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news:
Students say farewell
to university
By Avianta Robertson
Special to the On-line Forty-Niner
Like many other
students, biology major and graduating student Simonette Cruz
is anxious about facing the world ahead. She is awaiting commencement,
that symbolic step into the future. She has been counting
down since Feb. 1, when she had 116 days until her last final
exam.
"I'm scared
of growing up and entering the real world," Cruz said.
"I have to be a grown-up. I have to make money and pay
rent."
Susan Alvarez,
associate director of enrollment services, said that 3, 366
Cal State Long Beach students filed to graduate this spring.
So, how have seniors
been preparing for graduation?
Alan Avakian, a
business administration major, started looking for a job early.
He is now considering a job offer from Thompson Ramo Woolridge,
a company that designs and manufactures spacecraft.
"I didn't
know job searching was going to be such a big deal,"
Avakian said. "It's a bigger deal than people think.
It's just like taking an extra class or two, on top of your
schedule, in terms of sending out resumes and doing interviews."
He also urged students
to start preparing for their life after college before it
sneaks up on them.
"Look ahead
and see what's going on," Avakian said. "If you
want to go to grad school, start preparing for that. If you
want to get a job, start preparing for that, and get your
mind on it because it's something that will come up very quickly."
To some students,
graduation has just recently become a reality.
For human resource
management major, Edward Knight, graduation is not his No.1
worry.
"I haven't
really been thinking about graduation," he said. "I've
been thinking more about finishing the year and getting as
much as I can done, and I'll worry about graduation when it
comes."
For those who have
some time before finishing college, graduating seniors have
offered some advice.
"Don't wait
until the last minute for exams and papers," said biology
major Cruz. "When you wait until the last minute, that
computer is going to break down, and the printer is going
to run out of ink in the middle of the night when Staples
is closed."
Prospective employee
Avakian urged students to make the most of their college years.
"Get involved,"
he said. "That's always been something that I've told
people to do; any way that would make their college experience
that much better."
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