by Morgan Faith '24

The fall semester is quickly approaching its end while students like me are preparing to work their butts off studying for exams and designing final projects.  

Anybody else feeling panicked or stressed?  

One semester left, and then graduation in May. Crazy, right? 

In moments of distress, I wonder what the heck I am going to do with my life after I graduate from Wilson.  

Ideally, after graduation, I would like the job of my dreams of editing for a publisher in Tennessee. That dream job doesn’t always necessarily come as easily as I would like it to. I have to find a publisher with an open position that I can apply for.  

Life is not always easy. Figuring out what we want to do after college isn’t always easy either.  

For me, I took small, baby steps to prepare for my future by making sure that I had not only education but experience in my field of study. Taking advice and guidance from my advisor and career development office at Wilson has also benefited me toward heading in the right direction after graduation.  

Applying for Internships 

One of the first things my advisor told me is that I needed an internship to graduate as an English major. In time, my advisor and I reached out to the career development office here at Wilson, filled out the paperwork, and applied to numerous ones.  

Filling out the paperwork and applying for numerous internships was a new experience for me. Finding the right internships directed toward my specific major and dream job drove me to set goals, achieve those goals, and continue to gain more experience in my field of study. 

Eventually, I found an internship with a small business that was right for me in developing my social media marketing skills. Through the internship, I was able to develop skills such as writing short social media posts, taking professional photos, and redesigning a website. The internship also gave me experience in working with other individuals in a teamwork setting that encouraged brainstorming.  

Taking the next step of applying for internships can be stressful, but it is worth it. The career development office alongside an advisor will encourage you to find the right fit for you.  

Experience in the field of study is important when it comes to preparing for the future ahead. I have come to learn that while applying for jobs and even internships. Finding the right internship that gives you experience in the field of study is a huge step in taking away some of that anxiety, worry, and fear after graduating from college.  

And, it will look great on your resume too. 

If you are currently looking for an internship, search locally first. For the Chambersburg area, I recommend reaching out to the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Visitors Bureau, and even the Franklin County government website.  

Applying for a Work-Study Position 

Remember how I mentioned that experience can be important when it comes to applying for jobs?  

Luckily, Wilson College has numerous opportunities for students to apply for what are called work-study positions. Since I have transferred to Wilson, I have held two work-study positions as a writing tutor as well as the editor-in-chief of the Wilson Billboard Newspaper.  

Getting a work-study position is pretty simple.  

Wilson College uses an app called Handshake, and this application can be accessed through the main Wilson portal. Students can apply for work-study positions such as a program assistant, a tutor, a library assistant, a Fulton Farm Tech, and even a supplemental peer leader. All work-study positions can be applied for within the Handshake app.  

Connections are important as well, so if you are interested in a specific work-study position contact a director or leader of the specific department for more information or assistance.  

As a work-study English tutor myself, I can say that gaining the experience of helping others in writing their papers, create outlines for the papers, or understand the rule of commas for the next English class has been surprisingly rewarding and enjoyable all at the same time. The experiences that Wilson College has given me so far as a work-study tutor have been extremely rewarding and have given me ideas as to which career path I want to pursue down the road.  

Applying for the Dream Job 

So, let’s say that you secured a work-study position at Wilson in your field of study. On top of that, you have gained experience through an internship or two.  

What comes after that? What is that next step?  

Reaching out to your advisors and professors for ideas or current job openings is a good idea. Communicating to them that you are ready to take that next big step is huge in applying for that dream job or applying for a job that will help you get your foot in the door somewhere. For job searching, whether local or out-of-state, I recommend using state or county websites to search for the perfect job. The Franklin County Government website, the Pennsylvania state website, and the USA Jobs website are what I always use in searching for county, state, and federal job positions.  

I recommend letting your advisors and professors look over your resume and cover letter. Getting feedback is important as well when it comes to applying for jobs. 

Lastly, I want you all to remember this important piece of advice that I have learned as a student at Wilson College. That is: you may not always get your dream job right off the bat. Things in life just simply take time, experience, and education.  

Yes, the Wilson College staff and faculty will always cheer us on as Wilson alumni, but we as future alumni must be willing to help ourselves too.  

We might have those days where it feels like we are taking three steps forward and five steps back. It is quite okay. I believe that our futures as graduates of Wilson College are bright and empowering, calling us to step outside of our comfort zones. 

Be expectant for those opportunities, but don’t expect the door to swing wide open for you right away. If anything, be patient in your job searching, continue to do things you love, and be ambitious about applying for jobs in your field of study. 

My friends and dear students, don’t give up on the dreams that you hold close to your heart. Be expectant, be prepared, and be bold in whatever the future may hold.  

Fly high Phoenix!