Freshly sharpened number two pencils, scented Crayola markers, Elmer’s Glue, and the coolest looking lunchbox in the room; welcome to kindergarten. Back then, it was running around the playground, mastering multiplication and cursive, and going on cool field trips to museums; our elementary days. Next came junior high and after that high school. Then it was off to college—the
“best four years of our lives.” But after college, for the first time since the days of scented Crayola markers and cool field trips to the museum, we’re forced to ask ourselves, “Now what?”
While some have their lives plotted out on mental timelines, some graduates enter a transitional period in which they are unsure of which path to choose. Even for those who have it planned out, things don’t always go as planned. Finding a job right after college is more competitive than ever before, and the economy is closing the door on many career opportunities that have traditionally been available. Many students try not to think about that until they absolutely have to; until they are finally set free from this guided educational track they’ve been following their entire lives.
Rory Taylor, a Bowling Green State University Alumni from the graduating class of 2005, knows exactly what this transitional phase is like. Originally enrolled as a history student, Taylor switched from his major first to journalism and then to English. In the end, he graduated with honors with a degree in political science. These days, he finds himself working as a server at Biaggi’s Italian Restaurant and bartending at Admiral’s on The Docks in Toledo, Ohio. He said that he is having fun at this point in his life and
admits that he is procrastinating getting a “real job” for as long as he can.
Rory Taylor
“I don’t think I’m mature enough yet. I know it’s the right thing to do if
you want to succeed, but I want to live my life and right now is the best time to do that,” Taylor said, “I don’t have a girlfriend, a serious job, or anything holding me back at all.”
Taylor plans on saving his earnings for the trip of a lifetime, something
others who jumped into real careers simply don’t have the time to do. He is planning a trip to Europe in the fall, and is particularly excited to see
Ireland and Amsterdam.
“For some people, their social life diminishes when they enter into real jobs and move away, but for me, that hasn’t been the case,” he said. He compares working in a restaurant to dorm-living in the sense that you’re thrown into a place with people who are similar in age, and you either become friends with them or you don’t.
Although he is enjoying this phase of his life, Taylor admits to succumbing to societal pressure whether it comes from his parents or friends. “My dad is always down my throat about how he paid for my schooling and I’m not using it…not to mention it’s a little embarrassing at times Facebooking and seeing my peers living in Austin, LA, Seattle, Miami or Atlanta, working for some firm or some company and they’re already past entry level positions,” he said. “Then again, I see some friends that still work at FedEx.”
Taylor has tried on numerous accounts to get his foot in the door, offering
to work for The Toledo Blade as an intern.
“I would send in pieces of writing and they would tell me my work was good, but tell me ‘good luck elsewhere’,” he said. Taylor has also attempted to venture down the path of teaching, substituting in a charter school in Ohio for four to five days a week. The pay was not much, but it was experience he could add to his resume.
“It wasn’t teaching, it was babysitting,” he said. “I started in December and I was proud of myself for sticking through it because a lot of people around me were quitting. I will never substitute again unless it’s in a good school system.”
Taylor’s dream job is to become a sports journalist. He even sent pieces of work into ESPN and received feedback, but nothing fell into place. Taylor admits that these experiences have been discouraging and have made it hard for him to get on track. He mentioned that he has more “realistic” goals, which include becoming a high school teacher at a private school and becoming a musician.
“I’ve been a musician my whole life and I would like to hop on a band that is successful, maybe go on tour…I played a show once in front of 500 people. There’s nothing like it! If I could make money traveling and playing music, that would just be as good,” he said.
With these goals in mind, Taylor has many different paths to choose from. “Ever since I can remember, I felt like I was on this railroad track,” he said. “I knew where I was going and then after I graduated that railroad track just ended … Without direction it was just difficult, and I still don’t think I’ve found it.”
While graduation looms around the corner for most of us, the truth is that no one can predict with certainty which path they will take. There is beauty in this though, because it allows students a chance to breathe for the first time in their lives, allowing them to pave their own paths without the restrictions imposed by school, parents, and peers.
Rory Taylor
“I’m glad I didn’t rush into a real job because I’m having fun, enjoying my life, and traveling,” Taylor said. “Even though there is pressure to get a real job, you’re only young once. Everybody is apprehensive and nervous when they first graduate and worry about making all the right decisions, but rushing too much or procrastinating too much are not beneficial to you on either end of the
spectrum. Take the time to figure out who you are and who you want to be, don’t rush into anything.”
While everyone is trying to get ahead of the game, make big money and achieve success, it’s important not to lose sight of what is truly important in life. As Taylor put it, “You can’t put a price on happiness.”
