Graduation is right around the corner for GC seniors. In May, these students will say goodbye to their college life and move to a new chapter.

This means different things for many graduates. Some may continue their education, whether that be in graduate school, medical school, law school or another subject. Others might try to secure summer-time internships to gain some more practical experience. Some GC students will dive straight into the workforce and spend the upcoming months applying and interviewing for jobs.

Jordan Prinsen is a senior art major with a concentration in studio art. She is thinking about furthering her education beyond just her undergraduate degree.

“I think realistically my next step is to get my education master’s so that I can be an art teacher,” Prinsen said. “I’d also like to get certified in English so I can also teach English. My dream is actually to go across the country or maybe even overseas to teach English or teach art to people who don’t speak English.”

Prinsen will take advantage of the one-year Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program to earn her teaching certifications.

Another way that GC students can prepare for life after graduation is through internships. Internships are excellent sources of hands-on experience so that students can learn if they truly like this career. They are also very attractive on resumes, as they show a commitment to practical learning.

Emily Pitts is a senior chemistry major with a focus in the newly added forensics concentration. Pitts has worked to build this pathway since her freshman year at GC. It was finally implemented in Fall of 2021.

“I want to work in a crime lab,” Pitts said. “I actually went to a forensics camp one summer and I was like, this is it. This is what I’m doing. I decided that at the age of twelve, and here I am today.”

Preparing to enter the workforce is a huge task, both physically and mentally. Students not only need to participate in internships and assistantships to attract future employers, but they must prepare for a massive overhaul of life as they’ve known it for years.

Pitts spent her last summer doing an internship with the Sheriff’s Department in her hometown. She shadowed crime scene technicians and got to watch the collection and packaging of evidence at crime scenes.

Prinsen learned lessons in the art department that she has applied to her upcoming transition.

“I’ve had to learn a lot about letting go of pleasing people,” Prinsen said. “I think it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re looking at the future and the whole of what’s coming. Think of it rather than as one giant decision of ‘this is what I’m going to do with my life,’ instead it’s a bunch of small decisions.”

Both Pitts and Prinsen have also visited the GC Career Center for their mock interview and resume building services. The Career Center is in 110 Lanier Hall, next to the library.

Although the Career Center is best known to seniors who are required to attend mock interviews for their capstone, it offers many more services to GC students, regardless of their year in school. Jackie Stamper is the Assistant Director of Preprofessional and Graduate School Planning in the Career Center, and she is adamant that they have many more ways to help students.

“What the Career Center does as a whole is a lot more than just resume reviewing and mock interviews,” Stamper said.
How do salary negotiations? How do I look for jobs in other states? I love my major, but what career is going to be right for me? Because careers are changing all the time. Five years from now, there will be careers that don’t even exist today.”

GC Students all have accounts with the platform Handshake. Their accounts can be activated through Unify to see resume examples, interview preparation techniques, careers fairs, networking techniques and tens of thousands of jobs and internships. Handshake is also where students can schedule appointments with the Career Center.

Stamper and the Career Center really want to help students figure out how to take their major and their personal interests and pick a career that satisfies both. What you choose to study in college can be applied to so many more fields than students tend to think.

“Major doesn’t equal career,” Stamper emphasized. The Career Center is hosting several events and workshops this spring. Some notable events include Graduate and Professional School Week (Feb. 28 – March 4), the Non-Profit Government and Helping Industries Fair (March 10, Peabody Auditorium 12pm to 4pm) and the GACE Statewide career Fair (April 6). Other opportunities are posted on Handshake and Instagram @gccareercenter.