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Thursday, October 2, 2003
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Ygnacio Nanetti • KRT CAMPUS
By Michelle Himmelberg
KRT CAMPUS
forth
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. — The Alta
Wee & Roasting Co. is a cool enough place.
into an eclectic neighborhood on 31st
Si, it serves a good latte and the occasional
poetiy reading or music jam.
It’s just not the kind of workplace Melissa
Etiglish had envisioned while studying for a
traness/economics degree at the University
ofCalifomia. Santa Barbara.
But there she was, a high school valedicto-
tian who graduated from college with honors,
coffee and politely asking if she
should leave room for cream.
Her credentials — no clue what to do in
the real world — helped her rapidly advance
lo the position of president and CEO of the
Tvegotmy degree, now what?” club.
Meanwhile, she cringed each time she
took an order from a young, well-dressed pro
fessional who apparently had figured out how
toputhisorher education to good use.
English tells this cruel story on herself. She
000 scientific artiH 'M the coffee house about two years ago, did
d since the l%0s/:
ually a sign thatt
lack stimulation!}
I work for six months, got laid off
I now works in the mortgage industry, at
DuxfordFinancial Inc. in Newport Beach.
She also wrote a pair of booklets that she
hopes will prevent other students from stum
bling around the way she did on her way from
school to career.
The booklets are aimed at high school and
college students, with slight variations.
The college edition, with a yellow caution
sign on the cover, is titled “The College-
Educated Waiter; How are you going to apply
your degree?” The high school edition has a
red cover: “Valedictorian turned Waiter; Why
you need to think about careers NOW!”
English self-published the booklets and is
looking for a way to distribute them in high
schools and colleges.
“I learned too late that college is only part
of the puzzle,” she said. “You have to plan for
a career. Just because you have a degree does
n’t mean you are guaranteed a professional
job you will love. You have to do the legwork.
... early on in your college experience. The
time to start thinking about careers is now!”
She repeats this last line several times,
concerned that students will dismiss it.
The books are written in a fun, breezy
style, with helpful exercises and illustrations
drawn by a friend.
They include letters from other students,
some who successfully found jobs they liked
and some who thought the perfect career
would magically appear within weeks after
graduation.
English, 25, still lives in Newport Beach
and thrives on the California lifestyle, surfing
and snowboarding and playing guitar.
But the grief still quivers in her face as she
ticks off some of her advice for students who
have no career direction.
Don’t pay for tuition — or let parents pay
— before you’ve investigated jobs or careers
you might like doing someday.
Do use the career center and library, but
keep going. Get some hands-on experience in
fields that interest you.
Do internships early — junior and senior
year of high school.
Network with people in the field you’re
pursuing.
Don’t choose a college major first. Choose
a career first.
English offers herself up as an “unsuccess
ful role model.”
“You think you’re doing everything right,
being really focused on classes, working hard
and getting good grades,” she said. “But it
wasn’t a very good plan because I didn't know
where I was going.
“Once you’re out of school, your flexibili
ty goes down the drain. You might not find out
until then that you don’t like sitting in a cubi
cle, but you still have bills to pay.”
English thought she was being practical
when she chose business and economics as a
major. Her father took the same approach and
is a successful computer engineer. Her moth
er, an artist, nudged her in that direction.
Only now does English realize she ignored
many of her own creative talents and interests
because she was so focused on getting a
degree.
After college, she began custom-painting
furniture and occasionally sells her pieces,
and she takes on interior-design projects.
But that's likel/to remain a side interest
because she intends to go back to school for a
master’s degree.
While at UCSB, English explored
resources at the career center, but found the
“2-inch thick books” to be intimidating. She
wishes she had started looking for career
guidance in high school, peppering coun
selors with more questions about career fields
than college applications. She wishes she had
taken more time to get on-the-job experience
to augment her studies.
“Most schools.just aren’t addressing this
issue, and if they do it’s sporadic,” she said.
“Until they do, it’s up to parents to encourage
children to explore careers early.”
>sures.
^7
Islamic Center
0444*
Come visit your local mosque and learn more about Islam.
Get to know your Muslim neighbors, enjoy international food.
Arts
nipt
Saturday, October 4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
For more details, please visit
wwwicbcs.org
Also, important lecture tonight!
Muhammad: Man & Myth
MSC 226, Thursday @ 7:30 pm
Islamic Center
417 Stasney Street
Sponsored by die Islamic Community of Bryan/College Station & the Muslim Students’ Association
SALOON’
BIGGEST DANCE FLOOR
IN BRAZOS VALLEY
THURSDAY. FRIDAY
& SATURDAY
Open 8pm-2am
Ladies No Cover
ALL NIGHT LONG
Guys $ 2.00 Cover
ALL NIGHT LONG
1600 S. College, Bryan
775-1852
(The old Rodeo 2000 location)
5th Annual
Strike
-A- i
Thon I
Five people per
>aw £ only
*15 per person.
Free t-shirts, door prizes
and awards for top bowlers.
orw October 7 S, 9
s, Plocker £ Welrner
or October 8, 9,10 at Rudder
Fountain
Questions? Email
strikeathoneyahoo.con
HELP US STRIKE OUT
5REAST CANCER!
Graduate Students and Seniors
WHO’S WHO AMONG STUDENTS
IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES
2003 - 2004
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
Who’s Who applications are now available for both graduate
students and senior undergraduates in the following locations:
Office of the Dean of each College
Office of Graduate Studies (302 Administration)
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs (IO ,h Floor Rudder)
Commandant’s Office (Military Sciences Building)
Student Programs Office (2 nd Floor MSC)
Student Activities Office (125 Koldus Building)
Sterling C. Evans Library
West Campus Library
http://studentactivities.tamu.edu/whoswho
Completed applications are due to the Office of Graduate Studies or the Department of
Student Activities no later than 5 p.m., on Friday, October 24, 2003.
Applications may be personally delivered or sent through US Mail or Campus Mail to either:
Office of Graduate Studies Dept, of Student Activities
ATTN: Who’s Who ATTN: Who’s Who
1113 TAMU 1236 TAMU
302 Administration Building 125 John J. Koldus Building
College Station, TX 77843-1113 College Station. TX 77843-1236
Questions may be referred to:
Kim Widdison (845-3631) Sandy Briers (862-1973)
kwiddison@vprmail.tamu.edu sandy @ stuact.tamu.edu
77777 vG/vVVvVvV
eIlection
Commission
/STUDENT
GOVERNMENT
ASSOCIATION
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77777777777777
Class of 2007 Elections
Vote for YOUR Class Council and
Student Senate today!
October 1 st and 2 nd 9AM to 5PM
Vote at the MSC, Commons Lobby, West
Campus Library, and at vote.tamu.edu
77777777777777