Anxiety and anticipation filled McKenzie Arena on Saturday as interim UT President Jan Simek warned wide-eyed graduates that, “Economic success is not something you can count on.”
The nearly 400 UTC graduates will face one of the hardest job markets in years. While the ceremony marked the beginning of a new life for the mostly 20-somethings, the conversations quickly turned from posed pictures with mom and dad to the immediate panic of getting a job.
Nisha Patel, of Jackson, Tenn., graduated with a degree in finance and said she did not have a job lined up after graduation.
“Fear outweighs excitement today,” Patel said. “But, I am really excited to start a new chapter in life.”
Other students who did not have a job waiting for them were confident that their degree would carry them through the recession.
Becca Gillem, an elementary education major, said she probably would continue substitute teaching until a full-time position came along for something closer to her dream job: teaching first or second grade.
“I also have my ESL endorsement, so I hope that will help me get a job,” Gillem said.
An ESL, English as a second language, endorsement allows Gillem to get a job helping children who do not speak English.
Clark Goldston, a Chattanooga native who earned a degree in business marketing, said he did not have a job lined up but wasn’t too worried.
“I’ve looked online and seen a couple of job openings in marketing,” Goldston said. “The job market doesn’t look too scary.”
It wasn’t all about the bad economy, though. Roger Brown, chancellor of UTC, reminded graduates just how much the world had changed since they first entered college, listing the development of iPods, the growth of Facebook, and that “back in 2005, neither Paris Hilton nor Lindsay Lohan had criminal records.”
Also, Simek told students that doing what was best for others ultimately would be what was best for their careers.
“A paycheck is nice, don’t get me wrong,” Simek said. “But it’s not the end-all be-all.”
And in the end, it was Simek who directly addressed the vulnerability of the graduates.
“Kinda scary out there, isn’t it?” Simek said.