Today is either the beginning of a blissful respite from the rigid structure of formal education or the grand finale of nearly two decades of early classes, inane homework assignments and countless hours spent studying formulas and definitions vaguely recalled after tests.
It is between this day and the next venture in life that we find ourselves entrenched in meditation, mentally transforming campus grounds into a series of memories played in the mind’s eye. We often reminisce too heavily on regret but trudge forward so as to not be stifled by self-retribution. Most importantly, attention now diverts itself to the next step in the journey, which for some is ambiguous, threatening and uncertain.
One question stands to be fulfilled by the majority of students either entering the foreign realm that is the professional workforce or eyeing it tentatively on the horizon: “Will we be able to follow a career path consistent with our values?”
I recently attended a lecture on campus titled “Working for Social Justice: Career and Life Choices” led by Cristina Tzintzún, a UT graduate and director of the Workers Defense Project, a group that empowers Latino immigrant workers to act collectively for racial and economic justice in the workplace through education, organizing and collaborating with strategic allies. Drawing extensively from her Latin American studies degree and personal life, Tzintzún helped the membership-based organization grow dramatically under her leadership.
The informal session offered guidance with finding ways to make meaningful contributions to social justice causes while balancing personal, professional and political goals.
Impassioned students, eager to begin a purposeful career path, implored the community organizer to offer advice by divulging her own experiences. Bouncing around from menial jobs while fighting for myriad causes, the former UT student finally found sanctuary at an organization that provided not just a secure job but a vehicle for her passion as an activist.
Fastidiousness in job choice amid a record high unemployment rate seems nothing short of self-destructive: Yet how do we maintain the security of a career while staying true to our principles? Meandering lifelessly into a lucrative corporate job may pay the bills, but are we ready to face the ethical, moral and emotional consequences? Perhaps the most daunting fear is complacency. Rife with vigor, passion and energy, the University, despite its many hypocrisies, allows free thought, infinite intellectual stimulation and unbound opportunity to effect change. Will the organization we work for provide us with the same opportunities, or will we have to make compromises?
Perhaps Tzintzún is the ideal model of success — to both “pay the bills” and truly love what you do seem to be taken for granted in a country where success directly equates monetary and material earnings. Before we descend into a spiral of nostalgia and sentimentality during this time, it is worth questioning how far we are willing to maintain our principles despite the harsh economic and political realities of our respective environments. For those who strive to do so, the next step will undoubtedly be lined with obstacles and tough decisions. The journey won’t be easy but the destination, as Tzintzún reminds us, will be more rewarding than we can imagine. And at the very least, take joy in the prospect of never having to bubble in a multiple-choice questionnaire again.
