So there’s 50 days left until graduation. 50 days until you walk across that stage and say goodbye to your undergrad career forever. 50 days until you’re done with school. Period. Now is the time when those without jobs or plans start panicking - what’s next? Where will I be come September? What is real life all about? Well… the truth is, it’s about whatever you want it to be about. Your path is no longer laid out for you which, yes, can be a very scary thought, but it can also be liberating and exciting. When your path isn’t clear, your options are endless. YOU get to choose what you do next, and all those years you spent inside the four walls of a classroom are behind you. Don’t just get a job to have a job, not unless your financial situation is absolutely dire. Just because you graduated college and moved home or moved away from your friends doesn’t mean that you have to be miserable. Fellowships Most of the post-grad fellowship attention is given to the Fulbright, a prestigious award granting graduates the opportunity to pursue grad school abroad, complete a research project (of their creation) abroad, or teach English abroad. While the application process is no easy feat, and the competition can be fierce for certain in-demand locations, the rewards are well worth it. The applications are due in October of every year, but it’s best to get started well before then, and the final results typically are announced in March or April. Numerous Marist grads have been awarded these over the years, to places such as Israel, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Italy, India, Brazil, and this year’s newest addition - South Africa! Peace Corps Similar to the Fulbright, this program offers graduates the chance to move abroad and immerse themselves in a new community, aiding in life and development of the area in which they are placed. However, this program is less focused on scholastic merit and more of a volunteer position that places you in rural areas of poor countries. The time commitment is longer as well, with 27 months the set standard for Peace Corps positions, but the experience is equally as rewarding. For some more insight into what Peace Corps life is like, check out James Holodnak’s (class of 2015) profile here and blog about his experience here. Teach English Abroad Alternatively, if you don’t want to go through a program and just want to move somewhere and find your own job teaching English, there are plenty of opportunities to teach abroad! Though TEFL courses are not necessary in every location, they do significantly help your chances of landing jobs, and they also help you prepare. The most lucrative (and numerous) jobs tend to be situated in Asia, with China and South Korea as strong contenders, but you can secure jobs across the world if you’re really determined and do your research! AmeriCorps AmeriCorps is a government-sponsored program that places you in a community where you live at the poverty level of the area, and work to help the community in a variety of ways. The website states: “AmeriCorps engages more than 80,000 Americans in intensive service each year at 21,600 unique sites including nonprofits, schools, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups across the country.” Typically, AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers serve for a year in their community and they have options to help with loan payments (forbearance, forgiveness, etc.). Likewise, if you’re spiritually inclined there are volunteer corps specifically dedicated to communal living and spiritual enrichment in your own soul and the community you’re a part of, such as Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Teach for America With zero teaching experience necessary, you can teach in a school that desperately needs YOUR leadership and insight across the country, with many locations to choose from in both rural areas and inner-city locations. The job is paid and comes with benefits, and offers assistance with loans and finding housing. The commitment is two years, but the impact is forever. For more information, look here. Note: be conscious of your loans and be conscious of your personality. Taking risks is important and exhilarating, but don’t take on more than you can handle all at once.
And also remember that the path to your "dream job" or the job that's best for you may not yet be clear, and there's no rush to get a steady career and settle down in one place. Each person's path is different, and just because your timeline doesn't match someone else's doesn't mean you're not living "the right way." For more information on these and other programs, make an appointment with Pat Taylor or come to our office and pick up one of our “Alternative Destinations” info packets!
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