Have you ever wondered what goes through the mind of a senior about to graduate from college? Here’s a little window into that world.
In an interview with Cathleen Kenney, Iona College graduating class of 2016, she provides a glimpse into what it’s like to be a senior and how it feels to be graduating.
Alicia Simeone: In one word, describe your senior year?
Cathleen Kenney: Instantaneous!
AS: Why that word?
CK: Everything seemed to go by so fast -- it made everything seem more hectic because I would blink and two weeks had passed, and then all of a sudden finals were coming up. It was crazy, there’s no other way to describe it other than the cliché “four years go by so fast” thing. I still can’t believe graduation is in two weeks.
AS: What's your major?
CK: I’m double majoring in English and Mass Communications with a concentration in Advertising!
AS: How did you decide that major?
CK: I always knew that I wanted to be an English major -- I loved reading and writing and I realized early on that I wanted to be an editor. I chose Mass Comm. as well because I thought it would be an excellent complement to an English major and offer more job opportunities.
AS: Did ever doubt or think you should change majors?
CK: Not at all! I think I’m lucky in that regard, I know plenty of people who took months or years to figure out what they wanted to do, but I’ve always known and I thankfully had some amazing professors along the way who helped confirm that these majors were exactly what I wanted.
AS: What was your biggest fear going into senior year?
CK: I think my biggest fear was knowing that I would have to leave it all behind. I didn’t want to have that irking feeling of “this is going to end soon” in the back of my mind every time I did something, but I think it actually forced me to make the best of it. And that mentality really came in handy as finals rolled around.
AS: Has your fear changed or is it the same?
CK: I’m still scared about everything coming to an end, but I’m excited, too. I think my mentality about it being over has changed because now I just can’t wait to start new adventures, so I’m not as worried about this one ending.
AS: What's going through your mind now that graduation is only a couple weeks away?
CK: Oh, tons of things. My mind has just been a jumbled mess of job applications and road trip plans and student loan payments. I’ve been trying to focus one day at a time -- you know, getting through finals, then graduation, then everything else. But it doesn’t really work like that. Finding a job has definitely been a priority, but I’ve also been thinking about my friends and how much I’m going to miss them, even though we’ve already made a million plans to see each other over the summer.
AS: What are your plans after graduation?
CK: The first thing I’m going to do after graduation is get a good night’s sleep. After that I’m hoping to find a full time job as an editorial assistant or something of that nature, and I currently work part time as a content writer so I’m going to continue with that! But most of my immediate plans just include reading the books I never had time to read during school and catching up on Netflix.
AS: What's your advice for incoming freshman?
CK: Join clubs! Seriously, whether you make lifelong friends or just have something to put on your resume clubs are such an important part of the college experience. I joined Iona’s literary magazine when I was a freshmen and I’ve made almost all of my closest friends through it. If you don’t know what you’re interested in, try everything. You’ll have so much more fun if you’re involved on campus.
AS: What's your advice for rising seniors?
CK: Find the balance. It’s going to seem impossible to deal with internships and class and job searches and still attend senior nights at your local bar but it will be so worth it. Sometimes you’ll have to compromise, and that’s okay. Just don’t let yourself get too wrapped up in the future to appreciate what’s going on now.
AS: Is there anything you would change after your four years, any regrets?
CK: I wish I had started doing internships earlier! I didn’t have one until my senior year and it was one of the most awesome experiences, it really opened my eyes to different career options I could pursue. Now I can’t help but imagine what would have happened if I did two or even three of them.
AS: What are you going to miss the most?
CK: I’m really going to miss the community part of college. I don’t think I could walk around anywhere else and see fifteen familiar faces, or have my friends be right there to go on Dunkin runs with at 1 a.m. The campus really felt like home because of all the people on it.
AS: Do you feel ready?
CK: I do feel ready. I’m nervous, sure, but who wouldn’t be? I just think that I’ve been blessed with such amazing opportunities over the years to meet new friends and learn new things and take on new roles and now it’s time to move on and see what new opportunities come my way.
AS: What's your best memory from your four years?
CK: There was a really bad snow storm last year and classes were cancelled, so I and my roommates spent the day drinking champagne and watching horrible TV shows. It was nice because we were just in our own little world, we didn’t have to worry about homework or rushing to work or an appointment. We just got to be there with each other and I loved that.
