This was writtend by my Friend GerbsDC way back 1993, a few months after he graduated. He hopes the would-be grads out there would get something from this essay.

BEYOND A COLLEGE DIPLOMA
By Germaine De Castro

For a typical college student, graduation is undoubtedly the most important event in his entire educational life. Well, we couldn’t discount the fact that there are other significant happenings during college life such as being included in the Dean’s List, winning contests, or just plainly receiving a sweet yes from a loved one. Graduation is the time where you are about to trek the halls of a large venue like the PICC together with your fellow schoolmates, walk up the platform upon announcement of your name, receive the diploma, and the traditional bow in front of thousands recognizing yourself as a college graduate. This is also the time for last hugs and kisses mainly because there would be a great possibility that you might not be seeing them for a long time. Some of them might be traveling abroad and permanently settle themselves there or the rapid mushrooming of different business establishments which will definitely lead to separations among peers due to competitions from other job applicants more qualified for a certain vacant job position. Painful as it is amidst the glamor of the event, we could only accept it as a reality and a clear indication that a “new” life is about to be embarked. New, in the sense that, post-graduation blues is a totally different chapter in our lives. This is the real thing and it’s time to prove yourself.

Most of us might have felt a “What now?” feeling after the hostilities had taken place. Inner questions like “Will I be putting up my own business or just start at the bottom as a mere employee?”, “What sort of industry would I be indulging in?”, “How long would it take for me to land a job?”, and “Are my college achievements good enough to put me at an advantage against my job competitors?” would definitely prop up in the minds of the graduates. Let’s not forget the famous “Will I be successful in my career?” statement. I’m sure all of us had thought of this.

Life after college is a totally different scenario. This is where the graduate would be gauged on how much skills were absorbed during his school days. Actually, the working environment is some sort of an extension of a person’s educational life. Learning is an endless process even after the grueling years of school life. This is the time where applications would be given more importance over theoreticals. Due to situational changes in our country and in the world as well, sticking by the book alone would give us a hard time confronting present working problems. What with the constant studies on Management Handling and the fast-paced updating of technology prevailing these days. An average student may turn out to be a more successful employee than an honor student when it comes to work performance. You would just be surprised that everything that you have learned in school are not enough to help propel you to great heights in your career. Those subjects are just your basic foundations to help you be competent in the “new world” you are about to enter into. A lot of new things to be learned are in store for the successful job applicant and it all would commence the moment that person would step on the well-mopped floors of that company reflecting deep inside, “This is it…wish me luck!”.

As you open the doors of your specific department, a warm welcome from your co-employees would be the opening greeting. Definitely, they would be asking themselves, “Will this newly-hired employee be able to contribute to the betterment of the company?”. That would really pose as a challenge for the neophyte and if it would definitely give him the jitters, that would be fine. At least that person is a normal human being and it happens to a horde of newcomers.

Moving a step further up the ladder of life leaving school days behind is a bold move in a person’s life. It would not be all regarding work after college life. Discovering more about life is essential for a person to grow into a more matured individual. He turns out more knowledgeable in tackling life’s obstacles forgetting the days of dependency during his early years. If he decides to live a married life, that would be another bold new step to even greater responsibilities. For the benefit of singles, it doesn’t follow that married individuals are more responsible than unmarried ones. Some couples just wouldn’t accept the responsibility tied to the sacrament of matrimony. Some of us sometimes get pressured in finding a partner in life and this would really cause problems due to lack of maturity. Relationships are not requirements but responsibilities. True love, stability, and a healthy spiritual life are major factors for a happy marriage.

Obtaining a college diploma means a whole lot more than just passing your course with flying colors and celebrating your heart out until the wee hours of the morning. It is your ticket to a whole new ride in your life. A ride full of learning more about the ups and downs of life… a ride full of challenges from God…a ride of everlasting education.

We are forever students in this world. Class dismissed.