The Triangle

Issue date: 6/5/09 Section: Ed-Op

Media Credit: Mike Mazzeo

Brett Fischer

After five years as a Drexel student, including three years as a sports editor and my current tenure as editor in chief of The Triangle, it is hard to fathom that these are my last days as an undergraduate. I remember just a few years ago, my dad was telling me his memories of what Drexel was like when he attended. Even though he graduated with an electrical engineering degree, compared to my communication degree, I am lucky that as Dad and Boy, we can both look back and share our stories of what it was like to attend Drexel University.

As we prepare for the tumultuous post-college journey we call life, there is much knowledge we have garnered from our Drexel experience. By now, hopefully we were able to epitomize prominence within our respective academic fields. Even if we are furthering our education by getting a masters or a doctorate, it is imperative that we employ what we learn to the real world. Few will care that you received a B+ in Biology 302, Business 411 or Communication 380. But it is essential to take the principles and foundations learned from those classes and apply them to the job atmosphere.

A majority of us have co-op experience under our belts, but we have not had the feeling of knowing we will return to our undergraduate studies following the duration of our work experience. My philosophy is that if you want something badly enough, then you will find a way to make it happen. There is nothing we cannot achieve if we put enough of our heart and dedication into the process of finding our dream job. Do not use salary, time, location, application process or difficulty of job as an excuse. Don't blame "The Drexel Shaft" either. Our employers will not recognize that as valid justification. Most importantly, don't accept the "if it is meant to be, it will happen," mentality. I am certain people will argue with me, but if there is one thing that plays a role in what we do with our lives and our careers, it is persistency - especially when it comes to failure.

With the economy struggling as much as it has, we cannot rest on our laurels.

If we "fail" or make a mistake, we cannot get down on ourselves. Instead, let's learn from what we may have done incorrectly to avoid making the same mistake in the future. This is how we grow and become great leaders. It is better to make a mistake while attempting to be a leader than to make the mistake of never attempting to be a leader. Sometimes, mistakes can have a much stronger, positive significance than we can comprehend. The most paramount jobs and job interviews often require one to have passion and determination, aside from spirit and diligence. But when situations arise that are not initially in favor of us and we make that mistake, do we give up and let it get the better of us? Remember, everyone makes mistakes, but it is the strongest leaders who turn a negative into a positive. It's all about the approach we take in any given scenario.

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