Although the reign of iconic boy band New Kids on the Block came to an end years ago, the message behind the group’s name remains relevant to our generation. Graduation season is finally at an end. Now, there are millions of young people across the country embarking on a new journey.

Yet again, these people are becoming freshmen at this spectacle of their lives. Despite being rookies in all they set out to accomplish, millennials have hope as a generation that they will succeed, despite a daunting job market, challenging new environments and real-world demands.

For me, my real-world encounter came when I graduated high school and stepped foot on the campus of Syracuse University. Despite the advice I received from family and friends about everything from academics to dating, I believe there is no amount of advice in the world that will completely brace you for your own unique college experience.

The same can be said about most real-world experiences and adapting to new surroundings.

A recent piece from The New York Times published June 28 included a survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education and America Public Media’s Marketplace. The survey revealed that recent college graduates “were lacking most in written and oral communication skills, adaptability and managing multiple priorities and making decisions and problem solving.”

The problem is not that this generation isn’t smart enough, talented enough or even that we don’t have enough preparation for future, post-grad endeavors. The issue seems to lie in our basic abilities to communicate and adapt to a new environment.

The ability to adjust to post-college life is no easy feat.

For us ‘Cuse fans, this means we have to face the reality that it’s not normal to step out of the house in head-to-toe SU gear, even if it is only for a quick trip to the store. People will stare — I learned this the hard way.

After living on a campus that can sometimes seem like a carefree bubble, it’s time for college graduates to fully step out into the real world, a place we only seem to visit when we return to our high school jobs or apply for internships.

In making adjustments and adapting to our new environments, we have proved our capabilities to problem solve.

Yet even after confirming these skills to the world, our generation is now faced with the steep task of entering a workforce that is more “complex and globalized” than it has ever been. Being the new kid on the block — or should I say the new kid in the office – is not easy, and the workplace will be even more multifaceted in just a few short years; businesses will continue to expand overseas and require employees to be a jack of all trades, regardless of what’s in the job description.

But as a generation, we can all take a deep breath as we continue to gain the professional and equally important personal skills needed to be outstanding in our fields. Learn from the recent graduates what it might take to make a smooth transition into the 9-to-5 life. And relax — being the new kid on the block isn’t so bad. It worked for Jordan, Jonathan, Joey, Donnie and Danny.

Nina Rodgers is a sophomore sociology major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at nmrodger@syr.edu. 

Published on July 9, 2013 at 10:29 pm