Graduation nears for seniors, many prepare

By Benjamin Baxter
The Collegian

Noah Garcia has some degree of fondness for Fresno State because of the six years he has spent as a student working on his bachelor’s degree and master’s thesis.

“I love Fresno State,” Garcia said. “It’s really helped me a lot.”

Garcia is a graduate student in the social work program. He attended Fresno State as an undergraduate, and now interns at the Kings County Child Welfare Services.

“I’ve had an internship for two years,” Garcia said. “It helped me develop the skills I need and the experience I need."

Garcia graduates this spring, like many other Fresno State students.

Although Information Systems major Si Her has one semester of classes left, she said she plans to walk in the graduation ceremony this spring. She said she plans to start her yearlong internship this summer.

“If they like me, they’ll keep me,” Her said.

Her said she first attended Fresno State in 1995, coming back after a hiatus of seven years. She will now have a bachelor’s degree and can move on to an internship.

“I know what I want to do,” Her said.

Her said she has no problems with the amount of general education classes required of Fresno State students, but feels that majors should have another requirement.

“I think they should have an actual class here about what kind of jobs you can have with your degree,” Her said.

Psychology major and Clovis native Jamie Gillette is finishing her degree after four years, though she said it was difficult to finish in that amount of time.

“It’s really hard, because you have to take a lot of units, a lot of classes,” Gillette said. “I was taking 21 units a semester. It’s intense.”

Gillette said she plans to come back to Fresno State for her graduate work in the Marriage and Family Therapy program, noting it can be difficult to progress in her field with just a bachelor’s degree. She hopes to get an internship later on, however.

“We’ll see when I get out there,” Gillette said.

“It’s been a good experience, but a long, drawn-out one,” Gillette said. “Everyone wants to fly from the nest.”

Comment on this story in the News forum >>