Roost: Post-graduation lessons learned

A year ago, my son, Stuart, graduated from college with the highest of hopes. Since then he’s learned some valuable life lessons.

Lesson #1: Be humble

Rather than accept my invitation to move home while he looked for employment, Stuart decided to look for work in Portland where he’d attended school. His father and I both made it clear the choice was his; however, he’d need to pay his own way. But hey, with a bachelor’s degree in physics from a prestigious school, what could go wrong? Plenty.

He hadn’t accounted for the thousands of other recent graduates entering the job market and, as impressive as it was, his education did not translate into an immediate job. Fortunately, he’d received some money as graduation gifts that went toward making June rent. When July rent came due and I received the call I’d been anticipating, only not the request for money I’d expected. Instead of just asking for money Stuart offered to sell me his relatively new laptop, knowing that mine was on the fritz. I agreed. About this time, he also got a job…driving an ice cream truck. Yep, the physics major who wrote his thesis on string theory briefly drove an ice cream truck last summer allowing him to just barely make August rent.

Lesson #2: Be resilient

I received the second expected phone call in early September. The ice cream truck had broken down and Stuart was headed home in “Nathan,” his 1986 Volvo. Stuart and Nathan made it all the way to Oceanside before Nathan broke down on the I-5 shoulder at 3 a.m. Stuart was now unemployed, and without wheels.

Lesson #3: Be assertive

Stuart continued to apply for entry-level physics positions, to no avail. Depression took hold. Concerned, I encouraged him to try tutoring. Turns out math and physics tutors are in high demand. He started receiving positive feedback from his students and their parents. Soon, he felt better about himself and had some money in his pocket which also helped his mood.

Lesson #4: Be persistent

On Christmas morning, Stuart received a text from a college classmate informing him that the NASA-subcontractor his dad worked for was hiring recent graduates. Would Stuart be interested in applying? Is Mars red? After applying, time passed with no word and Stuart again grew discouraged. I dutifully nagged my son to follow up with the dad. Being shy by nature and wanting to do things his own way, he did so with great resistance.

Lesson #5: Be prepared when opportunity strikes

A few weeks ago, the dad finally emailed Stuart that a job had been posted for which he should apply. His email also contained links to materials that would help him prepare for a potential interview. In addition, Stuart had used some of his downtime wisely, reading up on NASA, networking with a contact who worked at SpaceEx, and taking online coding and physics courses. He was ready for the interview and got the job.

He’ll be part of a “Deep Space Network” team working on the first ever encounter with Pluto this summer. A perfect fit for my X-Files-fanatic, quantum-physics-loving son.

Lesson # 6: Be aware...there are no guarantees.

So here’s to you, Class of 2015! Your accomplishments are to be celebrated. However, the sooner you understand they don’t entitle you to a job offer, the easier this upcoming year will be. If you won’t take my word or your parents’ word, at least consider the words of Rilke who dispensed this advice to a young poet:

Pour yourself like a fountain.

Flow into the knowledge that what you are seeking

finishes often at the start, and with ending begins.

Every happiness is the child of a separation

it did not think it could survive. And Daphne,

becoming a laurel,

dares you to become the wind