Graduation is the time when seniors find themselves exiting college and entering the world of careers and markets to find their place within society. 

For many of the seniors, they are ready to head out into it, but many others don’t know what to expect. 

One of the seniors that graduating this year is Brett Stanley, a general studies major and a baseball athlete. 

Stanley said he is excited for the end of the year but also saddened to leave baseball behind. 

“I’d love to play baseball as long as I can, but after that, I must find a job,” said Brett. “It can only last so long.” 

Another senior graduating this year is Ashaureah Reed, a fashion design major, who said that she is also excited for graduation yet anxious for the mature world ahead of her. 

“I’m not even going to lie; I’m nervous just about the simple fact that, like, what am I going to do after college?” said Reed. “I’m a real adult. I don’t have to worry about school. It’s all about a job, making money, making the lifestyle, so that’s scary.” 

In addition to graduating seniors, there are also grad students that are also leaving this year too. 

One such grad student is Brooke Wilson, a communication studies in mass media and critical studies major, who is nervous about getting a job. 

“I want to get a job because I’ve been a student for most of my adult life,” said Wilson. “I would love to work at Eastern. That’s my endgame.” 

Kinsey Romack is another graduating grad student who is getting a master’s degree in human services. 

Romack said they are ready to finally get out of school and feel as if they are prepared to finally find a job within their major. 

“I am very excited about graduating and finally having my master’s degree in human services to help me get into a job,” said Romack. “I think I’m okay after graduation.” 

Alongside the graduating seniors and grad students, some professors are worried for some students in select departments. 

Professor Gail Turner-Brock from the school of business and technology is one such professor who is worried about students getting a job and the hardships that may follow. 

“I feel like that with the education they’re getting here at Eastern, they should be able to find a job right away,” said Turner-Brock. “I think the biggest hardship that some of the students are going to face is learning how to get to work on time and being there for eight or nine hours and actually working.” 

Turner-Brock said she thinks even though these hardships will be a learning curve, she has faith that they will learn quickly and sufficiently to overcome this challenge. 

“Students are late to class. They don’t want to come to class, and when they do come to class, they don’t do their work,” said Turner-Brock. “I think it’s going to be a shock to their systems.” 

Rob Crownson can be reached at 581-2812 or at rjcrownson@eiu.edu.