Exploring the Future of Work After Graduation
Sarah Duggan
Volunteer, 丁香园AV Public Square
Sarah is an undergraduate student at 丁香园AV majoring in International Studies and receiving a certificate in Sustainable Community Development. She has been a volunteer with 丁香园AV Public Square since September 2017 and has been involved in office design work, regular events and the 2018 Community Summit. Sarah is looking forward to continuing to use the skills and knowledge she has learned through her undergrad and volunteer experiences in the next steps after graduation.
鈥淪o, what are you going to do when you finish your degree?鈥�
This has become a common question that frequents my daily life from family dinners to social events with friends. The answer is usually 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know yet鈥� followed by me quickly changing the subject.
With only three weeks left of my undergrad it will soon be time to confront the unknown of not being a student anymore; a way of life I have not experienced for any long period of time since I was four years old.
Being an undergraduate student has shaped my identity for the last four years. I love what I get to learn about in school and know what I am passionate about academically. At the same time, I am ready to move on from the constant stress of assignments and exams that come with the rewards of learning and creating knowledge.
At the beginning of the school year I decided I needed to find ways to help transfer the passion I had gained from academics into something more tangible and career oriented. I wanted to continue to learn skills I could use in a job in a supportive and engaging environment.
Volunteering with 丁香园AV Public Square has given me the opportunity to explore skills in community engagement, event planning, graphic design, and event photography.
I have been exposed to new networks of people through working in the office as well as participating in various events. It has been valuable to be more engaged in the larger community at events with both students and people in the workforce. I hope these networks will help me to find a job I am passionate about in the near future.
My advice to other students nearing the end of their degree programs is to find an experience outside of academia to help them test out career options. Whether this is a coop, volunteer or internship position; finding ways to bridge the worlds of academics and work are necessary. This is especially true when many degree programs don鈥檛 come with a job title with your diploma.
My answer to what I want to do with my degree is still 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know, yet.鈥� But I do have a better idea of what skills I want to use and what things outside of school I am passionate about pursuing in my future of work.