Working For Free

With an uncertain future ahead of college students, the only right thing to do is buckle into the job that you have right now or start looking for an internship quickly.

Luisa Rochez, a graduate of Adelphi University understood that having a job before she left college was the only way to keep her head above turbulent water.

"I interned during my senior year and made sure I worked hard enough so the company best decision was to hire me," said Rochez.

Gaining hands on job experience before leaving college provides students with some stability in an unsure job market.

"Employers overwhelmingly point to internship experience as the most important factor they consider in hiring new college graduates for full-time positions," states Peter Vogt of Young Money.

Counseling Students in a Recession

A look at Adelphi University's Counseling Center and how this service helps depressed or overwhelmed students.

Holiday Jobs

If your pockets are empty for the Christmas Holidays, relax because it is easy to get a part time job during this hectic season.

Go to your local mall and I can assure from experience that they will hire on the spot. 

Or just head to Macy's Herald Square where they are doing a massive amount of hiring for the season.

There's no reason to be a broke college student during Christmas.

Higher Education Equals Risk and Regret

Looking at others experience to put things in perspective.

Things That Makes Me Happy

 When college leaves you feeling stressed and anxious, remember the things that makes you happy.  At Alternet.org, there is a study that shows the ten things that makes people happy.  I have four, but take a look at what science thinks will keep you smiling.

1.  Exercise - speed walking in the morning for 20 minutes relieves the stress of college.  


2.  Blogs - stumbling upon an interesting blog leaves me feeling elated for weeks.


3.  Movies/TV shows - I am currently obsessed with Dexter and I'm a huge Harry Potter fan.


4.  Family-  Thanksgiving was calming and the break I needed to see the people I treasure the most.

No Student Left Behind

 
The train pulled up to the station, its door opened spilling out rush hour commuters. I knew the train was overcrowded, yet I attempted to squeeze in while yelling for others to make space.

I pushed while being pushed upon. Others managed to slide in while I was pushed out of the train.

The train door closed in my face again and I was left on the side with other commuters that couldn't fit. This was the third train I tried to board in the past ten minutes that again had reached its limit.

As I contemplated my train dilemma, I remembered what the financial aide counselor at Adelphi University said about my financial aide funds reaching its limit and that there was no more money left to meet my financial needs.

This is what attending college feels like when you come from a low income household. Having the door closed in your face over and over again, and being left behind because you are not agile or swift to understand the system.

The New York Times reported last summer about the budgets cuts being made on state and federal grants and how it would affect students coming from a low-income family.

College education is becoming more unequal, and as a junior, I feel apprehensive for students coming from low-income households thinking they too can have the college dream.

College is a great experience that everyone should have, yet if it's unequal, what is the sense in even boarding the train?

Living with my Parents...AGAIN

Vanessa Salvador had her future all mapped out after graduating from Adelphi University two years ago.

It did not involve living with her parents again.

"I majored in English and graduated with no job, no apartment, and no money," said 24 year old Salvador. "I am disappointed in myself."

Many graduating seniors at Adelphi feel the pressure of entering the real world with a significant amount of student loan debts, knowing they too must live with their parents in order to survive.

According to 2006 census figures, 46.7 percent of women and 53.7 percent of men ages 18 to 24 live at home, although those numbers include college students living in dorms, reports the Washington Post.

Students like Salvador are unwillingly giving up their independence in order to pay off their debt.