Students’ Final Semesters at Kean

By Isabelle Guthrie | Published December 7, 2023

With the semester ending, students feel overwhelmed by exams, projects, assignments, etc. For some students, there is just one more semester to go. For others, it is time to say goodbye to Kean University and officially start on their own path. 

Many students graduate in the winter and spring semesters. It’s a huge moment to take in and to realize that this is it. 

You may have it figured out or not. It’s nerve-wracking to conclude that we are pretty much “on our own” at this point. 

It’s either time to intern if you haven’t yet, consider the option of returning to school for master’s degrees, job hunting, or just going with the flow. There are so many choices, with so many headaches. 

You may be happy to have the weight lifted off your shoulders finally. There is much to think about and to process fully. 

Julia Indrawis, a Kean senior majoring in business management, graduates this December and explains her goals afterward. 

“Yes, I would love to go into the Human Resources Field and either do the hiring for companies or work on their benefit packages. I also love the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that the Human Resource field offers. I have a goal to work for Apple Corporate on their Human Resource Team,” Indrawis said.

Sebastian Salazar, a Kean senior majoring in marketing, will graduate in the spring of 2024 and has his plan set for afterward.

“After college, I want to go into the sporting industry with my goal being working within the National Football League,” Salazar said.

Karla Rodriguez, a Kean senior majoring in marketing, will also graduate in the spring of 2024. She explains her goals.

“One of my goals after I graduate Kean is to have started a job within my major. If that doesn’t go as planned, then I intend ongetting my master’s,” Rodriguez said.

Most students have it figured out, as it is a pivotal moment in their lives and future careers. Kean University offers students many resources to make connections and gain experience from the internships provided.

Kean has career services, which strive to help students get internships or jobs. They offer various services, such as resume critiques and mock interviews, to help you find a position that supports your career goals. They offer these services on the Kean University website. 

Their career fairs for students help make connections and get internships or jobs as well. Kean has many resources and always makes it known to students to take advantage of the opportunities.

This makes their college experience very educational and helpful for their future careers. Having a positive experience at any college is very important.

Salazar mentioned his amazing experience at Kean and his happiness with his college decision to choose Kean.

 “Being a transfer student from a local community college, my experience at Kean has been amazing. Within a year, I’ve been able to do things I’d never imagine myself doing at an institution, like being awarded the Presidents Excellence Award, becoming the founder of a successful sports club & launching a Kean Sports Summit. I’m extremely happy with my college decision in choosing Kean,” Salazar said. 

Salazar made his mark at Kean and gained an amazing experience. It is a great takeaway from Kean to share with others and take it with you on your journey.

For Rodriguez, her experience when studying at Kean was very interesting and unexpected.

“My college experience has definitely been interesting, I had good times and bad times; it wasn’t anything like I had expected, but I’ve learned a lot, and I am ready to graduate and move forward in my life and career,” Rodriguez said.

Despite the good and bad times and not meeting any expectations, Rodriguez has learned a lot and is ready to move forward with her life and career.

Kean University’s affordability is another positive factor in choosing Kean, and one many students can relate to for choosing to be a student here. In Indrawis’s case, the key takeaway was getting a quality degree at an affordable price.

Indrawis also mentions her experience as a positive and knowledgeable one. She was satisfied with her college decision overall.

 “I would rate my experience at Kean as a good experience. Most of my professors were very knowledgeable, and I feel like I got a lot out of my education here. I am happy with my college decision because I was able to get a quality degree at an affordable price,” Indrawis stated.

It may seem scary at first, but being free from all the academic stress is exciting. College is bittersweet; you get the education and degree you need for a career, but there is the possibility of debt owed from all the student loans.

Not to mention the realization that you might want to do something else later in the future and have to come back to any school to get a degree in that field.

It will be a challenging journey, but Kean University has our backs as students, and we are always welcome to come back; there is no shame in it.

We have the power to pursue our careers and to take our knowledge with us to be successful in our lives. As we say goodbye to Kean, we’ll take our memories with us, not just the educational ones, but the ones with friends made during our time there

 

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