By Mariana Navarette, Contributing Writer
A year ago, the class of 2020 was graduating from Saint Leo University—in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This led students to change their academic, personal, and professional goals towards something that fit into the pandemic world.
The Saint Leo Alumni from 2020 clearly had to adapt to a new normal. Here are some of their life paths after graduation and their advice to share with the graduating class of 2021.
Alumni Bernard Michael Ramos graduated in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in English with a specialization in professional writing. Now, he works as a behavior specialist at a private school in Tarpon Springs.
“It was difficult finding a job last year during COVID,” said Ramos. “I started looking in March and was planning on moving after graduation. I had to change all my plans.”
Ramos was originally hired as a middle school teacher, but ended up in his current position due to pandemic-related layoffs. He is also pursuing a master’s degree in school counseling at New York University online.
Ramos point out that, if it was not for his professional writing professors at Saint Leo—Dr. Valerie Kasper and Professor Marissa McLargin—he would be hopeless.
“They gave me the love, support, and knowledge to become prepared for higher education and jobs,” he said. “My advice to the class of 2021 is to connect with your classmates and professors. They are the ones who are going to help you and prepare you for life after college.”
Ramos points out we need to give ourselves space to make mistakes and accept denials from jobs and universities. Sometimes our career path will go a different route, which will open more doors and opportunities.
“Accept the changes and work with it!” said Ramos.
Alumni Matalin Shaver lives in Naples, Florida, working as the executive director assistant for Sunlight Home, a Christian shelter for pregnant teens and women.
Shaver points out the best thing she learned about finding jobs—especially during COVID—is that it takes time and lots of motivation.
“You have to want it, and if you do, you will bear fruit from the work you put in,” said Shaver.
“I spent hours every day searching for jobs, looking at mission opportunities, and even looking at graduate programs,” she continued. “Through lots of prayer and trust in the Lord, He opened the door for me to come down to Naples and help the women and children at Sunlight Home.”
Shaver recommends the graduating class of 2021 stay motivated, put in the hours, and have an open mind.
“The Lord might be calling you to something you would never have thought of!” she said.
Having graduated with his bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, alumni David Bello Brewer, is currently enrolled in the master’s program for cybersecurity at Saint Leo, and will be graduating this summer.
“When Covid hit, I knew jobs were going to be impacted,” said Bello. “Not knowing when this was going to end, I decided this was the best time to study and pursue something better than a Bachelors.”
Bello comments he learned that everything—good or bad—happens for a reason.
“Post-graduation might bring you a little bit of anxiety, but I’m letting you know that you’ve made it this far and you should be proud,” he said. “You still have your whole life in front of you, so go do whatever makes you happy. I wish you all the best in your professional careers.”
An alumni who majored in psychology, Siobhan Murphy, works at present as a preschool teacher.
“Although I do love my job, it has made me realize I don’t want to be a teacher,” said Murphy. “It was very hard to find a job with my degree, psychology, straight out of undergrad, especially during the pandemic.”
Murphy explains she took this job because it gives her experience in child development, which is eventually what she would love to pursue professionally.
“I am currently applying for higher education to work as a child life specialist in a hospital,” she said.
Murphy says she learned that life after college is very stressful and adulthood comes at you quickly.
“The advice I would like to give to this year’s graduates is to seize every opportunity and connection,” she said.
John Fritzgerald Hall, Jr. majored in biology and minored in chemistry at Saint Leo, and presently works as a laboratory medical assistant for BayCare Health at St. Joseph ‘s Hospital.
“I found it increasingly intimidating as an international student to search for jobs during the pandemic,” said Hall. “However, the market for persons in my major was completely wide open.”
Hall tried using most job forums—such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and Saint Leo’s Handshake—to apply for various positions.
“At some point, I filled out 30 applications in one day,” he said.
Hall’s first job was with LabCorp, before he got a job offer from Baycare. Later, Baycare offered him a position in their Medical Lab Sciences certificate program at Hillsborough Community College.
“The lectures and information I learned at Saint Leo gave me the base I needed to understand everything I’m learning, but also gave me a significant push in applying what I learned,” said Hall.
Hall suggests that this year’s graduating class needs to be persistent, tenacious, and unrelenting in pursuing jobs and when furthering their education.
“It may be easy to get complacent and give up the first days when you made 10-20 applications,” said Hall. “But understand that application #11 or #21 may be the one that launches you into your dream career or the next adventure of learning.”
“Your future is brighter because of the sacrifices you will make today,” he added. “Go Lions!”
The pandemic is still not over, and the ‘new normal’ forces people to adapt to changes. The class of 2021 graduates have some references here that portray how one can still pursue academic, professional, or personal goals even in the middle of a pandemic.
