With graduation swiftly approaching, a new crop of undergraduates will soon attempt to join the work force. A millennial's job prospects seem few and far between, but we are still dawning the white dress, suit, cap, and gowns, preparing to cross that stage. In these final days many of us are scrambling to find jobs, including unpaid internships, retail work, and serving positions. We were taught by our parents that if we work hard enough, get all A's, and go to college we too can be the next Mark Zuckerburg. But the truth is a harsh one. Our experience, degree, and academic standing are not enough to secure that job.
So what do we do? We're living out our final days in our safe college cocoon, applying to jobs, but there's so much more out there to enjoy. It is thought that our generation, more than any other, believes that hard work and creativity come from passion. So I urge you not to spend this time staring blankly at internships.com and mediabistro.com.
Spring is a time of renewal, a time when we can all scrub at our bogged down lives and uncover new activities that generate intense joy. I have argued with the little, mean, nagging voice in the back of my brain telling me that I should be passionless. She tells me in her shrill voice to stick to the 10-year, beige cubicle plan she has for me. She, like many members of my family, doubts the validity of my liberal arts degree and my capability of finding a job.
The thing is, the world is in front of me, and the rest of my cohorts. There are so many options, all vying for our attention at once. Our generation is redefining the workplace, creating new and exciting jobs, and living lives driven by passion. Our dreams may expand, shifting in shape and space, changing and growing with us. This may mean that while we're starting up we may live in our parents basements for an amount of time, but we'll get there and it will be beautiful when we do.
So remember college, take the time to enjoy it, and devote time to finding a passion. It may not be so narrow as being a lawyer, a disappointment for your mom. There is so much more out there. Personally, I changed my major four times. I constantly reconstructed myself, pulling and pushing my mind to truly discover my likes and dislikes.
I am not, as the media brands me, a self-obsessed narcissist, constantly clinging to my phone. I'm a millennial, who believes in my generation. I see us working together to make the world better, constructing a new potential future for the next generation.
