One of the most popular questions I receive on tours or via email is: what can I do with my degree? My friends and the students I speak to are often consumed by the fear of unemployment after graduation. I am not immune to this fear. With constant talk in the media about the fluctuating economy, and lay-offs occurring in a variety of different industries, it’s hard not to think about. However as my fourth year of university comes to a close, my views on post-secondary education have begun to change.
Recently, while packing up to move, I found one of the first essays I ever wrote at Brock. It was for my first year English class, and it was about a short story that I still remember to this day. I didn’t fail the essay, but I didn’t do swimmingly either. At the time I thought it was pure gold, but reading it back now, the essay was horrible. I feel sorry for the professor who had to read it. That’s when it really hit me – I’ve come an extraordinarily long way in four years. Although the gap between grade 9 and grade 12 is a large one, I would argue that the gap between your first and last years of university is even larger. I have learned so much in four short years. Most of this can be attributed to my incredible profs, some of it can be attributed to my work ethic, but either way I can no longer recognize the voice within that first year essay. My brain has undergone a critical transformation, which will help me succeed no matter which career path I end up in.
A degree should not be viewed as a ticket to a job, but as a ticket to social awareness, self-reflection, intellectual illumination and critical thinking. So instead of racking your brain worrying about your job prospects, prepare to work full-time as a thoughtful and revolutionary citizen of the world, future Badgers.
