What College Taught Me
by Kate Krug | Drake University
Kate Krug
After graduating from my lovely establishment of learning, Drake University, this past December, I was extremely fortunate to find a “real world” job right out of the gate. I shed my heavy wool peacoats and numerous pairs of Uggs and made the move down south. I now do digital work for Time Inc.’s lifestyle group for the publications Coastal Living, Sunset, and Southern Living.
I distinctively remember sitting in my first college journalism class and thinking that I knew I had found my calling. Now, I’m officially a journalist. In the real world. Pinch me.
I don’t consider myself a huge source of advice — in fact, I’m pretty sure I’d make the worst counselor ever — but I thought I’d impart some words of encouragement for the thousands of students currently suffering from senioritis and itching to kick the books for good.
First comforting notion: All that Facebooking and tweeting during class pays off. Seriously, knowledge of social media has been a big plus for me, especially optimizing for SEO and clicks. So keep on keeping on and bring everything you know about hashtags and “liking” to the table; I promise you, it does pay off.
If you haven’t taken a web design class, jump on that pronto. Somehow I managed to retain very little from my web design class, but knowing how to code your stuff definitely cuts some corners. Also, if your school offers mock interviews and resumé workshops, participate in those as much as you can.
Remember when you were a freshman and the only advice upperclassmen ever gave you was “Get involved”? Sorry — it’s not going to go away. As a fresh Southern implant by way of Iowa, I am starting from scratch. New friends. New roommates. New experiences. And I feel like I’m re-living college “welcome weekend,” jumping at every and any chance to meet new friends. The second mantra of college, “NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK” is still at play as well.
You’re almost there, class of 2012. In just a few short months, you’ll be doing your own taxes and paying for your own insurance. And you’ll love every single second of it.
Kate Krug is a recent graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she was a magazine journalism major.
