This piece is the fourth in a series of “Ask an Alum” columns that will be periodically published online through a partnership between Elon University’s Young Alumni Council and The Pendulum.
The “Elon Bubble," as most would describe it, is a collection of intelligent and talented individuals whose college experience is very different than most.
The size and culture of Elon University are both conducive to creating a tight-knit community, which can sometimes shield students from the goings-on of the outside world. Upon graduating from Elon, students may find they need to re-adjust to how things work in the “real world.” Problems don’t magically work themselves out like they did at Elon and the world moves on whether you keep up or not.
In preparing for departure from Elon, it is imperative to have a plan. This doesn’t mean knowing your exact career path, but you shouldn’t waste your time with work experience that won’t benefit you down the road.
Be productive, achieve more than just “resume filler” and make your time count. It’s also very important to not overextend yourself, financially or otherwise. During your job search, take into consideration the position itself, but be cognizant of where the job is located. Determine where you will need to live if you accept a job, and be mindful of the cost of living there. The worst thing you can do is take a “cool job” in an expensive city like New York City or Los Angeles that forces you to spend more money than you’re making.
Another option to consider in the job search is one that often gets overlooked or frowned upon: finding a job near home and moving back in with your high school roommates (your parents). It’s an option that, if your parents are willing to agree to, is a very viable and even beneficial alternative in today’s economic climate.
While the idea at face value may sound unappealing, it can offer significant benefits to moving out on your own. The real world is expensive. Those small town college prices to which you have become accustomed don’t exist outside of Elon. While your new salary may cover the expenses of living on your own, moving back home can offer you the added ability to start saving money, which, until this point, meant buying used textbooks instead of new ones to have some extra money for more entertaining social expenses.
Moving back home is not atomically the best option for everyone, but it should be considered when planning for your post-Elon career. The most important part of this process, however, is to put yourself in a situation where you are able to enjoy this time in your life.
As the great philosophical theorist Aubrey “Drake” Graham once put, “You only live once.” Being pragmatic and responsible is important, but it’s equally important to not miss out on opportunities to enjoy your 20s. Don’t miss out on important events just for the sake of money; you’ll regret it down the road. Try to be reasonable, but if you go over budget one month for a wedding or a worthwhile vacation with your friends, do it. Just remember to have a plan.
Since graduating from Elon, Chris Shoemaker '08 has been living in Bethlehem, Pa. He is currently working for Guardian Life Insurance Company.