Thanks for the graduation money but I need help finding a job

Now, I’m not saying Don’t give graduates money. That is the LAST thing I am saying. But for future graduates, let’s help them try to find a job.

I can tell you that I wish someone would have done that for me.

In the Spring of 1991, I was living my best life. I had just got commissioned as an Army Reserve officer. I was graduating from my alma mater. I was pumped up and motivated for the future.

And what was my future? I had no idea. I had a military commitment to go to my Officers Basic Course for 5 months from September 1991 to February 1992. As such, I was hesitant about applying for a job. Never mind that I had NO idea that having a military commitment would NOT have affected my ability to get a job or keep a job. As such, I didn’t try to look for a full time job. I worked 3 weeks as a telemarketer (NEVER AGAIN!). I worked for my alma mater as a special Resident Assistant for incoming freshmen participating in a summer program. And, in February 1992, I started looking for a job. Fortunately, after 2 months, I was hired for my first job working for the State of Florida.

However, in hindsight, I could have done a better job preparing. By the time I started my senior year, I had all my hopes on getting commissioned as an Active Duty Army officer. If that would have happened, I would have had a job right out of college. However, I never asked myself the question, “What is your Plan B if that doesn’t happen?”. And, unfortunately, no one asked me the question. So, I went through the year thinking that I would become an Active Duty Army officer. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Another thing that didn’t happen was that I never asked myself any questions about “Is there another way to be on active duty?” Or “what jobs would you like to do?” Or “where would you like to work?”.

So, when the time came to look at what my future would be, I had no clue of what I wanted to look like or what it could possibly look like.

And looking back, I really needed someone to guide me. I was so focused on graduating and trying to become an officer that I never gave thought to what I would do going forward if the military wasn’t an option. I didn’t know what to expect from the real world. All I knew was that I didn’t want to go back to Arkansas.

I was truly happy with all of the gifts, cards, and well wishes. I truly valued the feedback and the finances. But what I truly needed was career guidance. What I needed was direction into this big wide world of the unknown. Fortunately, it all worked out but I would have loved to have had someone help me get started.

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