Forget the crap and toss your cap

Dennae

Taylor and Malia Teran

Nichols Hall 323, 1801 East Cotati Ave Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Telephone: 707-664-2776

Business & General Inquiries: sonomastatestar@gmail.com

Corrections and News Tips: star@sonoma.edu

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The STAR is published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters. The weekly publication of the STAR is made possible by Instructionally Related Activities Funding.

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Opinions expressed in the STAR are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the STAR or SSU. The editorial reflects the views of the STAR Editorial Board on issues it considers to be of particular relevance to the campus community.

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The commentary expressed in the unsigned editorial represents a majority opinion of the STAR Editorial Board on a topic facing the campus community in keeping with journalistic precedents of other major newspapers, and may not be shared by all staff writers.

Looking down at the black rental robe that matches the ones behind you, names are being read, and the crowd is cheering. Are you sweating? It’s the third weekend in May and you’ve waited years to get to this point, to celebrate this accomplishment; your college graduation. As you wait for your name to be called, so that you can stride across the stage, there’s something in the back of your mind. Could it be your celebratory dinner? Or maybe you’re simply trying to spot your family in the crowd. More likely it’s the thought of your post-graduation plans and having to find an answer to the dreaded question “What’s your next move?”

Students likely relate to fellow graduating senior Alice Tikoibau when she says “...Geez, can’t I just go through this chapter in my life before discussing the new one!?”

For many students, the moment they announce their final year of college they begin to experience the overwhelming thought of finding a job, let alone a career that utilizes their degree. Through a poll via Instagram the Sonoma State STAR discovered that 84% of graduating seniors do not have a job lined up after graduation.

Higher education students attend college in order to gain an education and to receive a degree that is intended to make it easier for them to find a career opportunity in the world. However, in a FAQ with EmployedHistorians. com, they stated that according to Indeed, it takes the average graduate about seven and a half months to find a job.

Thankfully, Sonoma State students are granted access to The Career Center on campus up to a year after they graduate. The Career Center can assist with resume building and even interview prep. Having this resource post-grad can be beneficial considering many students are worried about other factors; most commonly their living circumstances after graduation.

Soon-to-be Sonoma State alumna Willow Ornellas explained how her first moves after graduation actually concern where she’s going to be living and how her life will be functioning post-graduation. Ornellas, who is a former

News Editor for The STAR, stated, “I guess you could say I’m compartmentalizing all of the things that will be happening in my life immediately after graduation so I can rest easy at night knowing I have a plan and way to execute it.” Finally, Ornellas shared how this plan helps her feel confident in the changes occurring, and “it gets people off my back!!”

With the chaos of trying to find a job, trying to figure out your place of living, and actively still being a student, it can be hard to stop and remember that at the end of the day, a notable milestone is being accomplished.

As previously mentioned, students go to college to earn a degree to better their chances at a job or career. For some students that is their family norm and what is expected of them. For others, they may be transfer students receiving their second or third degree. But for many students here at SSU, graduating college is an accomplishment their families have yet to see. Approximately 48% of graduates at Sonoma State are also first-generation students.

However, a lot of students such as Melina Osmundson feel as though they still haven’t done enough despite knowing they’ve completed this milestone. Osmundson shared, “I do feel accomplished finishing my degree! I sometimes worry that I need to accomplish more but I do feel accomplished.”

While there are a lot of emotions to be feeling during this time, Ornellas acknowledges how graduating is a huge weight lifted off her shoulders as well. “... I’ve realized how much stress school has consistently brought to my life… [Finishing school] makes me feel more like myself again and my mental health is already improving.”

There are a variety of options and pathways to discover post-grad. Some will find themselves at grad schools and possibly a Ph.D. program. Others may have a job lined up, or may be going a completely different path toward a trade school. Regardless of where a student started, the path the student took to get there, and what their next step is; a milestone has been reached and an accomplishment has been made.