By Will Tredo
Once the internships are over and there are
no more classes to attend, college graduates have a major
life decision to make. They can apply the invaluable skills
they have learned in college and enter the professional
world. Or they can do “a year of teaching in Brazil,
work on a vineyard in New Zealand, or bike across the United
States.” At least that is what Colleen Kinder suggests
in the introduction to her book, “Delaying the Real
World: A Twentysomething’s Guide to Seeking Adventure.”
Kinder signed books at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in
the Student Union at Buffalo
State College on March 16.
“Delaying
the Real World” is the first book from the 23-year-old
author who graduated from Yale
University in 2003. At Yale, she had a conversation
on a blind date with a senior about his plans after graduation.
His response, “ski bum,” intrigued her and she
began to investigate how many other students were following
an unconventional path after college. Kinder had just returned
home eager with ideas from one semester in the Dominican
Republic under the study
abroad program.
She applied for an internship with her book
idea, convinced that people were interested in alternative
paths but just didn’t know how to execute them. Kinder
hunted out individuals in their 20’s who had done
remarkable things instead of entering an office. In her
book she included 130 contributors who speak on their past
experiences.
Kinder is encouraged by other people’s
experiences.
“When you hear about others it seems more possible,”
she said.
One of her favorite contributors came from
Buffalo resident Tim Greene and his around-the-world trip.
The 24-year-old writes: “Although the
employed are in better financial shape than me and the graduate
students have finished a year of their schooling, I wouldn’t
trade either of those situations for my experiences in Thailand,
Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti,
Easter Island, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia and Peru.”
Back in the United States, Kinder’s
postponement of the real world was helped made possible
by winning the Samuel Huntington national fellowship; open
to all graduating college seniors and worth $10,000. With
this money she traveled to Cuba for six months and volunteered
in a Havana nursing home. A nonfiction book regarding her
experience there is under development.
According to Kinder, the best advice for
college graduates beginning to feel the grip of the real
world is: “Stick with your passion. It’s one
thing that won’t misguide you.”
“Delaying the Real World” is
broken into seven chapters filled with resources and information
including fellowships, scholarships, internships, jobs and
adventure opportunities. As Kinder hands a book to a customer
she said: “Now’s the time to do it. That’s
the philosophy of the book.”
Buffalo State undergraduate Ryan Seiko is
patiently waiting for his opportunity to travel after college.
“Once I graduate I’ll have more
time for travel. It seems like a great idea to explore before
settling down in one area. With so many different possibilities
it will be difficult to choose one place!” he said.
Related links:
www.nationalgridus.com/masselectric/about_us/award.asp
www.delayingtherealworld.com
www.buffalostate.edu
www.yale.edu
www.studyabroad.com
Will Tredo can be contacted at: tredwm35@mail.buffalostate.edu
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