2011 Eastern Michigan University graduates speak of struggles on the way to a degree
Ronald Ahrens | For AnnArbor.com
Among the people who received degrees today during Eastern Michigan University’s spring commencement, the same word kept coming up: struggle.
Whether it was striking the balance between work and school, or dealing with the cruel hand of fate, graduates said they found themselves confronted with unexpected challenges on the way to their degrees.
Take Kelly Jordan, for example.
“I never thought I was going to graduate because I went through a lot of struggles,” said Jordan, a 22-year-old from Dexter who received a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation from the School of Health Sciences.
During exam week in 2010, she experienced the unexpected death of her boyfriend, Michael Schomer. She said she also had endured health problems of her own.
Now she’s looking forward to being an administrator at a summer camp near Frankenmuth, overseeing programs and staff.
“My family and I are very proud,” she said.
The commencement, held in EMU’s Convocation Center, was divided into 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. sessions. The morning’s speaker, and recipient of an honorary degree, was Steven Tapper, partner and vice president of Tapper’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry, in West Bloomfield.
Evita Emanuel will work for Purdue University after receiving her master's degree from EMU at spring commencement.
Ronald Ahrens | For AnnArbor.com
Robert J. Skandalaris, principal and CEO of the investment banking firm Quantum Ventures of Michigan, addressed the afternoon session.
EMU’s coordinator of academic records, Judy Massingill, said that besides the 2,300 spring graduates eligible to attend, an additional 500 “walkers”—candidates for degrees after summer sessions—were were invited, bringing the possible total to 2,800 in caps and gowns.
While some new graduates said they had no immediate job prospects, Evita Emanuel had written the familiar symbol of Purdue University, her next destination, on her mortarboard. Emanuel is taking her master’s degree in education along to Purdue after accepting a job as educational coordinator in the university’s residential life program.
The Detroit native spent the last two and a half years studying for her degree while also working full-time four nights per week, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., as an assistant manager at Wal-Mart, in Monroe.
“At first I struggled with the work and school,” said the newly engaged 28-year-old. “But it’s been a blessing for me that everything happened the way it did. If you work hard, it pays off—it really does.”
Comments
jrigglem
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 9:59 p.m.
I hope they can find a job. I graduated from EMU in 2009 with a BBA and have been looking for a job for almost 2 years.
AA
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 2:11 p.m.
Welcome to your world. Good luck, your going to need it.
15crown00
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 1:05 p.m.
Hey kiddies you don't know struggles until you get out into the real world. That can't be taught because most of the faculty at institutions of higher learning haven't been out here either.
kilalqaeda
Mon, Apr 18, 2011 : 2:19 a.m.
While that is true, must you scare them.
Bones
Sun, Apr 17, 2011 : 4:10 a.m.
These kids work damn hard to finish school. They work, Have personal problems like everyone in life does. And they have tons of hard work in and out of class to make the grade. I wish them all the best. And I just hope that our elected local, state, and federal leaders fix the economy so that they can all get good paying jobs.
UtrespassM
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 10:36 p.m.
How many new graduates have to go back home without a desired job offer and have to live on parents?
kilalqaeda
Sat, Apr 16, 2011 : 9:32 p.m.
I got my degree in Women's Studies from EMU and now I'm an assistant shift supervisor at Starbucks and make well over $28,000 a year and I only owe $58,000 more in student loans. It was a hard struggle to get my great degree but in the end it paid off and now I make great coffee for people while able to blog my great knowledge in the progressive and smart city of Ann Arbor, GO Eagles!