Graduates make after-college plans

Alex Burch - aburch@plu.edu

mast news intern

PLU students preparing for graduation are preparing for something a little more daunting: the rest of their lives. Students across campus have been applying for graduate schools and jobs, but what else is on the slate of a soon-to-be PLU alum?

Taking a year off and traveling seems to be a common path for students across the Lute Dome.

“I am going to finish my degree here at PLU with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry,” senior Justin Hull said. “I plan to pursue medical school and am interested in pediatrics, so I am taking a year off in-between the two to recharge.”

Senior Drew Gardner is taking a similar approach.

“After finishing here with a degree in economics and finance, I am planning on traveling to Europe for a year before I begin my career here in the states,” Gardner said.

Others at PLU explore the more traditional route, taking advantage of internships that supplement their resumes, often leading to full-time positions after graduation.

“I decided to pursue an internship so I could build my resume early on and gain practical work experience before I graduated,” senior finance major Robert Gibson said. “I am currently an accounting intern for Johnson Barrow in Seattle. I do not know if I will continue on with the firm after I graduate, but the option is great to have.”

Gibson said he thinks the experience he has gained through his internship experience has not only guided him in his career pursuits, but will open up doors in the future for other positions he may be interested in.

Students still trying to decide what to do after graduation have many options. As noted by multiple PLU seniors, all can lead to a successful future. Web sites exist such as monster.com or jobster.com that contain a database of active internships and full-time positions companies can post for themselves. Craigslist.com has also become a popular place to publish available internships because it is free for employers to post and prospective job hunters to search and apply for available positions.

Whether it be pursuing internships and going straight to work after graduation, or finishing a degree and taking some time off to re-charge before entering the workforce, both options can be beneficial to a PLU graduate.

Giving advice for undergraduates facing this challenge, Gibson gave a quote from Doors frontman Jim Morrison.

“Expose yourself to your deepest fear. After that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.”