N※N

SLU Senior Confesses: 'I Have No Plan After Graduation'--HER Campus Examines Student Uncertainty

80

  //business-finance.news-articles.net/content/202 .. ion-her-campus-examines-student-uncertainty.html
  Published in Business and Finance on Friday, December 19th 2025 at 12:09 GMT by Her Campus

• 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
• 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source

2025-12-19 179 x 224 / 7728 Bytes

2025-12-19 179 x 224 / 11549 Bytes

2025-12-19 231 x 218 / 11732 Bytes

2025-12-19 199 x 224 / 19144 Bytes

Summarizing the HER Campus article “No, I do not know what I am doing after graduation” (SLU Edition)

The piece—originally published on HER Campus and accessed via the St. Louis University (SLU) news portal—centers on a candid, relatable conversation with a senior (the name is withheld for privacy) who admits, “No, I do not know what I am doing after graduation.” The article uses her story as a launching pad for a broader discussion about the uncertainties that many college students face as they approach the final year of their studies, especially in a world where the traditional “right‑career‑track” narrative feels increasingly out of sync with the realities of the 21st‑century job market.

1. The starting point: A student’s honest confession

The article opens with a short vignette of the senior walking down the SLU quad, a cup of coffee in hand, and confiding in the writer. She explains that although she has a clear major—biochemistry—she has no firm plan for the next five to ten years. She notes the pressure from family, faculty, and even herself to “pick a direction.” The piece underscores that her feeling of uncertainty is not a personal failing but a reflection of broader societal shifts: gig‑economy jobs, the rise of “lateral” career moves, and the blurring lines between fields.

2. Why the confusion? Multiple factors

The article goes on to break down several reasons why many students, especially women, feel stuck when thinking about post‑graduation plans:

The article cites a recent SLU study that found 58 % of female undergraduates in STEM said they had “doubts about their future career” at least once a week—data that the writer linked to the university’s internal survey (link to the survey results page was followed for context).

3. SLU’s support ecosystem

The piece then pivots to the resources available to students grappling with this ambiguity, providing a kind of “toolkit” that the senior found helpful:

1. Career Center’s “Future‑Focused Workshops”
   A link to the Career Center’s calendar was followed. These workshops cover topics like “Identifying Transferable Skills,” “Non‑Linear Career Paths,” and “Navigating Internship to Full‑Time Transitions.” The senior highlighted the “Career Mapping” exercise, which helped her chart potential skill sets and interests without committing to a single job title.

2. Faculty Advising & Mentorship Programs
   The article quotes a faculty advisor who encourages students to view advising as a dialogue, not a checklist. SLU’s Mentorship Program link, followed for additional detail, lists mentors from various industries who meet quarterly with students, offering real‑world perspectives.

3. Alumni Spotlight Sessions
   Through a partnership with the SLU Alumni Association, the university hosts monthly “Career Journeys” where graduates share how they pivoted across industries. The senior recounts attending a session where an alumna moved from biomedical research to tech‑consulting—a narrative that made the idea of “switching tracks” less daunting.

4. Internship & Co‑op Programs
   The article links to the university’s internship portal (followed for context). It encourages students to pursue short, varied internships to explore fields hands‑on. The senior mentions she’s already completed a summer internship at a biotech firm, giving her a taste of “real‑world lab work” versus a purely academic role.

5. Student‑Run Career Groups
   SLU has several affinity clubs (e.g., Women in STEM, Future Entrepreneurs) that meet weekly to discuss career trends. The senior joined one such group and found the peer discussion a “safe space” to voice fears and brainstorm options.

4. Practical strategies highlighted

Beyond institutional resources, the article distills actionable advice that the senior and the writer both agree could help any student in a similar boat:

• Skill Inventory & “Portfolio” Creation: Even if you haven’t chosen a career, you can build a portfolio of projects, coding repos, or publications that showcases transferable skills.
• Micro‑learning & Courses: Platforms like Coursera or edX let you test interest in new domains (e.g., data analytics, UX design) without long‑term commitment.
• Side Projects & Volunteer Work: These can serve as both a learning experience and a bridge to potential employers.
• “Plan B” Thinking: Rather than one linear plan, create multiple overlapping career tracks that share core competencies.
• Self‑Reflection Journaling: Document what you enjoy, what feels rewarding, and where you get energized—over time, patterns emerge.

5. The broader context and final take‑away

The article ends with a reflection on how the post‑graduation uncertainty is not a flaw but a natural part of the evolving labor market. It quotes an industry analyst from the University of Missouri (link followed for context) who noted that “career fluidity will become the norm rather than the exception.” The senior, after all, says she now views her lack of a concrete plan as an advantage—she is open to a variety of roles and can pivot quickly when opportunities arise.

The piece concludes with a hopeful note: the senior is not “lost” but on a learning path, actively building a skill set that will keep her employable in multiple domains. HER Campus encourages readers to embrace uncertainty as a space for experimentation and growth, not as a dead end.

In Summary

The HER Campus article is a candid, data‑driven exploration of a modern student’s career anxiety, anchored in the personal story of a SLU senior. It weaves together psychological insights, institutional resources, and pragmatic strategies—backed by campus links and external research—to provide a holistic guide for students unsure of their post‑graduation direction. The article’s 500‑plus‑word narrative serves not only as an anecdote but as a resource manual, urging students to leverage university services, mentorship, and self‑initiated projects to navigate an increasingly non‑linear career landscape.