The Career Services department has helped many graduating students prepare for life after graduation. The Duke sat down with several seniors to discuss their anticipations for the future and their reflections on their time at Duquesne.
Carolyn Conte and Raymond Arke | The Duquesne Duke
The curtain is drawing to a close for many students’ college days.
Many graduating seniors have begun to look ahead towards their new lives — with equal parts anticipation and anxiety. The Duke sat down with several to reflect on their undergraduate years and look into what the future holds.
Trip Peters, a political science major, will be heading into the military.
“I will be commissioning as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and I will be serving as a Surface Warfare Officer on board a destroyer in Norfolk,” he said.
In a survey conducted by Duquesne Career Services of 716 students who graduated in 2015, just two percent said they were joining the military, according to Nicole Feldhues, director of Career Services.
“Having a job waiting for me means I don’t have a huge scare about income like so many other graduating seniors do in the U.S.,” Peters said.
Meghan Frost, a marketing major, said she might already have a job lined up.
“I have a job after graduation,” Frost said. “I can’t say where yet, because it’s not technically official. But I’m pretty excited for it, most definitely.”
Elise Wilson, an early childhood education major, said she hopes to find a job quickly after graduation.
“I don’t have anything specific lined up yet, but I’m going to start applying at places,” Wilson said. “I’m nervous to become part of the real world, but I feel like Duquesne prepared me and I will get a job with my degree.”
While some students will head straight into the workforce, others will be going back to school for advanced degrees.
Liz Benoit, a modern languages major, looks forward to continuing her education.
“I’m going to grad school for public health at the University of Minnesota,” Benoit said. “I’m excited and nervous at the same time, and it doesn’t feel real yet that I’m moving on.”
While Benoit will be traveling for graduate school, forensic science major Katie McRoy said she’ll be continuing her studies at Duquesne.
“Hopefully, I’ll get a job somewhere when I’m done [with graduate school],” McRoy said. “I’m excited to be here for another year so I don’t have to be a ‘real person’ yet, but I’ll definitely be nervous come next year.”
Senior Ryan Hutchison gave some final words of advice for current and incoming freshmen.
“Spend less time in your dorm, more time outside of your comfort zone, don’t burn any bridges and smile more,” Hutchison said.
Gigi Jeddi and Rebekah Devorak contributed reporting.
