Graduation Update

[FayetheAspie]

Our diplomas were mixed up with the ones from another campus location so I am now waiting to get it in the mail. We all stood up by a sign one at a time to be photographed, were photographed by our groups and were photographed as a whole class. Nobody sat with me at the celebration afterwards and they did not eat any of the cookies I brought either.

 

[Cutesie]

Congratulations! It's too bad that you don't have the support of your peers.

 

[honeytoast]

Congrats on graduating! I would've eaten your cookies

 

[FayetheAspie]

My program average is 97.13.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

Do you have a plan B, I worked my way up certificates Basic, Advanced and finally two year diploma. Or is plan to obtain QC position, save some money enroll into some sort of chemistry program. either way one step at a time.
You have proven you can do it, Who Knows you could find yourself with a scholarship.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

My program average is 97.13.

Impressive.

 

[Jumpinbare]

Congrats! You can mail me your cookies!

 

[FayetheAspie]

I'll need a job before I can get further education. I will probably try to get a job doing environmental testing or something. Then I was hoping to pursue a forensic science degree.

 

[Aspychata]

Fascinating area.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

Congratulations, Faye.

Don’t they have teaching assistant and research assistants for graduate school? It covers your tuition and pays minimum wage for teaching a class or two.

That’s how I funded my graduate work.

 

[Mary Terry]

That's a huge accomplishment, @FayetheAspie. Congratulations!

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

I am expecting to some day see a DR. Faye you have it in you, just a matter of self confidence. I never followed my heart settled for a couple of college diploma's rather than a university degree Worked out OK, part of the decision was monetary. If the will is their the doors will open. My wife has two college diplomas, since we got married as I spotted the doors. Her employer paid for them. I did upgrades at my own cost did not want to be beholden to my employer, which worked out for me. each position change and educational upgrade made me more of an expert in my chosen field.

 

[Aspychata]

Definitely put yourself out there, check out all options. The worse answer you may hear is no, but you may hear yes, and that will open up doors for you. Try to tone down your nervous laughter for interviews, and pull back on being too descriptive when asked questions. Just be concise, on point with exactly what the interviewer asks you. The more interviews you do, the better you will get. If they ask a question, just mention you are nervous, can you think about the question, then give your best answer. I have used this before to buy me time.

 

[Dagan]

Awesome, and definitely look into museums and such, as archaeology areas use forensics quite often.

 

[FayetheAspie]

@Ronald Zeeman While I appreciate your confidence in my ability to accomplish all that, I don't really have any plans on pursuing a doctorate. If I did, I still don't see wanting to go around claiming dr. as part of my name. It seems senselessly formal iny opinion.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

@Ronald Zeeman While I appreciate your confidence in my ability to accomplish all that, I don't really have any plans on pursuing a doctorate. If I did, I still don't see wanting to go around claiming dr. as part of my name. It seems senselessly formal iny opinion.

My youngest son had a learning disability, worried he would be stuck with a menial position when he grew up,
So put a plan together, now turning 40 in a few weeks married to a lady with a Phd in education has daughter who is gifted. You just have to believe in yourself. He is a electro-mechanical technologist. speciality fixing robots also has back ground in cabinet making.

Either way I like mazes. usually just finding a way through.

 

[Ronald Zeeman]

The real question is are you capable or interested in this level of education. In my opinion, you are capable. Interest may change as the journey goes on and confidence is gained. As a family we have been waiting for three generations
Only one came close, a cousin went to England in the 1960's major was English language got kicked out of program as he was gay. Offers among my nieces and nephews. all declined not worth it, Economics, history. engineering.

 

[FayetheAspie]

@Ronald Zeeman I don't really see why a doctorate level degree would be necessary to be a technician.

 

[FayetheAspie]

Try to tone down your nervous laughter for interviews,

That kinda depends on what happens. The issue might not even come up but if I feel awkward much at all (which is common in a setting like that) it likely will. I can often manage to limit it to involuntary grinning (often doing things like biting the inside of my cheeks. If something startles, scares, unexpectedly embarrasses me, or I am hit with sudden pain (physical or emotional) and I don't have time to process it, then I often LAUGH (like crazy). Once that kicks in, it pretty much has to just run it's course. I might feel mildly dissociated for a couple of minutes afterwards and have physically trembled for a minute or two afterwards as well. A good example would be the time a rough group came in from the local carnival and a young woman that was part of their group got beaten up at the store where I worked, we could hear fist striking her from several aisles over and we had to gather in a certain aisle for safety. Someone told me about the girl and I was afraid she might be dead then I heard someone say something about someone having a gun and next thing everyone knew I was laughing my head off. After my laughing fit finally came to an end, a woman who happened to be some kind of counselor/therapist and had also taken shelter on the aisle asked if I was ok. I insisted that I was and she asked me the time. When I checked my watch she said something to the effect of if I was ok, why was my hand shaking. She seemed like a really nice lady even if a tad sneaky.

 

[Judge]

@Ronald Zeeman I don't really see why a doctorate level degree would be necessary to be a technician.

Exactly. Overkill in a competitive American job market compounded by a fluctuating economy and political uncertainty on steroids. Keep your sense of realism, as you'll need it.

This reminds me of a very candid conversation I had with a manager about higher education relative to "bolstering" my career. She told me that in the real world, fancy titles (she held) meant first and foremost from a management perspective that they had to be paid as such. Something that didn't work out so well for job applicants in a shaky economy and tight corporate purse strings.

That a fancy title might look good on a resume, but it may also sideline a potential employee who costs too much to hire, and if already on the payroll could be the first let go.

Your entire adult life has revolved around a relatively healthy economy. One that appears poised to go over a cliff in a matter of months. Best to remain realistic in terms of how this impacts the job market, and particularly potential public sector employment. Considerations that could be quite alien to so many young people entering a job market once considered lucrative.