Dawn R.
University of Chicago
Class of 2001

Age: 31
First Job After Graduation: Cold Calling for the Ballet in Washington D.C.
Number of Jobs since graduation: 23
Current Job: Self-Employed Consultant/Writer (see her website HERE)
Marital Status: Single

When I was preparing to graduate from college I felt…
Invincible. I fell hook, line, and sinker for the belief that a college degree would magically open doors for me. However, I quickly learned that being a kind and active community member was of more value than a degree itself. After graduation, I moved to DC. I’m really gregarious, so from the moment I arrived I started talking to people as I walked around. The people I met, rather than my degree from a prestigious university, helped me find and land my first big job.

My biggest fear about graduating was…
Debt. I needed a job that would enable me to chip away at my student loans. I chose to move to Washington DC in September 2001, where I had no job but many prospects. Eleven days later, however, 9-11 changed everything. The D.C. economy slowed and the job market dried up. My fear about paying off my debt was as present as ever.

I conquered this fear by…
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Christine Hassler
Northwestern University
Class of 1998

Age: Thirty-something
First Job After Graduation: Assistant at William Morris, a Hollywood Agency.
Number of Jobs since graduation: At least ten
Current Job: Life coach, counselor, author, professional speaker, spokesperson, consultant, and
champion of Gen Y! (www.christinehassler.com)
Marital Status: Single

When I was preparing to graduate from college I felt…
Stressed out. I was excited to get my career started but overwhelmed in terms of how to do it. When I graduated, I didn’t have a job. I knew I wanted to work in the entertainment industry and the rule of thumb was that you needed to move to LA before applying for positions. Making a move without secured employment was exciting but also nerve racking.

My biggest fear about graduating was…
Picking the wrong job or not getting the right job.

I conquered this fear by…
I don’t know that I did conquer that fear. In my life coaching practice, I say that courage isn’t about getting over fear, it is about moving forward even if fear is present. Although I felt fear, I didn’t allow the fear to paralyze me. I kept moving, putting one foot in front of the other and taking action steps. Anxiety is only possible when we’re thinking about the future. I was so conditioned to thinking about the future – sticking to a preconceived timeline of when I would get married and have kids or how my career would develop – that my vision stressed me out more than the reality of my day to day life. I had to teach myself to focus, be present, and take one step at a time.

My best piece of romantic advice is…
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Alexandra Jaye Johnson
University of Northern Iowa
Class of 2001
Age: 32
First Job After Graduation: Massage School Student, Fitness Class Instructor, and Personal Trainer
Number of Jobs since graduation: 4
Current Job: Goddess at En*theos Enterprises (http://entheos.me)
Marital Status: Married

When I was preparing to graduate from college I felt…
It was time for me to start rockin’ it. I was thrilled to start massage college and to move into my own studio after years of having roommates. And, although I was nervous to start work at the health and fitness club, I also felt excited. I was thrilled to move into the next phase of my life.

My biggest fear about graduating was…
I wouldn’t call it a fear; I would call it a challenge. I had to figure out how to make a living doing what I loved. Intuitively, I knew I wouldn’t take a traditional career path. My education had prepared me for a career in corporate sports and fitness management, but that path did not resonate with me. I knew I wanted to move to California where there was a community that was all about fitness, nutrition and personal growth. I also knew I wanted to work for myself and felt uncertain how it would all unfold. Creating my career and my life was a challenge and there were many times I thought, “How am I going to do this?” and “Can I do this?”

I conquered this fear by…
Making a deep commitment to follow my destiny. It took me years of being completely committed to pursuing my passion and my mission to conquer this fear. I learned the importance of creativity and experimenting in finding ways to do meaningful work and new methods for reaching and expanding my goals in both an emotionally fulfilling and economically profitable way. When something didn’t work, I would find a new way to do it. I was committed.

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