Graduation is just around the corner and for many seniors, it is an exciting time. It marks the end for some students and the beginning for others. As they prepare themselves for their big day, we ask, “What will the spring class of 2005 do after graduation?”

Some will choose to go into the work force first, then attend graduate, or professional, school as Zahra Bennett, a senior industrial and systems engineering major explains.

“My plan after graduation is to work for the US Patent and Trade Office…They are paying for me to go to law school, so I plan to go into corporate law and work for a large community corporation and work for contractors.”

“I will work at a public policy research firm in Oakland, Calif.,” says Erika Atkins, a political science and history major and secretary of the Student Government Association (SGA). “I intend to work there a year and then I will go to law school to earn a J.D. and a M.B.A.”

Some students will have to pass an exam to obtain a license to start their career as Deega Dualeh, a nursing major, explains her exam.

“I plan on taking and passing the NCLEX, an exam you have to take to become a Registered Nurse (RN),” says Dualeh. “I want to do home health care, but you have to have a year’s experience, so I am going to work at High Point Regional.”

While some are planning on working right after graduation, others are looking into graduate school. William Henley, a graphics communication system major is looking into this option.

“I am looking at graduate school at North Carolina State (NC State) and maybe pursue my master’s degree in marketing to do something in advertising.”

As they prepare themselves to enter the “real world,” we asked if A&T prepared them for their futures.

“I definitely feel the[business department] staff has prepped me for the real world because of the fact that a lot of the professors here have real world work experience,” said Duane Fisher, a business management major. “They pass on the knowledge.”

Even though Fisher believes that the school is preparing him for the real world, he feel there is a minor change that could be done.

“One improvement that they can make is to have contracts with companies that will allow us to set up internships rather than us having to go to career fairs and go search on our own for internships.”

Every one does not agree that A&T prepared them for the real world. Many, like Rachell Hart, feel A&T can do better when it comes to certain areas.

“I graduated in 2002 with a finance degree, [and] I found that graduating at that time, the state of the economy made it harder to find jobs,” said Hart, a business management major. “I think job placement could be a little better at A&T.

Hart, who is about to obtain her second bachelor’s degree, will finish her nursing degree at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) after graduating from A&T, believing that her nursing degree will be a better choice.

“I feel that nursing would be better for me for job placement and [due to] the expectations of the career in that area,” said Hart.

An industrial engineer major felt that the engineering department could have done more for their students. He believes that there is a lot of potential out there and feels that the department does not match the students potential.

In addition, he believes the department should focus on the writing skills of their students. A lot of students within the department have difficulty in writing.

Majority of our fellow Aggies graduating in May are anticipating the day and have special plans within the future. We would like to wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

• Andrea Fuller