- Carl Peaslee on Summer Stories Series: "The form is fixed now. It is at the bottom of the post...."
- Kelsey Brown on Letters to Freshmen: The High School Sweetheart: "I believe what she meant was that if you are consumed by your relation..."
- missed the point on Letters to Freshmen: The High School Sweetheart: "I think my name says it..."
- in a relationship on Letters to Freshmen: The High School Sweetheart: "why can't someone feel satisfied with their relationship and be happy ..."
- Jillian on Pimp My Campus: "oooh, new walkway! so excited to see it when I get back!!..."
Life As You Know It Is Over
The last time I remember being anxious about the “future” was during the college application process. All of us knew which athletes and star musicians had already been accepted to the elite schools of their choice many months, and in some cases, more than a year in advance. Then there was the Early Decision applicants who discovered where they would reside for the next four years of their lives in December or January. Finally, there were those who applied regular decision and watched as acceptances, deferrals, and rejections started to fill their family’s mailboxes and the bulletin boards above their desks.
It has been four years for me, and five for others, since the “future” was such a tangible concept. Life in Claremont has provided us with the comfortable, anxiety-free atmosphere that we have grown accustomed to, a relaxing paradise nestled somewhere between our History of World Soccer course at Pitzer and the Sunday morning brunch horror stories. Then, all of a sudden, the “future” becomes our day-to-day reality. Spring semester of junior year begins and that notion of uncertainty slowly creeps into our world.
Remarks over who has received offers from where can be heard over the beirut and flip cup table. It seems like everyone and their mothers are applying for the same position at the same investment bank, consulting shop, think tank, or military-grade arms producer (read: Lockheed Martin). Anxiety has crept into the normally chill social framework. Competitiveness runs rampant amongst enemies and friends alike. In reading this, I am quite sure that you have thought of someone who is currently hard to look in the face because you feel that the “future” you thought was secure five years ago upon acceptance to CMC is under attack.
Does this truth regarding your current views alarm you? Totally understandable. Maybe your rival is a better interviewer or understands the St. Petersburg’s Paradox better than you, but rest assured that the offerings you bring to the table are unique and appreciable. When push comes to shove, employers and interviewers want to work with someone who is not only competent and intelligent but also someone who they would like to work with. Perhaps knowing about a Kontinental Hockey League game in Chekhov, Russia in which 691 penalty minutes were issued due to a series of brawls could clinch that interview with Goldman Sachs. Is that really such a stretch?
I have no clue. The entire process is a crap-shoot. Things in life, no matter how we strive to control them, are simply out of our hands. A recommendation: save your golf clubs for when townies are on campus, have a beer with your friends, and enjoy your last taste of freedom.
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aknacer/2905869395/
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Lewis Corson
A junior at CMC, Lewis likes to think of himself as the cultural barometer for the Forum. He hails from an unknown Northeasterly state, enjoys "freestyling" in the shower and always uses Q-Tips after getting out. Averse to the academic world, Lewis can often be found checking for new music, updating his Netflix queue, and deciding which outfit looks best on Barack Obama.
Recent
2 Comments
2010-02-12
10:24:17
Although I understand the sentimentality of such an article, I believe it comes from a naive viewpoint. Many of the top students at CMC have been planning for their future amazingly well for the past 4 years thus allowing for a transition from CMC to the real world that although bitter sweet is exciting and teeming with potential. Sure there are some people who didn't get that great i-banking interview but most students were sensible enough to have a few contingency plans on the bench.. if CMC has taught me nothing, its to never leave home without several options in the wings and with all of networking skills well honed.
Sure have that beer, but not at the expense of some quality time with USAjobs.com
2010-02-15
11:19:13
Good wake-up call, even for us sophomores....