Walk and Talk: reflections from graduating seniors

Graduating students at the University of Rhode Island have insight into the transformation that happens for students throughout the college experience. To try and learn from individual experiences, I interviewed three senior students,

Cedrik Samson, 22, a computer science major, Kassandra Florez, 21, a political science and health studies double major, and Alyssa Bartoshevich, 20, a medical laboratory science major. Though their own experiences and areas of study are different, these condensed interviews shared a common theme and a bit of wisdom.

 

Q: What are you doing in the future?

Samson: “I plan on owning my own IT business. But in the near future, there’s a CVS call center waiting to hire. I guess I’m satisfied with my degree since I’ve already gotten it, but I’m not so sure since jobs are hard to get now even with a degree. Was it really worth 5 years?”

Florez: “I actually have no idea. I’ve applied to a program in Spain to teach English. It’s whatever I have to do to get into grad school. I’m still preparing, I still need to figure my life out. I just wish I’d gotten more guidance.”

Bartoshevich: “Next year, I’ll be going to graduate school, studying epidemiology at Tulane University in New Orleans, and then I plan on doing some humanitarian work, hopefully in public health work. [My major] medical laboratory science is a holistic approach to science instead of a specialization. It’s not something I’d recommend getting a degree in, but it’s definitely a good springboard into graduate school.”

 

Q: In a few words, how have you developed throughout your college career?

CS: “Pretty good.”

Florez: “A weird little freshman who blossomed.”

Bartoshevich: “More dedicated to my field of study.”

 

Q: What’s something your high school self wouldn’t picture you having done in college?

Samson: “Meeting friends that are as good or better than me in [the video game] Smash Bros.”

Florez: “Joining a sorority.”

Bartoshevich: “Probably moving to New Orleans at the age of 20 without my family or my friends.”

 

Q: Any goodbye words or advice you’d give to current URI students?

Samson: “Definitely manage your time. Time management is everything. If you can manage your time, you can have fun, you can do work [and] hang out with your friends.”

Florez: “Keep on top your work, but also keep some friends. Schoolwork will go out I guess, but friendships are forever. Go to advising. Some people don’t even know that they can graduate. That’s just very sad.”

Bartoshevich: “Definitely participate in more activities and organizations, get to know people, get involved. It’s one of the best things you can do. This is definitely a life changing experience, you really get to find out what you’re doing in life.”