By Megan Ruge, Editor-in-Chief
Underclassmen, listen up: what are you doing right now? What activity is occupying your time right this instant? Are you doing something that you can be proud of, something you can tell a future employee about? These are important questions to ask yourself.
As I sit here applying to jobs, editing the Quill and reading the work of other students, I think of you. I think of what you are doing to prepare yourself to be in the position I am in. How are you readying yourself for senior year and, consequentially, the job search? Are you putting in the necessary work that will put you on an employer’s radar?
If you are answering any of those questions with a no, you need to consider making a change.
This is the problem that we as a collegiate society encounter. Students arrive on campus, discover the ability to procrastinate and fall into nasty habits. The glamour of being an adult, being without guardianship for the first time, ropes them in and they forget about all the great things they said they would do. Instead, they discover their tolerance levels for many different things.
As college goes on, students forget that there are things they should be doing to build their resumes. Internships are a thing that none of them have. Advisors are those people they know exist but never meet with. They are learning, but they aren’t applying what they learn. They aren’t ready to take the next step into the post-collegiate world.
At this point, it seems that nothing can be done, but there is. If this is you, start now. Stop wasting your tuition dollars on 18th Street, Youtube and Buzzfeed quizzes. Turn around and walk back into your advisor’s office. Get on their schedule and get ready to get the most out of Susquehanna because your education is only as good as you make it.
Step one, align yourself with extracurricular work. Each department comes with a set of extras. Whether that be clubs, research opportunities or on -stage productions. Becoming involved in something is simple, but you have to know where to look. Telling your advisor that you’re interested in doing more to further your education will open a door for you in a big way.
Think of your advisor as an insider; they know the in’s and outs of your department. Because of this, your advisor is the perfect person to put you in a position to apply what you’ve learned outside of the classroom.
Step two, take initiative. Look for an opportunity to take the lead on a project, in a club or even on your own. Piloting your own path to success is important because you’re the only person who gets to prove why you deserve a job.
A good way to initiate applying what you learn in a hands-on way is to work on a self-led project. Talk to your advisor about how such a project can be completed and help you get the most out of your education.
Finally, don’t wait to go to the career center until you are a senior. The career center can help you make important contacts and develop amazing skills to help you in the future. Don’t have a resume? Go make one. Not sure where to look for internships? Go ask. The staff at the career center are friendly and I encourage meeting with them early to prepare for the next step.
Don’t wait until you’re a senior to prepare for what comes next. Use every ounce of time and soak up every resource. The only person you’re cheating is you.
The editorials of The Quill reflect the views of individual members of the editorial board. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire editorial board or of the university. The content of the Forum page is the responsibility of the editor in chief and the Forum editor.
