Second-Yearitis

It is real and you can feel it all around campus. As much as we do not want to admit it, we have it. Second-yearitis is hitting everyone hard. We come to classes and leave four hours later as quickly as we came. Rarely are there any second-year students in the library anymore. We take twice as long on school assignments just because we cannot focus. Or we take twice as less, because we rush to do other things that are required for our re-entry into the real world.

There is also one other thing that almost no one talks about openly. Graduation is in five weeks and the economy is not as good as we thought it would be. Last year, we pitied the graduating class for their bad timing and believed 150% that when we graduate, the economy would be just about at the right level. I bet the first-year students are thinking the exact same thing now. With graduation approaching, my classmates and I struggle with the decision to take "a" job versus pursuing "the" job. We all came to school to acquire the skill and knowledge that would allow us to do what we love. And now the reality is that some of the jobs that we love and prepared for are not available. So what do you do?

It is a tough decision. On the one hand, we want to be responsible and on the other, we know that compromising now – although the easy way out – will have long-term, negative consequences and it distracts us from pursuing what we love. I have made my decision. It took me some time, but I did it. I have looked at my expenses, evaluated my options, had a long talk with myself and decided that...I will follow my passion!