For many seniors, graduation will be a time of immediate transition, from the broad curriculum of undergraduate education to the more concentrated life of graduate and professional schools.
However, for some, graduation will mean ““ at least for the time being ““ a move away from the rigors of academics, and into the realm of the real world.
With their respective degrees in hand, some plan to travel, go to work, or simply see where the wind takes them on their journey forward through life.
“Everyone is jumping straight to grad school these days. I’ve been inundated with education my whole life,” said Stephen Tabaquin, a fourth-year neuroscience student.
Tabaquin plans on moving to Washington ““ where his parents just bought a home ““ working in some research capacity, and taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
“I wanted to gather my thoughts for a year, focus on what I really want to do (in the future), and make sure that the field I am going into is one that I am passionate about.”
After his year off, Tabaquin plans on attending medical school. However, he is also leaving his options open, saying that he is also considering a future trip to graduate school in public health.
For Matthew Callahan, a fifth-year French and Francophone studies and history student, travel away from California is in his plans for the near future.
However, he will not be leaving the academic environment entirely.
Beginning in October, he will become an English instructor, teaching 8 to 12- year-old students in the French primary school system in Lyon, France.
As an English instructor, Callahan will be required to display a mastery of French in order to effectively teach the young French students. Therefore, Callahan, who plans on attending graduate school in French after his year abroad, could not miss the opportunity to travel to France.
“I really thought that taking a year off and going to France would prove invaluable in improving my French.”
In addition, while on his year abroad, Callahan said he looks forward to the opportunity to absorb French culture and travel around Europe. After that, he hopes to attend graduate school in order to work on becoming a professor, researcher or some type of scholar.
An eventual trip to graduate school is also the plan for Michelle Aitken, a fourth-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student.
However, until that time, she plans on taking a trip to Europe and studying for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Over the summer, Aitken said she plans to travel through various European countries, including Spain and Italy.
“I feel like this is going to be my last chance to travel because after this, hopefully, is graduate school and working.”
After returning home from Europe, Aitken plans to begin the process of applying to graduate schools, hoping to fulfill her goal and one day become a genetic counselor.
For Tabaquin, Callahan, Aitken and the many graduating students like them, a year off will provide much-needed time to reflect on themselves and prepare for the future. After that, it could be back to school once again, but this time, for graduate school.