Graduating seniors have different goals

By Kelly Morgan (Whetstone Staff Writer)

It’s great to be a student bucking a nationwide trend.

If only about 50 percent of students who enter college finish in four years, Wesley has its own share of success stories.

“I’m actually graduating on time,” said Matt Gallagher of his 4-year feat.

Gallagher, a liberal studies major with concentrations in English, history and philosophy, wants to work before returning to school and becoming a teacher.

“I’m going to take a year off,” he said. “I want to find a government job then go to graduate school. But, I’m still deciding where to apply to.”

Gallagher’s goal is to teach.

“Hopefully, I’ll become an English professor with philosophy thrown in there,” he said.

Gallagher said he chose English and philosophy as two of his concentrations because both subjects have helped him find out what direction to take in life.

“Knowledge helps in developing who you are as a person,” he said. “[English and philosophy] have helped me look at the world in a different way.”

Philosophy is about asking questions.

“I’ve always been asking questions,” Gallagher said. “’What was I before I was born?’ and ‘Is that what death is going to be?’”

Gallagher looks forward to his dissertation and earning a doctorate.

“[I want to do] something on ‘Don Quixote’ and how reality is constructed by individuals,” he said. “There’s a split identity between individualism and social identity. It’s a part of what it means to be an American and a part of who we are.”

Graduating senior Justin Rhodes wants produce videos after he earns his Bachelor’s degree in May.

“I really like directing and being on camera,” he said. “I started in fourth grade doing the morning news. Ever since then, it’s stuck and I was hooked.”

Rhodes has been involved with WCTV, Wesley’s television program, for four years.

Within the past few months, the idea of working in television has grabbed him.

“Recently, I started working with the sports company MCN Sports at Dover Downs,” he said. “We’ve been doing a sports show that’s broadcasted over the Internet. It’s a really good experience.”

Rhodes will not be attending graduate school.

He is interested in Dover’s WBOC-TV.

“I can’t do five years of school,” he said. “I’m going to stay in Dover because there’s job opportunities here for me.”

Amanda Parisi changed her major from elementary education to psychology during her sophomore year at Wesley because she did not want to be in college for more than four years.

“The way the [Education] program is, you can’t start your sophomore education classes without passing the Praxis,” she said. “You have to pass [the test] with Delaware standards, not the state that you’re going to be living in and teaching in. I failed twice with Delaware standards, once by one point. But, I passed with New Jersey standards.”

Parisi’s childhood dream of becoming an elementary education teacher may not come true, but she will work in school somewhere.

“After I graduate, I’m going to move back to New Jersey, become a substitute teacher at my old high school and coach cheerleading,” she said. “In the spring, I’m going to start my Master’s degree program at Wilmington University for school counseling.”

Tara Spillane said she’s actually surprised she finished in four years.

“I’m astonished and happy,” said Tara Spillane, a liberal studies major who concentrated in media arts, psychology and English. “It’s hard to [graduate] in four years. I didn’t think it would happen.”

Spillane will not attend graduate school directly after leaving Wesley.

“Before I get a job, I really want to go into AmeriCorps,” she said. “I’d be so happy, right now, if I could go to Haiti and help people. I applied to AmeriCorps and I’m hoping to hear from them soon.”

She wants to pursue education or become an x-ray technician when she finally attends graduate school.

“My mom is a nurse and she told me it’d be a great opportunity for me,” Spillane said.             “Originally, I wanted to go to school for nursing, but there would be too much for me to remember when it comes to working on a patient. I wouldn’t remember, step by step, what to do.”

Jane Golding, a business administration major, is glad she chose business as her major.

“I have many career options,” she said. “Ultimately, I would love to own my own business one day. Once I graduate, I plan on getting a job with the government in the business department and working my way up from there.”

Golding’s mother motivated her when it comes to owning her own business.

“I always thought of owning my own restaurant one day for my mom because she is an amazing cook,” she said.

Golding will stay in the area.

“I do plan on attending graduate school and it will most likely be at Wesley for business,” she said. “I chose Wesley because the smaller classroom sizes allow for more personal attention.”