The Knox Student

On graduation: “[I’m feeling] pretty good. A little bit unready to enter the real world but I think I’m going to be okay. Right now I’m feeling pretty sentimental about it. I don’t know if that’s going to change but yeah, I’m going to miss it a lot. [I’m going to miss] the people and the close environment. The ability to walk down to the Gizmo and see people you know.”

Plans: “Still pretty tentative, probably moving back home for the summer and working and then if I get a job, moving to Chicago next fall. But it’s pretty up in the air right now.”

—Krista Ahlberg, Creative Writing major, Spanish minor

On graduation: “I’m kind of comfortable with it. It gets scary the closer it gets but I’m sure it’ll be fine when it’s over… I’ll definitely miss this place.”

Plans: “I’m moving to Chicago, I’m from Virginia and I have an apartment for at least three months. I have interviews and if I don’t find anything stable by the end of August, I’ll move back home.”

—Audrey Savage, Economics major, Business and Environmental Studies double minor

On graduation: “I’m relieved to be out of college …I’m not all that nervous about entering the real world but I am relieved for leaving the fake one.”

Plans: “I’m moving to the longest extension of island in the world [Padre Island, off the coast of Texas] and I’m going to build a boat.”

—Stephen Hoyt, Anthropology major, History minor

On graduation; “I’m very excited. I know a lot of people are apprehensive but I’m not. I’m ready to go. In a sense, I think, Knox has prepared me. I learned all I can these last four years and I’m ready to put my skills to good use.”

Plans: “I’m waiting to hear back from the Peace Corps and I’m in the middle of the application process to become a foreign service officer with the state department.”

—Sam Claypool, International Relations major, Econ minor

On graduation: “I’m excited to enter the world after Knox but it’s bittersweet but also so many people and memories attached to this place that I’m going to miss.”

Plans: “I plan on hanging out and starting to educate myself and look for internships on sustainable agriculture and looking to become a park ranger.”

—Eric Ballard, Environmental Studies major, Economics minor

On graduation: “It’s kind of hard to say because I really love being at school and I love Knox but I’m kind of at a point where I’m kind of ready to move on from college.

I think Knox has really prepared me for the real world even though I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to be doing with my life. I still know, whatever happens, I’ll have the preparation. I think it’ll be kind of weird not being at Knox anymore. Not seeing the people I see every day, and not doing the things I do every day. That’s probably going to be the hardest part, is not seeing my friends. It’s losing the connections with the people I care about is what I’m worried the most about. But in terms of moving onto bigger and better things, to a career, that’s something I’m pretty ready for.”

Plans: “I honestly don’t have any plans right now …. Taking the year off and going to grad school in a year is a possibility. Right now my plan is to probably go home and try to find a job close to where I live. And I’m a Lit. major and an art history minor so hopefully something in my field maybe in museum work or library work.”

—Liz Roemer, English Literature major, Art History minor

On graduation: “I really feel the need to get out of the Knox Bubble … I don’t feel like I’m in the real world at all being in college.”

Plans: “I still have some things on the horizon, I’m applying for lots of different jobs.”

—Scott J. Sapp, double major in Biology and Environmental studies

On graduation: “I will definitely miss Knox. People at Knox are a concentration of people I don’t think you can find anywhere else.”

Plans: “I’m going to grad school in Boston at Simmons College.”

—Kathleen Kellett, Creative Writing major, Art History minor

On graduation: “[I’m] scared. Kind of scared, kind of excited. I’m ready to get out into the real world.”

Plans: “I’m staying in Galesburg for the summer to complete my student teaching and after that, try and find a job.”

—Danny Gonshorek, double major in Elementary Education and Studio Art

On graduation: “[I’m] ready. It’s weird but there comes a time when it’s time.”

Plans: “As of right now, I’m going back home and try to start a nursing program.”

—Bridgette Demke, Biology major, German minor

On graduation: “I’m excited. I have mixed feelings of … leaving Knox. I’m excited to move onto the future and sad to leave the community that is Knox.”

Plans: “I’m in the process of applying for fellowships, jobs, etc.”

—Ailyn Tran, double major in International Studies and Modern Languages