My BIG Break might turn into a Heartbreak
College graduation is one of the most highly anticipated life events as it signals the start of one’s professional career, and for some, it is their “one-way ticket” to their dream(s).
Graduation season is rapidly approaching, and as exciting as it may sound, life after college is not always sunshine and butterflies (based on what I heard).
Life after college is anotehr thing to thawe we accordingly, confrontation with oneself greets you after graduation.
You’ll find yourself either stuck or torn between things you thought you already figured out before. And if it gets worse, you will end up questioning yourself on whether you should rest or look for a job — should you take more time to enjoy life after graduation, or should you head directly and find a job? Which is which, what should one do?
But amidst the uncertainty, one thing is sure: Life after college won’t be easy for graduates of online classes, especially for students like me who have no other choice but to find and land a job right away.
It's not new to me to hear that life after college, the “real life,” as the elders say, can be tough. While we are looking forward to transitioning to the so-called life of a young professional — a whole new level of independence marking the beginning of adulthood — we, as online class graduates, have an additional hurdle to face.
Below is the list of why fresh-off-the-(books) laptops college graduates are once again on the losing end during this pandemic.
First, Bearing the Brunt of Online Class to the “Real World”
The pandemic has cut short and turned our student lives upside down. We were sent home with the promise that we would be back after two weeks. Yet, those two weeks never ended, and it extended longer than one had ever imagined. More than a year later, we are still here, trying our best to cope with this forced isolation and distant learning. Technically, half of our college years are delivered through the online mode of learning.
While the question of inclusivity in distance learning remains a debate and a topic that needs consideration, another conversation has emerged. Some are now questioning as to whether the graduates of online classes are fully work-ready or are they just inept and unskilled-soon-to-be graduates who cheated their way out.
To make things worse, it seems like the inconvenience of online classes will be carried out by us students right after graduation and/or immediately once we start finding a job.
On November 15, 2021, an alumnus from a well-known university posted on their freedom wall. It’s about corporations and company bosses perceiving graduates of online classes as “people who never learned anything or cheated to pass.”
As information swiftly spread online, this post reached the twitter world (via repost), where students began asking themselves if there is still a future waiting ahead of them.
“Future is uncertain and bleak.”
“I hate it here.”
“I’m done.”
These are only a few of the sentiments posted by the students who have read it on social media. Admittedly, the online mode of learning is not as effective as face-to-face classes. But we are left with no options but to comply and adapt to this new mode of education.
It is an oversimplification that students produced by the online mode of learning are not fit for landing a job in their chosen industry.
Admittedly, the online mode of learning is not as effective as face-to-face classes. But we are left with no options but to comply and adapt to this new mode of education.
This notion invalidates all the struggle and efforts exerted by the students who can barely keep themselves up to accomplish all the requirements in class. As if we chose to master our crafts and profession in front of our laptops or computers while confined in the four corners of our room. As if we have learned and done nothing for more than three semesters of both studying and keeping ourselves together due to the overwhelming transition we need to deal with.
"As if we chose to master our crafts and profession in front of our laptops or computers while confined in the four corners of our room."
It is truly heartbreaking to know that while life after college is bleak, its uncertainty has worsened because of the notion that online class graduates are a “burden that companies and employers do not want to deal with.”
Consequently, this also invalidates all the labors applied by our professors and learning facilitators to deliver our education. In fact, employers and companies should look at the students’ perspectives who are persevering despite these big transitions in their lives.
The pandemic is a huge challenge to everyone, and the online class has become another burden to us. However, the class of 2018 and the following batches have managed to adapt and continue their education along with this overwhelming situation. No one is ready for this, but we have braced ourselves to continue and consistently pave our path for success.
Second, getting into the industry is hard enough, but it is even worse because of the pandemic.
It is no surprise that we need to find our way up and prove that we are worthy of our position in this capitalistic society. For fresh graduates or young professionals, meeting expectations and looking for a stable job are just a few of the struggles they have to deal with. Hence, all of us are about to compete to have that spot in the real world.
This is the everyday scenario of a new graduate hunting for a job, even before the pandemic.
However, the graduates of online classes are deprived of this chance because even before we step into the industry, the corporate world has already labelled us unworthy of the position. And no matter what we do or how offended we were, it sounds very hypocritical to say that we don’t want to land a job in the corporate world — because, at the end of the day, we are all bound to pay our bills.
"No matter what we do or how offended we were, it sounds very hypocritical to say that we don’t want to land a job in the corporate world — because, at the end of the day, we are all bound to pay our bills."
Third, they will not listen to our struggles
Our struggles will be branded as excuses, that is for sure. If you try searching “how to land a job on online platforms,” they will tell you to fill in your CV with experiences and volunteer work. Some companies also reiterate the need for experiences as one of their core requirements. The general public needs to understand that it takes so much courage and persistence to enroll and take complete units every semester in a distance mode of learning. How much more in securing internships and other extracurricular activities?
This is unfair, especially when people do not really put effort into understanding what it really means to do distance learning. Flexible learning, as the other term for online classes, is not as flexible as you think.
"Flexible learning, as the other term for online classes, is not as flexible as you think."
The sudden adjustment of the teaching method also puts extra responsibility for students to exert more effort to show their participation and willingness to learn. We need to juggle house chores and academic loads. On top of that, this is another struggle for students working part-time jobs making ends meet for their families.
In an online class, each day is a battle of whether who will be disconnected first: you or your internet. Regardless, a student still needs to comply and continue doing their tasks because it is now, more than ever, that the teachers’ role as facilitators is emphasized.
Everything is solely based on your performance in class, and if you’re unlucky enough, everything from your 1st to the last module will be done on a self-study basis.
Simply, there is no room for other works such as internships and extracurricular activities.
In fact, this is not where I thought I was going to be. And maybe this holds true to all of us doing online classes because we are supposed to be enjoying the benefits of in-person classes where there is a hands-on delivery of knowledge. I guess we are all disappointed because we imagined being somewhere else. This wasn’t our college dream. And certainly, no one would want to be on another batch of online graduation. We want that thrill of walking up the stage, and bowing and smiling in front of everybody who celebrates with us.
"I guess we are all disappointed because we imagined being somewhere else. This wasn’t our college dream."
So, companies and corporations should stop playing the blaming game because we are only victims of poor pandemic responses. We should not suffer the repercussions for something we have no control over; instead, rethink and reassess what online class graduates can offer to you and your company.
We did not spend sleepless nights, shed tears and blood, and wear ourselves out to achieve our much-awaited graduation just to be branded as incapable and a burden. With the absence of stringent monitoring, students are becoming highly independent and innovative.
According to Future Learn, one of the appeals of online education to hiring managers is the ability of online learners to work independently. “This type of self-motivation is one of the most important skills an employee can have today, where so much of work (as well as education) has gone remote.”
We struggled for more than a year, but we found our ways out – a telling factor that we are driven and motivated to accomplish our tasks.
The odds have been stacked for us. We may never experience that long-awaited face-to-face graduation march, but nonetheless, we shall keep marching forward in pursuit of our goals.
Graphics by: Nicole Pacardo
For Tips on Job Application read Here: The Blues of Job Rejection: How to Bounce Back and Ace the Next One
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