Alvernian March 2019

March/April 2019

THIS ISSUE

Phone Addiction is Real

Spanish Carnival

Wrestling in the Works

Gov’t Shutdown

Why Does Alvernia Take So Long to Close?

Sidney Goodman Contrubuting Writer Pennsylvania winters always yield at least one snowstorm, and townships rarely seem prepared. Roads are improperly salted, some are barely plowed, and those unfortunate enough to lack four-wheel drive are lucky if they can even make it out of their driveways.

When these weather conditions drift in, high schools seem to close at the drop of a hat. Even cold temperatures are enough for them to delay their starting times.

However, colleges do not seem to share that same sentiment. Many remain open until the last possible second, even when driving conditions

are bad. Alvernia is one of these schools.

Colleges have an easier time staying open than K-12 schools. Most students live on campus and do not have to brave the roads. However, Alvernia has many commuter students to consider.

Even when a 40-car pileup occurred on Route 422, where 24 people were injured, the university remained open. When another major snowstorm hit the area, Alvernia did not close until the evening, while other schools like RACC and Kutztown closed much earlier.

“It wasn’t really fair for Alvernia commuters,” Jen Rinehart, sophomore sports management major, said.

“We’re the ones risking our lives driving in those unsafe

road conditions.”

Commuters suffer most when it comes to snow storms. Because of the university’s tendency to remain open even in extreme weather, many students are snowed in their homes and unable to make it to class.

“I do worry about the days that I have to drive to school when the roads are icy,” Rinehart said. “I stayed home one day during the first bad storm, but Alvernia didn’t cancel until around 4 or 5 p.m. I was worried for my safety and didn’t want to risk anything.”

Her commute is mostly highway and takes around 20 minutes, but there are often still hazardous places, especially early in the morning.

Although Rinehart said that her professors were very accommodating and would email her any work she missed, she still was concerned about missing classes due to snow.

These sentiments were shared by first-year nursing major Bella Avadanian as well, who lives in the Morgantown area and has a similar commute time.

“Depending on the day of the week, I have three to four classes a day,” Avadanian said.

“When the university doesn’t close but the roads

are bad, I feel like I still need to go in because I do get stressed over missing class.”

Her commute consists of many back roads, which are often not treated by the time she has to leave, as well as a particularly treacherous hill on Route 10. If the snow is bad enough, her car is unable to make it safely down that slope.

As a nursing student, Avadanian is taking two labs, both on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Those classes give her the most stress because of the amount of information given during each lab.

“I do feel like I’m a step behind everyone if I miss lab and lecture classes due to the information that I missed in just an hour or two.”

Avadanian works extremely hard to catch up with the work that she has missed, but as absences due to snow pile up, the pressure only increases.

While it is difficult and frustrating for commuter students when the university remains open during poor weather conditions, they do not always see the larger picture.

According to Doug Smith, the Vice President for Finance and Administration, one of the main reasons that Alvernia stays open when other nearby universities

Photo Courtesy of Emily Moleski

what’s in

Volume 58 Issue 2

Here is the 40 car pileup on Route 222 which was caused by a sudden snow squall impeding visibility of drivers.

close is because of its evening classes.

“Often it’s about not so much the undergraduate students but being ready and preserving that for students at night,” Smith said.

Adult students are on a shorter mod than undergraduate students, so they may have only fourteen sessions during their mod. If the university closed every time the weather took a turn for the worse, those students would have an incredibly difficult time completing their classes while trying to balance their jobs and families.

Even though there is still a large percentage of commuter students, Alvernia is much more residential than it used to be, the policies for inclement weather reflect this change.

“When I first got here, we were maybe one third residential, two thirds commuters, so weather was handled differently because most people were commuting,” Smith said.

“Now that most of the undergraduates live on campus, we try to be mindful of both directions.”

It is difficult for Smith and the others involved to balance commuters, residents, and evening students when it comes to delays or

cancellations, but they do their best to accommodate all student body groups.

Snowstorms and bad road conditions are frustrating to everyone, whether they have a potentially treacherous commute or not.

While it would be convenient for commuter students if Alvernia closed for every snowfall, it is important for commuters to consider those whose academics would be affected, such as the adults who come to study in the evenings.

Sometimes, it is necessary to look at the bigger picture, consider the entire academic community, and have some understanding when road conditions do not cooperate with busy schedules.

Don’t get snowed over by misinformation.

Read the Alvernian for news analysis of the issues that matter most to you (like snow closures, or missing cups)

2

FLYNN FILES

March/April 2019

Vol. 58 Issue 2

t h e alver nian Managing Editor Gwen Bauer Layout Gwen Bauer Sidney Goodman Section Editors Amy Dundon Chelsea Dziamba Khalil Eaddy

Contributing Writers Ivan Fegely Sidney Goodman Palmer Rodenhaber Faculty Advisor Dr. Ryan Lange

The Alvernian is the official student newspaper of Alvernia University.

To contact newspaper staff, the office telephone number is 610-796-8358.

Articles submitted for consideration into The Alvernian should be written in some semblance of AP style. Letters to the editor, requests for advertisements, and general comments and questions may be submitted to ryan.lange@alvernia.edu.

The editors reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, accuracy, and length.

The views expressed in The Alvernian are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the student body, faculty, staff, administration, or sponsors.

Dear Alvernia Students . . . and Former Students too, now Proud Alumni.

This May, my year-end “Flynn Files” will as usual celebrate some of our many special graduating seniors.

So let me use this column, written appropriately on St. Patrick’s Day, to share brief parting reflections with you, as I come to the end of my fourteen years as your president.

As I anticipate these final weeks and one last grand Graduation Day, I feel blessed by the opportunity to serve the Alvernia community. Chief among my happy memories, of course, has been my good fortune to get to know many of you personally during (or after) your years at the Vern. I look forward to seeing many familiar faces at the Senior Athletic Banquet, Senior Leaders Dinner, MargaritaVern, and other events. And it has been fun to see recent, already successful

graduates as well as longtime, loyal alums at “farewell” events in Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D.C, and other spots as well as here in Reading.

Transitions in our lives are times for reflection and gratitude. Know how grateful I am to all of you for being a continual source of inspiration and fun (and good ideas!) during my presidency.

Student leaders stepped up to partner with administrators in shaping the design of the Campus Commons and the “pods” in Founder’s Village and provided generous funding from SGA for key campus initiatives. I admire our students (young and not-so-young) for your many accomplishments.

From freshmen honors to doctoral students, Neumann to Fulbright scholars, student athletes to student government members, actors and artists to mentors and researchers, RAs to Tour Guides and Ambassadors,

you develop your talents while contributing so much to Alvernia, the local community, and often the wider world. A special word of appreciation to those of you, undergraduate and Senior College students alike, whom I have been fortunate to teach in class!

Current students have seen the opening of our Golden Wolves Stadium and are eagerly watching the rise of the PLEX on our new East Campus. So we should not be surprised that alums from Alvernia’s early decades marvel at the progress of this once tiny local college. They regularly share their pride in the evolution of their beloved alma mater into a thriving comprehensive, regional university with centers in Philadelphia and Schuylkill Counties and hundreds of on-line degree-seeking students. Former athletes can’t imagine first-rate athletic facilities available for 28 varsity teams. Even students anticipating their 10th Alumni reunion find it hard to recognize the campus

they left in 2009, now that we have students from over 20 states, pursuing doctoral as well as undergraduate degrees, with almost 1,000 on a campus with a spectacular main entrance and, even more importantly, a national reputation as a model university for community service and civic engagement.

Today’s students benefit from what I like to call the Alvernia Advantage, ways we combine all the best features of the studentcentered college with many of the advantages of a larger university. 100% of our undergraduates choose internships, clinical placements, service-learning, and leadership “real world learning” opportunities on and beyond the campus with 86% completing more than one! This helps explain why, over the last 5 years, 97% of Alvernia’s seniors on average have been employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation, with many of you modelling servant-leadership and the passion for service rooted in

our Franciscan values.

But current students and alumni of all ages and eras have far more in common than you might realize.

For throughout our history, Alvernia has offered valuable professional preparation while emphasizing the skills and perspectives rooted in liberal arts education. From our earliest years, inspired by our Bernardine Sisters, this has been a place of opportunity for students of all backgrounds (and ages), featuring talented, dedicated faculty and a caring campus community centered on the academic excellence characteristic of Catholic higher education and the inclusive values of our Franciscan heritage.

At a time when examples abound in our country and our world of unethical behavior and intolerant, even hateful, attitudes, we have adopted a “Commitment to Civil Dialogue and Freedom of Expression” and have been recognized nationally as a leader in interfaith initiatives.

Our mission statement calls on Alvernia’s faculty and staff to help prepare today’s students to be “engaged citizens and ethical leaders with moral courage.”

This is indeed a lofty ideal, appropriately so given the legacy of our Sisters. I am quite confident that students and alums alike are meeting the challenge I have given for the past 14 years to entering freshmen and those sporting caps and gowns: “To Do Well and To Do Good.”

On June 30, I will step away from daily involvement in the work of the university, but I will not be leaving Alvernia behind. Reading has become a new home and the Alvernia University community and the Bernardine Franciscan congregation have become an extended family. And I will always root on the Golden Wolves and rejoice in the successes of our students and alums.

Peace and All Good, Tom Flynn

“... Our mission statement calls on Alvernia’s faculty and staff to help

prepare today’s students to be “engaged citizens and ethical leaders with © 2019 The Alvernian

moral courage.”

GOVERNMENT

March/April 2019

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Vol. 58 Issue 2

Amy Dundon Contributing Editor

Photo Courtesy of Amy Dundon

What is a government shutdown? Does this mean we do not have a government during this time? Many of you might be wondering what this term that has been blasted to you via news media might be about.

Simply, a government shutdown is a disagreement on funding. In the American system of government, there are three parts with equally unique jobs.

1) The Legislative BranchThis is where Congress (House of Representatives and Senate) resides.

These institutions oversee writing laws and dictating where funds are deposited throughout government.

2) The Executive BranchThe President and his Cabinet reside within this branch. The President is the law enforcer, meaning he actually oversees making sure the laws are being done. The President

does this by employing the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy (which literally means desk government) is also formed here. The funds decided by the legislative branch are the funds used to pay members of the bureaucracy.

3) The Judicial Branch- The Supreme Court of the United Branch lives. Their main job is to judge the laws being made by the legislative branch and enforced by the executive branch on whether they fall in line with the Constitution and the lives of everyday Americans.

As stated above, the most important part of understanding a government shutdown, is understanding the funding part of it. The President and Congress must agree on a budget for government within the next fiscal year.

If the President and Congress do not agree on said budget, the Government is forced to essentially stop until an agreement is met, because

The Washington Monument in D.C., which serves as a tribute to our first President, George Washington. One wonders what he would think of the recent government shutdowns.

Photo Courtesy of Amy Dundon

What’s the Deal with Government Shutdowns?

The Capital Building of the United States. It is within these halls that Congress decides the budget for the government on a yearly basis. These budgets can cause the government to shut down if not agreed to by the executive branch.

money to pay the people within the bureaucracy isn’t there, and people don’t work for free.

Government workers within the bureaucracy are then divided into essential versus nonessential. Those workers deemed nonessential are forced to forfeit their job, until as stated above a budget is agreed upon.

So, what happened during the last shut down? A budget was not agreed upon.

President Donald Trump did not agree to the proposed budget by Congress- due to the lack of money set aside for construction of the prosed border wall during the 2016 election cycle.

The Congress, however, did not feel it was pertinent to put money aside for this, due to the newly formed Democratic House of Representatives.

Many different agencies were affected by the shutdown, which as of right now, was the longest government shutdown in history.

David Ruppert, veteran on campus who served in the United States Marine Corps and was involved in two tours in Afghanistan had opinions to share on the issue.

“No, my branch was not affected by the last shutdown.

I’m half and half on how I

feel about shutdowns. I’ve been through two of them myself. When it comes to them, as in the military, I signed an oath to follow and protect the constitution. As well as following all lawful order from the commander in Chief. I am for them when the president is sticking up for their ideals…”

Ruppert went on to explain that the military is affected by the shutdown in a couple of ways.

“They (shutdowns) do affect the military in the sense that we are “essential” personnel,” he said.

“Therefore, we would work for free, however usually the military banks that we use give phantom loans to the military service members.”

What is a phantom loan?

“This means that the regular check that I would get every two weeks would be paid by the bank interest free,” Ruppert said. “Then when the government opens again when those delayed checks come, they go right to the bank.”

Ruppert has some insulation from these political struggles, though it still affects his life.

“So, in a way the active duty military isn’t as affected by the shutdown,” he said.

“Whereas reservists and national guard as well as DOD

(Department of Defense) personnel are affected adversely.”

Ruppert sees enduring the hardships of government shutdowns as part of his service to his nation.

“Overall as I tell my friends and other service members, we know what we are getting into,” he said. “To which we signed that contract and we know who we are serving whether that is good or bad.”

All in all, the thing most people need to remember about the government, is that it is a living breathing entity.

The government has all different types of people with all different types of opinions within it. People are always bound to disagree on things when it comes to running a country.

I think as Alvernia students, and Americans, we should work on understanding the issues that are representatives are passionate about and become passionate about them ourselves.

4 March/April 2019

LIFESTYLE

Vol. 58 Issue 2

How to Stay Healthy Away from Home College is the perfect opportunity for both students and germs to flourish. First year students learn quickly that sickness can spread like wildfire if they don’t take precautions.

The easiest thing a student can do to take care of themselves is to wash their hands regularly, but especially after using the bathroom.

Hand washing is a simple yet effective way to prevent many illnesses. Students should also take care to wash their hands after they touch their noses or mouths.

“College students are always in close contact with others,” according to the Huffington Post, as well as common sense.

“Through classes, living situations with roommates, walking around campus, and it is very easy to catch colds or viruses.”

Taking the advice from the Huffington Post’s article can help everyone from staff to students to stay healthy.

Students should also not share beverages because germs are passed easily from person to person through fluids. With that, if students do not hand wash their shared dishes and utensils well then they can spread and catch germs through this also.

If students do get sick, they should stay in their rooms and not go to class to limit outbreaks since.

The tips that don’t seem so obvious are ones not directly linked to sickness. Sleep, stress and mental health factor into being healthy on campus. Sleep is the most important thing for humans, especially college students.

Taking a nap is never a bad idea according to the Huffington Post’s article.

“A short nap can do wonders for your energy levels. Just make sure not to nap too close to bedtime or

for too long, and a nap will do your body good.”

Don’t do your homework in bed. Keep your work space separate from your rest space to help you sleep better.

Try to get a full nights rest whenever you can, which is considered seven to nine continuous hours of sleep.

The importance of sleeping well and enough can be summarized in this quote, “Sleep deprivation can lead to reduced brain function, fatigue, headaches and weight loss or gain.”

Stress effects the body in every way from sleep, to health and to mental health.

Reducing stress is beneficial in every aspect of the human body.

Create a routine and a schedule for when to do work and what work you do in that time and stick to the routine.

Putting a limit on the hours you work and giving yourself a break will make you calmer and more efficient.

The best way to beat stress

is to have a schedule for your work and play and stick to it as closely as possible.

The tips above can help you stay healthy in every aspect of life. Reducing stress, taking steps to stay ahead of sickness and sleep can help a college student more than people think. These tips will make your time at college

more enjoyable because you won’t be stuck in bed or in your room, when you can enjoy the memories and the social aspects of college.

“But seriously,” Dr. Ryan Lange, associate professor of communication, said. “Wash your filthy hands.”

Photo Courtesy of Ivan Fegely

Ivan Fegely Contributing Writer

This picture properly demonstrates how to wash your hands with soap and water.

Put Phone Down, Become Better Person Chelsea Dziamba Contributing Editor

Photo Courtesy of Genna Koser

If you go out to eat and look around, what do you see? Everyone has their faces glued to a phone or electronic device.

“Parents need to spend time talking to their children especially when they’re out to eat instead of playing on their phones the whole time,” Barbara Dziamba, Governor Mifflin employee, said.

“People can’t hold conversations anymore because everybody’s on social media or texting instead of talking,” Dziamba also talked about

a rule at her house is ‘no phones at the dinner table’ because that is a small time frame where her family is together and can talk about their day and other topics.

It may feel like we live in a world where people do not know how to socialize or interact with others face-toface. While there are a lot of positive and effective ways new technology can be used, its irresponsible overuse is harmful to society.

One study that was conducted by Dr. Brian A. Primack and some fellow colleagues in June of 2018, showed the negative association between using

Seniors Gwen Bauer and Kali Gries, enjoying their phones while the exciting event of Maroon and Gold night is taking place.

social media and depression symptoms.

The biggest concern that is at stake is mental health.

Social media affects people of all ages, from young kids to older adults. Alice Walton wrote in Forbes in June, 2017 that there is potential for people who use social media to develop depression due to negative comments left on their posts. Cyberbullying can also negatively impact people’s mental health.

“When I hang out with friends it seems like everyone is on their phones and not talking,” Kayla Piccone, student at Penn State Berks Campus, said.

“Communication skills have definitely gotten worse because of phones. People can’t even go 10 minutes without having to check social media.”

Hand-held technology is also very addictive. King University released research that said on average people touch or tap their phones 2,617 a day, and they spend and average of five hours a day browsing.

For more statistics on phone usage, check out their website in the QR code at the end of the article.

To help people not overuse their phones, apps such as Offtime, Moment, and Breakfree can track your phone usage throughout the day and set limits on how long you may use certain features. There is also a feature on the new iOS iPhone update that can track phone usage each day as well.

“I 100% think people are too reliant on hand-held devices,” Jessica Suter, junior, said.

“The smart phones are a mini hand-held computer. The more the phone upgrades, the more dependent people are on them. I myself am also too reliant on my phone, it’s how I connect with the world. If I could, I would toss my phone in water and never look back but I unfortunately can’t live with it.”

How can people move away from being so reliant on phones or tablets, or computers? Here are a few tips: 1. Put limits on screen time for young children: -Teach them that there is an appropriate amount and appropriate amount of time to be on a hand-held device.

This also allows children to be creative and this increases cognitive skills.

2. Hand a crying or colic children a toy, not a phone: -Children will not become adapted to needing a screen in front of their face but instead become used to playing with toys.

3. Put limits on screen time for YOURSELF: -As a young adult or older adult, you know the negative effects of technology. So set screen time limits for yourself as well! Again, the newest iOS update on iPhones have a setting to set screen times.

4. Distract yourself: -Think of something that could be done instead of sitting on social media. Like cleaning, reading, doing homework, cooking, going for a walk, doing yoga, swimming, doing laundry, literally anything!

5. CALL DO NOT TEXT: -Instead of shooting a text or email, give that person a call. This way they can hear your voice and nothing can get misinterpreted because it is easier to explain while talking.

March/April 2019

PEOPLE

5 Vol. 58 Issue 2

Khalil Eaddy Contributing Editor Alvernia University has become an exemplary model for service, love and growth for the students and faculty alike, and students are offered chances to learn more intellectually and spiritually in Alvernia’s classrooms with the amazing professors.

One of these professors is Professor Antonella Merolla.

Professor Merolla is a Spanish instructor. She studied at Middlebury College, where she obtained her Master’s degree in Spanish Language and Literature, and has her undergraduate degree from Immaculata College of Immaculata, Pennsylvania.

Very involved on campus, Merolla serves as a member of the Cultural Studies Advisory Board, as well as the World Language Coordinator.

The Alvernian conducted the following interview with Professor Merolla.

KE: What is your favorite part about teaching?

AM: I enjoy sharing the Spanish language and culture with my students. I especially enjoy discussing experiences my students have had with different cultures and discussing the similarities and differences between their own culture and other cultures they have encountered.

KE: What makes teaching at Alvernia unique for you?

AM: The opportunity to get to know your students due to the smaller class size and the sense of community and collegiality are qualities that make Alvernia unique.

KE: How is taking another language beneficial to Alvernia students?

AM: Learning about other languages and cultures is very beneficial in our global society. Although students will not be fluent in a language after 2 semesters, the ability to say some phrases and communicate

on a basic level with someone in their native language goes a long way.

Taking the initiative to try to communicate in another person’s native language and knowing something about their culture helps to create a connection and foster a level of trust with people we encounter, such as future associates, clients or patients.

KE: What do you do outside of teaching at Alvernia?

AM: Besides teaching at Alvernia, I sometimes provide translation and interpretation services for local organizations. I also volunteer for various activities in my children’s school district, as well as volunteering as a 6th grade instructor in the religious education program for my church.

KE: Lastly, if you weren’t teaching, what would your profession be?

AM: If I weren’t teaching, I would likely be working

Photo Courtesy of Khalil Eaddy

Get to Know Our Professors: Antonella Merolla

Students gathered in groups to play a Spanish-themed Kahoot game.

in a social services field that required the knowledge and use of the Spanish language and culture. I have worked for non-profit and for government agencies in the past and the ability to speak to clients in their native language is an asset for this type of work as well as for many other professions.

Recently, Professor Merolla and her Cultural Perspectives of Spain class hosted an event on campus, a “Mini Carnaval Español” as the flyer stated.

On Friday, February 22, the class and other Spanish instructors gathered in the Wolves Den to put on this event, as part of Alvernia

University’s Spring 2019 Culture Fest.

The event was quite the success. Students, who attended the event, were able to browse various stations.

Some participated in Spanish trivia games and ate various Spanish foods, while others created maracas and enjoyed the Carnaval atmosphere.

“I appreciated the opportunity to get a snack at the end of a long day,” Dr. Ryan Lange, associate professor of communication, said.

“The fellowship of the event was a model of what Alvernia should always be.”

these young athletes. These opportunities were given to me, now I am trying to give it to these kids.”

At Alvernia, coach Ecker wants more than just good wrestlers. The recruiting process will be challenging, but Ecker thinks he can sell the Golden Wolves to aspiring future recruits.

“It is hard to recruit especially as a new program,” he said.

“You have no culture, which means it is not bad or good, but you don’t have a culture, so you can’t sell them anything other than a coach who is looking to open up doors for the future of the program.”

“I have to put my name, my face, and the university’s name out there, and hopefully a few kids are willing to trust me and buy into it.”

Division III recruiting features unique problems, Ecker said.

“The reality is a lot of these good wrestlers are going to go Division I. The ones I get I rather them be a good person and me teach them and train them on how to be a good wrestler, than for them to be a good wrestler, and be a jerk that no one on campus likes.”

For the upcoming season

the athletic department is still in the process of deciding on where things will go.

For the remodeling aspect of it, there are ideas or rumors that half of the current physical education center (PEC) gym, will be used for wrestling offices/ mats, along with part of the physical therapy and upper level classrooms down in the basement of the PEC. All of the athletic training classes and physical therapy classes are being moved to the Plex. These spaces will be used for practices and workouts outside of the actual matches. Those will take place in the PEC in the main gym. There is a wrestling mat in the process of being created/ordered as well as singlets.

The team is still a far stretch because technically there is no one on the team yet. However, there are students on campus that are interested in wrestling and are helping to recruit.

Can wrestling join men’s basketball as a sport that fires up students and alumni? Only time will tell, but Coach Ecker seems ready to put in the work.

Wrestling in the Works Palmer Rodenhaber Contributing Writer

to matches, but ultimately it was their decision. I had so many ideas, and things that I wanted to put into place that I decided to pull the plug and become a head coach myself.”

Ecker saw an opportunity at Alvernia that fit with his career goals.

“I always wanted to be a Division III coach,” he said.

“Not many see the value in the Division III. Many people overlook it, but the environment is incredible. Another reason behind it is now I get to coach near where I went to school, do something I love doing, and I get to give back to

Photo Courtesy of Palmer Rodenhaber

Wrestling is about hard work, struggle, and pain. The Golden Wolves will take on the challenge of wrestling starting in fall 2019. The team already has a head coach and is working to recruit new athletes during the coming summer.

Men’s wrestling head coach, Seth Ecker, is a threetime All-American and twotime national champion wrestler. His coaching career features assistant coaching jobs at his alma

mater, Ithica College in New York, and four years at the University of Maryland. Alvernia will be Ecker’s first head coach position.

Ecker is confident he can make the transition.

“As an assistant head coach I was around a lot of smart and talented coaches who were also former wrestlers, some of whom were better than I,” Ecker said.

“My job as the assistant was to mostly give them ideas, and give them my thoughts about a lineup or matchups when it came

Seth Ecker, head coach of the new Alvernia wrestling team that is coming in the fall of 2019.

6 March/April 2019

CAREERS

Vol. 58 Issue 2

Juan Palacios Contributing Writer

well-known companies which could be looking for people to work with them.

The Post Graduate Center can provide many resources and possible employers, therefore eliminating tons of

stress.

Career Development Assistant, Patrice Williams, provides insight on how this department helps students who just graduated and are having trouble finding a job.

Photo Courtesy of Cheyenne Ettinger

Finishing college can be joyful and exciting, but also worrisome. What should you do with yourself after you earn your degree?

After college, some people choose to go for postgraduate studies, take a year off to visit other parts of the world, to make their dream vacation a reality, or to go for a specialization in other areas of study. These are several options that recently graduated students can take after finishing their final semester.

Finding a job can become a very difficult task. However, with these useful tips, this task can become easier, and it can make this process more enjoyable rather than making it a tedious part of life before finding the jobs of our dreams.

Going through an existential crisis is something very common after finishing

college.

For any given reason, the daily routine of doing activities does not work anymore, and it is necessary to learn new ways to do different things. In this instance, there are a variety of feelings like confusion, lost and abandonment, but mostly the uncertainty of what to do and what direction to take.

A person in this situation is used to getting up every day and going to college, going to the gym in the afternoon and spending time with friends while managing to maintain a part-time job. Suddenly, all that ends, and graduation comes; the mega party takes place and the student life ends.

At this moment, the main question in everybody’s mind is “now what?”

The first place to seek help is the college itself because they have internships which could also result in a job. Colleagues also have agreements and contacts with

Alvernia Senior Cheyenne Ettinger completed an internship with the Reading Philies the past summer and was later promoted because of it.

From Left to Right: Maura Brennan, Cheyenne Ettinger, Mike Robinson(Internship Coordinator), and Xio Toledo

Photo Courtesy of Juan Palacios

Find Work and Success After College

Patrice Williams, Assistant Director of Career Development, shows with pride where her office is located ready to help students finding their desired job.

Take a picture! This QR Code leads to Alvernia’s Career Development Page, where you will find all that you need to get started!

“We take a step back by checking your resume and your cover letter to see how you look on paper and what a potential employer might see in you,” Williams said.

“After that we will check your interviewing skills. What are the thing you are saying and what are the things you are not saying that might be relevant or interesting for an interviewer to know.”

The next step, if not as important as the first, is to have an updated resume ready. The resume needs to contain all the learned skills during the college days and the outside activities performed while being a student.

Another important benefit of a resume is to serve as a guideline to know what is missing to be part of the labor force in society. This means that there could potentially be the need of having more

working experience in order to land in that dreams and desired job.

“Finding a job is something that starts when students are still in college and they should visit us early and often so we can check what area is the one that needs improvement,” Williams said.

Another great way to find a job is to look for recommendations to either support the resume or simply have more supportive advice going into a job interview.

The recommendations must be from qualified people who know the abilities and knowledge of the person seeking the job.

Creating an online profile is extremely important because most jobs are found online for the convenience of potential employers. Social media websites, like Linkedin, work to create contacts in the working world making them a great tool for students who just graduate and decide to take their first steps as professionals.

One additional idea is if there is enough freedom to be away from home, accepting an opportunity in another state is something extremely important who will help in developing character and will be a rewarding experience.

“If I stay in one place too long, I will never go

anywhere,” Williams said.

One crucial idea is to know what specific job we are looking for. Then you should figure out what you need in a job, and not necessarily what you want considering it would be your first job.

If you know exactly what the job requirements are as well, then it is a lot easier to discard the offers that do not match your job needs.

It is important as a new professional to find a job and start living that new life as an adult, but it should not be a reason to rush. One key thing to remember is that there is always time to change the direction and to start all over again.

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and dressing to impress.

Being ready to answer any question that comes your way is important because if you are caught off guard, it may be hard to come up with a decent answer.

One way to prepare yourself with possible questions is to just search the internet for interview questions.

You should also do research on the company before your interview in case they ask you any detailed questions about the company.

This can also help you to think of possible questions you can ask the interviewees at the end of your interview.

Having your own questions to ask at the end of the interview and knowing important details about the company shows that you were prepared and that you have thought about the job as a serious option.

The next step toward preparing for your interview is your outfit. The easy way

to figure out what to wear is just know that over-dressing is better than under-dressing because you are making a first impression.

Men, dressing up for an interview can be hard because you would probably feel more comfortable in a button down with khaki’s, but always go for the full suit.

It is the first impression you will be making, and the dress code of that office does not

matter until you have gotten the job.

Women, a pants suit is also a great choice for you. It is a great way to keep it classy, respectable, and comfortable, as well.

And whether you are a man or a woman, sticking with basic colors like black or grey is best because it is classy and looks flattering on anyone.

Another tip to dress your best is to add a pop

of color to your outfit that will complement your eyes.

Wearing a plain black or grey suit with a colorful buttondown shirt or colorful tie is best.

The point of this is to make your eyes pop. Drawing attention to your eyes will help the interviewer to notice that you make eye contact when listening and it will make it easier for them to pay attention to you when you

Photo Courtesy of Marily Torres

Seniors, it is finally that time in our lives where our hard work and dedication to school is about to be put to the test.

May is coming up very quickly, so there is less than two months for many of us to find jobs. Finding jobs can be difficult for students because we have internships, or clinicals, or fieldwork experience, but it is not enough for some jobs.

Many companies will only hire students for entry level jobs, so that gives us less options when searching on LinkedIn, Monster, or Indeed.

Interviews are that much more important for us seniors though because we are officially applying for our first adult job. It is the first time we must put on a suit and tie, or a pants suit, for a panel interview and not a simple retail job interview with a manager or parents for

a summer babysitting gig. You have a short amount of time to get a group of professionals to believe you will fit in with their company, respect you, and prove that what you know and can do will be an asset to their company.

I did a little research and have some prior experience from past interviews to know what you can do to have the best and most memorable interview.

First, the most important thing you can do before an interview is to prepare.

Preparing yourself with the right things so that you feel ready for your interview is important because it will give you confidence.

Confidence is important to have because the less nervous you are and the more put together you appear, the better you feel, and the better your chances are to nail that interview.

Preparation involves three main things: research, resume and portfolio presentation,

These people mean business. This is the proper attire for a professional interview for your first official adult job. It’s time to not only look professional, but dress professional.

Photo Courtesy of Gwen Bauer

3 Steps to Knock Out an Interview

This is what the clear slip with a resume and portfolio looks like when put together.

speak.

The last way to prepare for your interview is have your resume and portfolio handy. I would suggest making three copies of your resume with your portfolio, even though they most likely already have a copy from online. Bringing your own copies makes you seem prepared and ready. If your career is very computer based you can also create a website with your portfolio on it to make it more accessible.

Another trick to this is to get plastic covers to put your resume and portfolio in because it looks nicer than a stapled packet, and it gives a professional appearance.

The plastic covers are doable as well because they can be purchased in packs of three from the dollar store if you need them.

The next most important part of interviewing is what to do and what not to do during the interview.

The first thing you do when you meet someone is shake their hand, so remember that a firm handshake is best. You also want to remember to smile and make eye contact when you meet the interviewer and throughout your interview.

Eye contact and the occasional nod of the head is important to show that you

are listening whenever they speak to you.

Things that you should not do during the interview is say um or like. Of course, it happens, everyone has a moment where they are unsure how to answer a question, so they begin with um or say like often but reminding yourself not to say those two words can help you be more aware.

Another thing you should keep from doing during an interview is fidgeting your hands or playing with your hair because they show that you are nervous.

Last but not least, what is most important is what you do after. As soon as you return home you should consider sending an email to your future boss. Even better sending a card would seem very thoughtful.

What should be inside the card should be short, sweet, and to the point. You should thank them for their time, mention that it was nice to meet them, and end by saying you are looking forward to hearing from them.

With these three main steps of what to do before, during, and after your interview will help your chances to be in the running for the job that you want. Just remember that you can do this! Good luck seniors!

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