“Career, schlamear! Who wants to be out there with all the robots when you can surf the web your whole life long?”
How many times have I heard that from my friends here at Kalamazoo College? Probably too often to count! And since K-College knows university students are notoriously shy of the world of work, they made summer internships a part of the “K Plan”. I ended up spending the summer of 1998 in New York City, interning with AFS Intercultural Programs, an organization I had previous experience with as an AFS exchange student to Spain the school year of 1995-96. My supervisor was Maria Brown of the Department of Diversity and Intercultural Education. Along with two other interns, I compiled statistics, created mailing and information lists, wrote letters to potential candidates and organizations, facilitated orientation programs, and contacted minority organizations across the country, all with the aim of increasing the diversity of students sent abroad with AFS programs and providing them with scholarships and financial aid as needed. My résumé and further information about this internship experience are just a mouse click away!
I came to K with very little knowledge of what I'd like to study, let alone what I'd like to do for a career. My previous jobs included food preparation, working in a concession stand, picking fruit, and being the row boss at a blueberry farm (for a little over minimum wage I got to supervise the other fruit-pickers). None of these jobs particularly struck my fancy as something I'd like to do for the rest of my life. So, you could say that my degree facility in the dimension of "career readiness" was quite low upon my entrance at K College. I didn't even know what my Liberal Arts degree would buy me in terms of marketability. Boy, did I learn a lot from the Career Development folks!
My major at Kalamazoo College is Sociology and my minor is Theatre Arts and Communication, with an emphasis on acting and directing. It took a little over a year and a lot of heart-searching to find my path, but know at least I have somewhere to start! I have had the privilege to work with outstanding professors and staff members, as well as visiting artist Holly Hughes, a Kalamazoo College graduate and New York City performance artist. I also enjoyed working with two-year professor and Chicago actor Adrianne Krstansky. I had a great time directing my own one-act last quarter, but have decided that, for now, directing does not fit the Sarah of the future. For a list of other favorite classes I’ve taken while here at “K”, you know where to click.
Unfortunately, none of these happy classes has
given me a clear idea of what career I would like to pursue. I love writing,
acting, costume designing, and talking about all aspects of sociological
thought--hopefully, someday soon, these loves will all be worth rent money.
Until then, I'll be teaching in a suburb of San Francisco at an under-resourced
public school through Teach
for America. I knew that if I couldn't have my dream job right out
of school (see previous sentences for a description of my dream job) then
I'd want to do something community-oriented with my time, something that
gave back to the country that's made me such a lucky kid so far. I'd read
about Teach for America in high school and admired their goal: "One
day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain an
excellent education." Also, having gone to an excellent public school myself,
and being a believer in the public schools, I wanted to do something to
help others to have the chances I had. Another great perk is that, provided
I complete my two-year teaching commitment, Teach for America will give
me a lump sum of money I can use to pay back my loans, or to go on to grad
school or further education. Teach for America places candidates
in urban and rural sites all across the nation; San Francisco happened
to be my first choice. I'll be teaching bilingual Spanish/English at the
elementary level. Check back in a while to see what grade level--I don't
even know yet myself! Teaching will be a challenge like no other I've faced.
I'm looking forward to it. And hopefully, given another two years, I'll
have decided on what I want to do at grad school--and maybe the rest of
my life! Through Teach for America I'll be working towards obtaining my
teaching certificate, so I'll at least be assured of a teaching job in
the state of California for the rest of my life, if I want it.