May brings anticipation to students

--photo by Brandale Mills

UNM's Student Union Building Atrium

UNM students share their stories about plans after graduation.

by BRANDALE MILLS

For UNM seniors Shannon Foster and Marissa Corley, the month of May has never meant so much.

“I’ll probably cry when I’m on stage,” the elementary education major said. “I never thought this day would come.”

Foster is among the thousands of seniors graduating from UNM May 12 at 9 a.m. in the University Arena.

“This is a really big accomplishment for me,” Foster said. “I never expected to be in college or to graduate.”

Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Foster said struggled with her academics throughout grade school. After moving to Albuquerque after graduating from high school, Foster said she it was difficult adjusting to the New Mexico culture.

“I thought it was weird here,” she said. “I really missed Ohio a lot.”

Foster completed all of her core classes at what was then known as TVI before transferring to UNM her junior year.

“My transition was good,” she said. “Compared to TVI, UNM was a lot less structured and disciplined.”

TVI allowed her to have one-on-one access with her instructors, while UNM provided a different more, independent work environment, she said.

With a double minor in science and history, Foster said her seventh-grade teacher inspired her to become a teacher. She really took the time to make sure I understood the material, she said

That inspiration gives Foster the daily motivation to student-teaching a fifth-grade class at Monte Vista Elementary School.

“I love all of my students,” she said. “They mean the world to me.”

Before pursuing her teaching career, Foster plans to work on campus while working on her master’s in counseling administration.

"I hope to become dean of elementary school one day,” she said. “I would love to run my own school and implement programs I think will benefit my students.”

Foster said she has gained valuable experience while attending UNM and student teaching at Monte Vista Elementary School, which will enable her to endure certain things as a teacher.

“UNM provided me with a degree that shined a light on a path that I really want to take,” she said. “I want to teach my students things they really need to know in life.”

To prepare for the “real world,” in February, Foster attended two job fairs in South Carolina and she interviewed with surrounding school districts.

“I eventually want to leave New Mexico,” she said. “There are better job opportunities in larger states.”

After evaluating her time at UNM, Foster said she wish she would have had more fun.

“I had no social life my first two years here,” she said. “I feel like I’m just getting into my real college experience.”

First in the Family

Unlike Foster, Corley said she wished she partied less in her earlier years of college.

“When I moved out of my parent’s house, I acquired a lot of bills and my grades dropped,” she said.

Over Corley’s five years at UNM she ran track, played soccer, was involved in the Black Student Union and was a member of the UNM Gospel Choir and Powerful Movement of Educated Sistas.

“My activities and my involvement on campus enhanced my college experience,” she said.

After graduating in May, Corley plans take a year off from school before pursuing her master’s degree in criminology or crime analysis.

“I want my career to be something that I won’t get tired with,” she said. “I want to enjoy going to work every day.”

Corley said her graduation is a milestone within her entire family.

“It has been a lot of pressure on me,” she said. “I’ll be the first person in my entire family to graduate from college.”

Earlier this year, Corley was working with the United States Forest Service.

“In February when I found out that I wasn’t going to get hired permanently there, I began looking for another job.”

Corley recently interviewed for a security specialist with Target Corporation.

Still Waiting

Although graduation is over a year away for junior Sabrina Curtis, she said she is beginning to worry about how she’s going to pay for law school. Curtis plans to study civil rights and discrimination law.

“I want to hold an influential position in the NAACP, while making contributions to the African-American community,” she said.

Curtis said that although UNM claims to be one of the top multi-cultural schools in the country, blacks don’t receive as many equal opportunities as others.

“There is a greater need and better job opportunities for civil rights lawyers in the South,” she said.

Curtis said her experience working with paralegals and attorneys as a litigation assistant will give her experience that will prepare her for the real world.

“Right now I’m not doing any serious planning for law school,” she said. “I’m just working at the (law) firm to soak up as much information as I can.”

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