The Future Lies Within

The Future Lies Within

The end was finally in sight. It had been a long 4 years. And by long I mean extremely long and excruciatingly hard. And by 4 years, I technically mean 4 and a half years, but who’s counting right? My time at college certainly had it’s ups and downs. But lucky for me, I found a way to get through it all. Keeping a full-time job and a full class schedule was not an easy feat, especially because I changed majors after my first year. Since I was already a year into my English Lit course load and had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do with that degree after graduation, I decided I should probably change it to something more practical. I figured Business was pretty universal and after going through the different courses required with that degree, I’d find the path I wanted to go. All great in theory - however, with only 6 weeks left before graduation, I still had absolutely no idea what to do next. These things only happen in the movies, I thought. But as I started to feel the walls closing in on my time as a college student, I realized this was very real and very much so happening to me.

I felt the time start to rush by as my next chapter timeline was becoming abruptly unavoidable. In my Business Ethics class, Professor Wilson had gone on for hours about what seemed to be pointless lectures at this point in the semester, especially with graduation right around the corner. Before the class concluded, she announced the launch of her yearly “Glassy-eyed Graduates” challenge to the class. She explained this was meant for students who were unsure of their next steps after graduation and this was something students in the past have gotten great value out of. She went on to describe the 6-week challenge at length and passed around a sign-up sheet for any interested students to meet with her later on that evening. This couldn’t have come at a better possible time, I thought. I was a bit embarrassed to admit I still didn’t know what I was doing after graduation, but at this point I was willing to do whatever it took to figure it out.

I showed up 5 minutes early, just before 5pm to a surprisingly empty classroom. There were about 10-15 of us total. This reality hit me like a wrecking ball as I realized I really was one of the very few who were still unsure of their next steps. Professor Wilson went on to explain more of the process and kept referencing a reward “greater than words” in completing the program. Each student who signs up would be completing six 1-week long “volunteer trials” at different types of companies throughout the city. She explained this would give us first-hand experience in what our futures could look like should we pick one of the paths similar to where we would be volunteering our time. Most students didn’t love the idea of spending 6 weeks working for free, essentially, and there were only 3 of us left at the end of the meeting. She decided to split us apart so as to provide as much support to each company as possible over multiple weeks. My order was as follows:

Week 1 - J.P. Morgan Wealth Management - an investment firm

Week 2 - RE/MAX - a real estate company

Week 3 - Feeding America, a non-profit charity organization

Week 4 - Marriott Marquis, a world-wide hotel group

Week 5 - Kirkland & Ellis, one of the largest law firms

Week 6 - Wells Fargo, a banking and financial services company

After 6 long weeks, I was finally about to finish my last day of the program. Although I certainly found every week-long volunteer opportunity beneficial, I couldn’t help but to linger on the helplessness I felt during my time at Feeding America. I wanted to help more than I was able to during my week volunteering with them. There’s so much injustice and sadness in the world, but this organization is putting in the hard work and time to try to help make a difference in the world. And boy was there ever a lot of work to do, especially in regards to homelessness and hunger in our nation. The countless children and families I got to help feed during my week spent volunteering felt extremely bittersweet; nice in the sense that I loved being able to help those in need, but so awful thinking about how many and how badly these families are struggling to even eat and stay healthy. I thought if there was a way I can work in an organization like this or something similar, I really could try to make a difference myself. Sure, it’s not the most ideal fresh out-of-college career in regards to making a good income, but I knew at some point in the near future I wanted to pursue this further.

After completing my final day at Wells Fargo, I had a “goodbye” meeting with the project manager who was leading my week-long training. After my exit interview and exchanging contact information, I was handed an envelope and was explained that although this was an unpaid mentorship, they wanted to reward my hard work and passion I showed throughout the week. It wasn’t until I made it home that I opened the envelop and almost dropped to the floor when I saw it filled with $1,000 worth of cash.

I couldn’t believe they were so generous. I was truly astonished, and thought this couldn’t have come at a better time right before graduation. I couldn’t help but to feel a bit guilty, though, as this 6-week opportunity already rewarded me in such instrumental ways with first-hand experience. I didn’t feel like I should accept so much money and wanted to go straight back to the project manager that gave me the envelope. Then I remembered the kids. And the families. And I knew in that moment what I had to do. $1,000 didn’t really mean anything to such a large company like Wells Fargo. But $1,000 can help so many kids and families through Feeding America. It wasn’t really a choice at all at that point, it was the right thing to do and I was happy to do it.

After meeting with the team I had worked with a few weeks prior at Feeding America and explaining what had happened, they were so grateful after I handed over my $1,000 donation. I felt almost instant gratification when I looked out into the room and was reminded of the people much more in need than I that this money would be helping. As I was about to make my exit, the man in charge handed me a little black notebook and repeated his thanks and gratitude on behalf of the organization. He walked me out and said “I truly hope this book helps you on your next step into the real world. Best of luck to you! You’re welcome back here any time” and I couldn’t contain my smile as I exited the building. This is how I wanted to feel. I knew this was not the last time I’d be working in this type of industry in my future.

After I made it home and was reflecting on my day, I couldn’t help but feel eternally grateful to my university for offering such a wonderful and practical program. The past 6 weeks weren’t easy by any stretch, especially with everything going on leading up to graduation. But I felt at ease thinking about my future for the first time in a very long time. It was then I remembered the little black book I was given earlier on and scrambled to grab it and open it up.

“Congratulations! You have just made a huge difference in your community and you should be very proud. People like you are the reason organizations like Feeding America are successful and making such a difference in our world. Although it would be perfectly acceptable for you to have kept your $1,000 gift from completing our “Glassy-eyes Graduates” program, you decided to donate it instead. To have the selflessness to donate your monetary compensation to an organization that helps feed the less fortunate is truly an act of kindness not many would have been able to do in your shoes. Because of your generosity, we are delighted to award you with our Ethical Heroes grant courtesy of the local alumni organization. You will see on the following page a check for $20,000 we encourage you to use toward the next chapter of your life following graduation. For any student that receives this little black notebook at the end of their 6-week program, we will also be donating an extra $20,000 to Feeding America in addition to our normal annual donation. Because of your selflessness and passion for helping others, so many of those in need will now benefit from your generosity. You are the type of student we are beyond proud to have as a lifelong alumni of this university. Keep up the great work and best of luck in your bright future!”

My jaw almost hit the ground when I turned the page and saw the check made out to me for $20,000. It was then I realized the university had supplied the $1,000 gift as a sort of test or challenge to see if anyone would donate their unexpected earnings from completing the program. I was at a loss for words and overcome with joy. This money will help me get through the next few months in looking for a career after graduation. And the fact that I didn’t even know I was being tested is the funniest part of it all. I’ve always said “what goes around comes around” and I guess I proved myself right after all! The one thing I was certain of for the first time in what felt like a lifetime was that everything would be just fine after graduation. And I couldn’t wait to embark on my next chapter.