Senior Plans

This week, I asked Andrews University seniors what their plans for after graduation are, whether they feel like Andrews prepared them well for the future, and what their feelings are about graduation. Their answers range from graduate school to entering the workforce. Soon-to-be graduates, we wish you all the best.

After graduation, I will be going abroad for medical school. It's something I’ve always wanted to do and it will get me outside of my comfort zone, which is something I am looking forward to because that's how people grow. Andrews did a really good job when it came to teaching me the classes I needed, but to be honest I have to give a shout out to Dr. Benjamin Navia. Almost everything I know related to science is because of him. I also have to give a shout out to the Behavioral Science Department because they all were great teachers and mentors. They will have a special place in my heart. Overall, I am excited; it's a bittersweet feeling to graduate and leave friends behind, but that's life, and you have to move on eventually. I’m stepping into a new phase in my educational journey, so I hope I enjoy it as much as this one.
Chris Mata (senior, behavioral science)

My post-grad plans are to participate in a Youth Pastor Internship in Hawaii for a year. I think this opportunity will not only give more opportunities to get a job after but also give me experience. I also plan on working on some personal projects on the side. Andrews has prepared me well; the professors I have are truly selfless and answer any questions I have. They invested in me a lot. Although, I’m still very nervous as it warrants a lot of responsibility. It's just gonna take time to put what I’ve been taught to practice.
Eddy Rivera (senior, religion)

As of right now, my after-graduation plans are to move back home to Virginia. I plan to work at VCU Medical Center and I’m very interested in working at the children’s hospital there, which is one of the reasons I want to work there. I feel like Andrews prepared me enough by giving me opportunities where I could do nursing internships and practice my nursing skills. I also feel like Andrews has helped me know how to make connections. I am also very interested in pursuing grad school. I think it's a great opportunity, especially if your employer is willing to pay for your school. I also want to expand my knowledge in nursing, specifically women’s health! I don’t want to lose an opportunity to get a higher degree. I’m pretty nervous because getting into the units I want is really hard as a new grad, and I also have to think about passing the NCLEX, but I’m excited to go out into the big world and finally start using my degree!
Aya Pagunsan (senior, nursing)

My plans for after the next chapter aren’t set at the moment. I’ve been applying to graduate schools in NY as well as California and Ohio for Spanish Translation. Personally, I’ve had to figure out the majority of grad school applications by myself. I don’t know of any resources here on campus to help seniors (or juniors) apply to graduate programs. I’m personally fairly nervous for post-grad just because it’s so different from graduating high school and there’s so much pressure to either get a job or go immediately into further education.
Alaina Burghardt (senior, Spanish and global studies)

So I haven’t decided yet where I’m going, but I have a couple of great offers from universities around the U.S. My current plan is to get an MA in English literature with an emphasis in Queer or Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. During my MA studies, I will not only be attending classes but will also be teaching an undergraduate writing course similar to the ENGL 115 here. Overall, I would say that I’m extremely excited to move into this next step in my career! I’m particularly anticipating being able to meet new people and to be exposed to new ideas that I haven’t had the chance to explore here at AU. I would say that my time at AU and my English and Honors classes have provided me with extremely important tools and building blocks that my graduate studies can then improve upon and strengthen. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the amazing professors within the English department and the Honors family!
Alexander Hess (senior, English)

I haven’t decided on which hospital I'm planning to work at yet, but I do know that I am going into critical care. I've done a preceptorship in critical care and I love it because of the high acuity level, the variety of cases, and the “organized chaos” kind of overall feeling. I'm super excited to finally move into the “real world” of nursing, as opposed to the textbook version that I've been immersed in for the last four years. I don't feel as nervous as I would be due to the fact that I am applying for a residency program, where I will have a designated preceptor and a lot of resources at hand. I decided on nursing four years ago with the intention of using my BSN as a stepping stone for grad school. I know the path I've chosen can be extremely long, but I'm excited for the journey and grateful for the supportive people in my life. They are the ones who believe in me when I can't, and I owe them so much.
Jaylene Koon (senior, nursing)

I work in consulting in San Francisco for Protiviti. I like my client work and the travel aspect. I like that it’s hybrid. However, I don’t really feel as if Andrews has prepared me. Similar to other finance majors before me, I worked it out myself to get where I’m at. I’m nervous but also excited for my current opportunity.
Nilah Mataafa (senior, accounting)

I am going into my second year of PT school here at AU. As a 3+3 student, my first year of grad school counts as my senior year of undergrad. Graduation simultaneously means nothing and everything to me. The big switch to grad school has already happened so there’s no sense of accomplishment with receiving a diploma that has no worth beyond prerequisites for DPT, but also so many of my friends are moving onto their next steps. I’ve still got two more years (including summers) before I’m done. I’m planning to work as a PT but since I’m still a couple years from that, I don’t have any jobs or even an area of PT decided on. Most of my undergrad didn’t feel like it had much application so far. A&P, kinesiology, human anatomy, and exercise physiology have been the only applicable classes I can think of for my current classes. That being said, my writing and social media classes have been great for non-school activities. I definitely don’t regret them.
Kaela McFadden (senior, physical therapy)

I am still unsure about where I am going to end up because I am actually weighing options that I have (which has been a bit overwhelming). However, I have an idea of what I am going to do in the end—I just need a little more time to figure out a few things before I make a final decision. I do feel like Andrews prepared me with the academic resources that I will need for post grad; however, I am not necessarily prepared for post grad from a non-academic aspect. I think that preparation (finances, career advancement, etc.) will happen during my post grad experience.
Kayla Hope-Bruno (senior, psychology)

After obtaining my MS-SLP degree, completion of my clinical fellowship year, and obtaining my professional license, I would like to hopefully work either in early intervention, private or school settings. I like that my future career allows me to be an advocate for children with disorders who feel like they don't have a voice. I've always loved helping others, and this career allows me to do that. AU has prepared me for the upcoming future. This semester I had the opportunity to have hands-on experience with clients with various disorders. I got to take the lead and have two clients of my own and got work alongside a graduate student in the MS-SLP program. I am excited and nervous transitioning into this new stage, but I am looking forward to it. The entry-level to become a certified Speech-Language Pathologist is your master's degree. So I guess you can say I didn't have any other option. I could have just decided to end with my bachelor's and apply to be an SLP assistant, but I didn't come to college to become an assistant.
Vernisha Hodge (senior, speech-language pathology)

I am moving to Orlando this summer to start a job—I will be starting out as a Supply Chain Resident in the Emerging Leaders Program at AdventHealth. The company and the people I will be working with have been very supportive so I am anticipating that I’ll enjoy the work environment and overall experience. Overall, Andrews was a good experience for me, and I have the basis of what I need to know starting out in the business field. I am excited AND nervous but mostly excited for new experiences and opportunities!
Isabella Rappette (senior, business finance)