Post-College Life in China!

It is undeniable that university graduates are facing more obstacles than ever before. Whether it be economic challenges, a lack of positions in a particular field, or being hampered by geographical positioning, a college degree  in the United States, is no longer a ticket to success. It is estimated that a 40.4% of the American population is in possession of an associates or bachelors degree which translates into nearly 125 million people walking around with experience in higher learning. Despite

such obstacles, even during the recession, it was estimated that close to 95% of college graduates in the United States were employed. This of course doesn't specify the type of jobs those college grads are getting, of course. And who knows how many grads are actually getting jobs in their field, the statistics are fuzzy.

Imagine for a moment, if you can, living in a country where the number of graduates increases more than a million every year! So not only are you competing with an unimaginable number of fellow graduates, but your job prospects as a graduate are worse than if you were a rural worker looking for work on any number of major construction projects being commissioned in Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou.

Unlike college in the USA, where the government has no say in what classes or degree you pursue, in China, the situation is far more sinister. Driven by the need for economic prosperity and unnerved by economic strife in America, Chinese universities are geared to becoming the worlds top research facilities, top economic think tanks, top everything. So what's wrong with being the best? Nothing, provided it's not at the expense of student minds, and provided said students have realistic prospects at the end of their invested time and money. Students have little choice in what they can study, unless it benefits the party and it contributes to China's economic future. Little value is placed in the arts, literature, history, culture.

Another issue domestic university graduates face in China, is an influx of Chinese students graduating overseas, and returning to the mainland with internationally recognized degrees from American and European ivy league institutions, taking up highly sought-after positions.

College graduates all over the world are facing more and more challenges, domestic and international. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to discourage students from pursuing their dreams, because despite statistics, or grim reports, there is still room in the world for college grads to pursue their dreams. 

The Eternal Student

Nothing tastes as good as freedom. Freedom from stacks of reading, free from the all night coffee binges just to stay awake to finish a research paper you started the night before it was due; freedom to get out there in the world and make a name for yourself. You just dedicated the last seventeen years of your life (including secondary school) to education, to achieve your dream, and after a long, painstaking search for the perfect fit, sifting through posting after posting of teaching jobs, you've finally found your dream job, at a fantastic school, and you get to work with an exceptional faculty of

great minds. Many college graduates, especially those who don't move on to grad school, don't appreciate the importance of keeping their credentials fresh and current. No matter what field you enter into, new thoughts, new theories and new research will continuously reshape the future of your profession, and if you're not keeping track of what's new and hot in your field, you risk the possibility of making yourself redundant, or in this case, as a teacher, you'll eventually fall out of touch with generational changes occurring with your students, and miss out on the opportunity to make a real difference.

Not only is it important to keep educating yourself to keep your skills sharp, but it's also a great way to stimulate your brain! Education doesn't necessarily have to be structured. Try taking an online class with Penn Foster College. You can create your own schedule, and get educated from the comfort of your own home. Furthering your education doesn't necessarily mean it has to be in a classroom or online setting, try taking a seminar, or signing up for a workshop.

These are great ways to learn in an open environment, where you can engage your peers in helpful discussions about what's new in the field. Perhaps you've been struggling with a particular component of the job, why not share your thoughts and concerns with other professionals who maybe having a similar experience?

Another fabulous option, and one of my favourite options is gaining experience abroad. This could manifest itself as a unique volunteer project, or perhaps doing a quick one year contract working in another country. Whether you volunteer or work, this sort of international experience will automatically distinguish you from your peers. We tend to think that the college education we invested in is in some way to superior, and this is often not true. It's important to gain an understanding how other countries orchestrate a particular field, and to recognized and appreciate the differences. Who knows, you just might learn something that will change the way you think for the rest of your life.

Mind the Gap

 

Diploma in hand, satin gown gleaming, a bright grin from ear-to-ear, you feel like you've just conquered a four year ascent to the top of Everest. College graduation is a distinguished privilege and great accomplishment. But after the dust settles, there you are, your accomplishment has the potential to become your burden. Emotionally and financially. Many college students zip straight from cozy the halls of their high school to the slightly less insulated walls of a dorm room. Life on campus and the pursuit of higher learning is meant to blast open the young mind, fine tune the intellect and promote personal growth. For some of you, however, college may have been one big blur, an endless slew of keggers, sorority gatherings, and wild weekenders. And here you stand on stage, degree in hand, with a monumental hangover and a mountain of debt. 

After everything is said and done, there are a number of essential decisions that a college graduate is faced with. What now? How do I find a job? Where am I going to live? How am I going to pay all this debt off? What is my college degree worth? It can be overwhelming. So much so, that standing in one place seems like the best solution. Millions of college graduates, fraught with debt, move home after they've completed their degree, get a job flipping burgers, and admit defeat. There is a certain feeling of loss when you walk out those doors and into the world. A loss of community, and a loss of security. It's time to fly the coop and stand on your own two feet. You're a college graduate now. The world is your oyster. This should be an exciting time in your young life. A myriad of options lay at your feet, and it's up to you to choose one that best suits your needs and wants. 

In the UK, and Australia, university graduates often take a gap year before they head out into the real world. Your education doesn't end at the college gates. As you step out into the world, the real educational process begins. A gap year, or partial year abroad gives a college graduate the opportunity to make use of newly acquired skills, explore theories and ideas they've learned and help them to gain an awareness. As college students, we often get wrapped up in the drama of our own campus existence. The buzz of activity on campus shapes decisions we make, and perspectives we take on every day events. Travelling to another country, and experiencing cultures different than our own, offers a unique educational experience that college can't offer. If you're concerned about the financial burden a trip abroad can cause, apply for a working holiday visa and earn while you learn! Australia and the United Kingdom have fantastic working holiday programs, and their convenient geographical locales allow fabulous travel opportunities. 

If you're after something more adventurous, why not teach english in China, help build a schoolhouse in Uganda or conduct research on lions in Zambia? These may not all be paid gigs, but if you're careful with your pennies, can be an affordable way to experience new cultures, foods and belief systems. College is not an ending, but rather, the beginning of the rest of your life. Make every moment count.