CASTS OSC CT LE Ct eT TEC

The unwelcome reality, of expectation

By Cody Klyne

en J started at Douglas College
I was a cliché. A trembling waif
of a man. A sheep, who while

preparing to join the herd, managed to
lose his sense of direction and careen off
the cliff that is self-doubt and uncertainty.
I was a blank canvas waiting for my white
knight Bob Ross to make something out
of nothing and tell me that I was making
the right choice. Happy little trees, right
Bobby? Ham-fisted hipster metaphors
aside, when the day was done and I’d
successfully enrolled in my program
of choice I eagerly inhaled the familiar
warmth and unwarranted solace of a
choice made. Then...I graduated.
Looking at my diploma, hung with
some arrogance on the wall in its value-

14

priced frame, I can distinctly recall
experiencing feelings of loss, comparable
to the loss of a much loved plant or less
loved pet, this past April, with one key
exception: it’s been months now and J still
feel at a loss. I’ve been unable to imitate
or reclaim the incubation-like conditions
provided by the title of ‘student’ over
these last few years. This brings us to the
crux of the anecdote and what is hopefully
the one worthwhile take away burned in
the sentiment: what is it about the allure
of expectation that makes it irresistible to
otherwise logical people when, in reality,
regardless how positive, negative, or in
between the outcome, we’re inevitably
disappointed?

News flash! Graduating from a
college, university, or technical institute is
not the golden ticket that we, as children
of the MTV generation, have been led to

believe. While it’s a great step in the right
direction, and at the very least can help
to curtail being condemned to work the
deep fryer or espresso machine for longer
than necessary, how can we as ‘educated’
individuals truly believe that a piece of
paper can guarantee a career, much less a
job? The easy response when shit hits the

_- fan is to try and pass the buck and push

the responsibility of our investment (of
time, money, and sanity) into the hands of
those that advised us to take the plunge.
Mom and Dad, friends and girlfriends,
academic advisors, program websites, that
guy at the bus stop with the straight teeth
that you talk to every now and again;
certainly, these are the responsible parties.
Take responsibility. For those new to the
idea, the best advice I have for you is this:
do your research. Educate yourself on
your education. Understand the reality of

your chosen field. Talk to graduates, do
informational interviews with potential
employers, find out what the people
in power are looking for and make
adjustments (if you feel like conforming.)
It should go without saying that the
economy is still in a rough way. Jobs
are limited and employers are looking to
pay less for more. In most cases, dream
jobs remain just that, dreams. As far as
I’m concerned, no amount of proactivity
is sufficient enough to prepare you for
life after graduation. Keep your feet on
the ground, your head out of the clouds,
and make the most out of your time in a
supportive learning environment while
you have it. Don’t regret the reality; regret
the expectation and our willingness to
allow ourselves to get wrapped up in the

hype.