One Month Out From Graduation

As May 4th draws closer every day, a variety of feelings consume the seniors at Brenau University Women’s College. Mostly, it consists of anxiety. A common feeling of having a weight that just gets heavier until the day we put on the black robe and cap to walk across the stage.

Personally, as a senior who has been writing my senior thesis for the past few months, I have been feeling overwhelmed with excitement and nervousness. I have been putting all my time and effort into writing and researching my thesis, therefore I let a few of my other classes slip a tiny bit. There is tremendous pressure for me to graduate on time and with decent grades. Surely, I am not the only senior who feels this way. This adds to the overwhelming feeling that is already rising from stress and lack of sleep.

Aside from the struggles seniors face from thesis workloads and the impending graduation date is the expectation to have a job lined up. I confess that I have dropped the ball completely on this. I am so bummed that I had failed to receive interest from organizations and companies in the fields that I have actively studied for the past four years.  Understandably everyone wants graduates to have experience before they hire them. Hence, the importance of internships! However, in my studies I have been thrown into the field head first. As my time at Brenau progressed so has my skill levels due to hands on experience. Due to having all of the opportunities Brenau has provided, Brenau graduates should be recognized for having the experience and practice that employers search for.  This is adding to the never-ending pile of stress.

By the time that graduation rolls around, I will be so excited just to be able to breath again. Yet then comes the job hunt and fear of being unemployed for longer than the summer. This has received such a bad stigma that I have come close to panic attacks. Seniors, if you struggle as I have, know that you are not alone. Keep fighting and proving your worth even past graduation. We are  “Gold refined by fire” so we can take the heat!