I understood I needed to pursue something that would make me feel inspired, passionate and excited. My mind, and most importantly, my heart, demanded that I get my blood pumping. I knew I had to make a change in order to wake up alive every morning, even if I was exhausted and there’s a thunderstorm outside and my bed feels like a giant floating cloud. Finally, I left my advertising job and found joy again by enrolling back in college to pursue a new career path – journalism. As I discovered my desire to interact with everyday people in a different way than others, I felt compelled to push myself out of my comfort zone and against insecurities even more. It felt terrifying. But at the same time, I could sense my eagerness to align my values with my career goals more than ever. And while this may sound idealistic, perhaps I just needed to be reminded that we only get one chance to live. I allowed myself to be authentic, and along the way, I learned that life is about having the courage to take risks. For me,
having the privilege to pursue a new career path meant I would not only develop my mind in new ways, but also, that I would be able to embrace the freedom of experiencing a new process where I could be mentally stimulated to do and feel something. It’s easy to stop believing in yourself. However, overcoming my initial fear of not being good enough led me to realize that going into debt in the midst of a recession was the best thing that could have happened to me. Learning about new projects alongside challenging individuals helped me take my mind off my uninspiring career choice. Spending time around young people keeps me young. Their energy is infectious, and they seemed to like being around me as well. Had I not gone back to school, I would not have the confidence or skills to apply for a job writing articles. Had I not gone back to school, I would not have realized that happiness trumps price. Had I not gone back to school, I would not have been able to feel excited about life again. But most importantly, had I not gone back to school, I would not have realized that the fear I felt for trying something new, or being judged, or failing or creating something bad doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. What does matter is our ability to try and realize when you are meant for something bigger.
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Graduate school: ready or not, here we come By Zayn Abidin Photo illustration by Zach Brien
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Most college seniors will mark the end of their educational career in May of next year after getting their undergraduate degrees and moving onto a set path towards their desired career. But that won’t be the case for everyone. Some will extend their stay in school for just a couple of more years by going to graduate school. Caroline Knecht, psychology senior, said that post-graduation she plans on attending grad school for speech language pathology. “I intend to complete my Master’s degree within the next two years and hope to be working in a hospital setting, in the near future, providing speech and language therapy to pediatric patients,” Knecht said. Citlali Mascarro, criminal justice senior, will graduate a semester early in December and said she will then start applying for grad school. “I plan to attend grad school in my hometown of Chicago. I have gotten in contact with the admission counselors at the University of Illinois in Chicago. I want to earn my masters in criminology,” Mascarro said. For Luke Rose, finance senior, the immediate plan post-graduation is to work, but he says that grad school is definitely in his near future.
“I have accepted an offer to go work for Yahoo in Sunnyvale, California as a Financial Analyst. I’ll start in the summer of 2016. But I plan to go to grad school a few years down the road,” Rose said. While Rose said he may not be going to grad school immediately, he knows that it will benefit him in the long run. “It will either give me an opportunity to pivot my career, if I choose to change the line of business I want to be in, or further my credentials to continue to progress in corporate finance,” Rose said. Speaking of the advice that she has received during the planning and preparation for grad school, Knecht said most people have told her to stay focused. “Remain determined to accomplish your goals, but most of all to have confidence and belief in yourself. You have the ability to create your own journey,” Knecht said. For Mascarro, the advice that she has received the most is to not wait to go to grad school. “Many factors get in the way of finishing grad school, for example a job, a financial situation and family. The more one waits, the harder it is to finish grad school in a timely matter,” Mascarro said.
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It was nearly midnight on the night of my high school graduation. I knew that I would have to come to grips with the reality of college, but it was something that I had never wanted to even think about. I felt like I was done with school, and couldn’t fathom committing myself to another four years of education. I had heard the stories. Now that I was most likely headed for college, I would be on my own: no parents, no support, limited guidance from professors and most importantly, my faith would die out. I admit I was afraid, and I wasn’t ready to leave. It wasn’t until I opened a small envelope on the kitchen counter that my life would change for the better. I was being awarded a partial scholarship to attend Loyola University New Orleans. Loyola was a school that I had considered for a while. As a child, I would spend my days exploring the campus of this Jesuit institution without a care in the world. My parents are both alumni, so I already knew it would cost an arm and a leg even with the scholarship. It wasn’t until freshman orientation that I realized what an enlightening, reassuring experience college could ultimately turn out to be. True, there were no parents, mountains of responsibility and days and nights of Cheez-it crackers for the poor souls living on campus, but I slowly began to realize that many of the common misconceptions I held about college were being put to rest. I realized that the professors will guide you and help you discover your niche in life and society. I didn’t expect to be hounded for not signing up for an internship or notified when I missed classes or was even late on various occasions. For a long time, I was taught that professors simply didn’t care about what I did or how I attained my education. They
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were being paid all the same. Loyola showed me otherwise. It became clear that I couldn’t be more wrong. While the sense of community and freedom was making my college experience worth while, there still remained the matter of faith. True, Loyola is a Catholic university, but it is a university nonetheless. Somehow I didn’t quite envision my faith in God growing stronger in a college setting. It was something that has been a part of me my whole life, and I wasn’t willing to give that up for the world. Yet, as my junior year came along, my final resistance to college life was broken. It was in a Faith and Science course that would ultimately enhance my faith in God. It was an article by Pat Forseralli that helped me to understand better that God is never truly absent in times of crisis, but he works inwardly through his children to bring heaven on Earth. I learned that science and faith go hand-in-hand in expressing God’s place in the universe and that one cannot truly be understood without the other. Now that I am nearing the end of my college experience, I find myself feeling a bit overwhelmed and indebted to this community. I have found a home, a calling and a sense of my place in this world. In many ways, I am honestly afraid to embrace the unknown. Graduation means that I would be leaving behind the community of friends and professors who have become an essential part of my life. Suddenly, I am that 18-yearold kid all over again who was afraid to take his next step. It is here that I discovered how to enhance my gifts and use them effectively in a working environment. I stepped on this campus as a stranger some three years ago. I can now say without shame that I don’t want to leave.
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Wait! I’m not ready yet
By Mark Robinson
Photo illustration by Zach Brien
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504-280-6385
Kim Williams Ph.D. Interim Director 504-280-5503 khwilli3@uno.edu
hrt.uno.edu
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Who I am is not who I was By Emily Branan Photo illustration by Naasha Dotiwala
When I started college three years ago, I had no idea what to expect, but in those few weeks, before freshman year started, I was equal parts terrified and more excited than I had ever been. College was hard for me at first. When I got to Loyola, I was painfully shy. I came from a small town in central Louisiana where everyone knew each other, so there was never any reason to break out of my comfort zone. It took me longer than it should have to make friends and start to feel comfortable in my new home. I was convinced that the idea of college as the best four years of your life was a lie. College has been harder than I ever expected it to be, especially coming from a high school that stressed college preparation. I thought that my good grades in high school would automatically transfer over to college, but it has not been that easy. It has taken hours of stress-filled homework time to maintain my grade point average. Even now, I still find it hard to make it through the whirlwind of assignments that comes with every semester. And while I have learned a lot in class, I learned a lot more about myself and can finally say I know who I am. The struggles of college have shown me how strong I am and how much I am capable of. While they’ve continued to give me advice, I no longer have my parents to lean on and I had to learn how to solve my own problems. Who I was as a high school senior preparing for college would never have imagined how much I would grow during college, and I am glad about that. I came to Loyola for a new adventure and I am really grateful that is what I got. When I started college, I remember
making a list of lofty goals I wanted to accomplish. One of the things I wrote was that I wanted to be less shy. I guess I thought college would make me magically become extroverted, and that has not happened at all. It has taken a lot of effort to get to the point where I no longer have to wait for my anxiety to subside before making phone calls or be able to go to interviews and not be extremely nervous. I’m by no means extroverted, and I have a long way to go, but in the last few years, I have come really far in terms of being able to hold a conversation with someone I just met. Another thing college has allowed me to do is understand my own strengths and weaknesses. I have lost count of how many people have asked how I am a mass communication major if I am so quiet and struggle with being shy. Despite this, I believe picking mass communication as my major was probably the best choice I could have made. It has forced me out of my comfort zone and to combat my shyness. If I didn’t make a phone call or meet with a source, I wouldn’t have a story to turn in and my grades would reflect that. This major gave me an incentive to push myself and to do things I would not have made myself do on my own. I am extremely grateful to have professors and classes that have challenged me from the first day of freshman year. I am looking forward to graduation, even though I am not sure yet what I am doing after. I am excited to see where life takes me and how much more I can grow as a person. The ups and downs of the past few years have made me feel prepared for whatever the next challenge may be.
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MAS TER OF CRIMIN AL JUS TICE
PROGRAM/CLASS LENGTH
FOUNDATIONS IN
30 credit hours
Criminological Theor y
18 month completion possible 8 week courses: evening & online Convenient for working professionals
Research Methodology Program Evaluation Criminal Justice Administration
GRADUATE RESEARC H ASSIS TANT SHIPS AVAIL ABLE DISCOUNTS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
WE ALSO HAVE... DUAL DEGREES PROGRAMS
MCJ/MASTER OF PASTORAL COUNSELING MCJ/MASTER OF SCIENCE IN COUNSELING
A P P LY T O D A Y A T
http://css.loyno.edu/criminaljustice/master-of-criminal-justice