Grads, Create Your Breaks!
It’s that time of year again—cap-and-gown time. Proud and beaming graduates exude an aura of joy and gladness for reaching that moment that signifies achievement and educational milestones. Across campuses, families gather with cameras and flowers in hand while graduates proudly march across stages to receive diplomas that represent years of sacrifice, hard work, perseverance, and determination. The season carries a unique energy filled with celebration, reflection, relief, and anticipation for what lies ahead.
I recently celebrated graduation again with my eldest nephew, Rick Gracy, in Houston TX. The delighted dad and digital software advisor earned an MBA from Rice University, one of the nation’s most respected academic institutions. He actually attained his graduate school credits last fall and debated whether he should graduate in December vs this spring. He chose May to plug into the happy, “universal” vibe of the season, surrounded by classmates, family members, and fellow graduates all embracing a shared sense of accomplishment and optimism about the future.
Rick is fortunate. He works at SAP, the world’s largest provider of enterprise application software. He got his “break” years ago after positioning himself professionally and taking advantage of opportunities that aligned with his talents and ambitions. All the other new grads who attained degrees are eager for breaks in their job hunt and are anxiously sending resumes, networking, interviewing, and hoping for opportunities that can launch meaningful careers. For many graduates, this season represents not only celebration but also uncertainty about the next chapter of life.
I know that feeling very well. This was my experience many moons ago as an eager, spanking new Temple University graduate trying to figure out what direction life would take me next. I was ready and “Temple Made, baby!” as actor Coleman Domingo touted as my alma mater’s recent commencement speaker. His words reflected confidence, pride, and perseverance. It was a much more adamantly inspiring adieu than my commencement speaker Bill Cosby’s “there are no jobs!” quip that had the audience roaring in laughter, but triggered a quick jolt of anxiety for many of us sitting there proudly donning our graduate gear and wondering what awaited us after the ceremony ended.
I majored in communications at college—radio, television, and film—to be exact. It was an easy choice and natural progression, I thought, after graduating from a performing arts high school where creativity and self-expression were constantly encouraged. I was passionate about storytelling, broadcasting, performance, and media. The idea of working in radio or television excited me because those industries seemed dynamic, influential, and full of possibility for someone who loved communication and the arts.
I had some internship experience at a major radio station in town and at the school’s WRTI radio station’s newsroom, but none of those experiences directly manifested into “my big break.” Like many young graduates, I discovered that internships and degrees alone did not automatically open doors. I realized that persistence, timing, networking, and initiative often played just as important a role as credentials. Still, despite uncertainty and moments of discouragement, I remained hopeful that an opportunity would eventually come my way.
I got the wonderful break I needed about two weeks after graduation. I called the local gospel radio station “WURD LOVE 900” for a job after becoming familiar with the station while working late nights on college assignments. I’d been listening to the station nights into the early morning hours for about three months while typing papers my senior year. The music, conversations, and personalities on the station felt authentic and community-driven, and something inside me believed it could become a place where I belonged professionally.
The receptionist kindly informed me that they were only looking for sales reps. I wasn’t interested in selling commercials for radio. I wanted to be on the air sharing stories, music, and conversations with listeners. I asked to speak to the program director, Walter Stewart. When I spoke with Stewart, I told him I had just graduated from Temple University with a degree in communications and then requested an externship at the station. He agreed. Only days later, I was boarding the #13 trolley to the train that would take me to the station’s transmitter compound in the Roxborough/Lafayette Hill section in Northeast Philadelphia with hope, excitement, and nervous anticipation about what might happen next.
I wore a black dress; dangling, big, faux pearl earrings; and an oversized black briefcase that contained my resume, some pens and a notebook. Looking back now, I laugh at the seriousness with which I carried that briefcase as though I were already some high-powered media executive. But at the time, I believed appearance, confidence, and preparation mattered. I wanted to look professional, focused, and ready for opportunity even if I was still figuring things out myself.
I laugh now at that image and the briefcase, but I laugh even harder when I remember where I got the idea for the briefcase. I was interested in joining a neighborhood theater group and went to the location to apply. While there, I met with the theater’s office manager, who, when he went to take my information, popped open his impressive black briefcase to reveal its meager but hilarious contents—a few business cards, some pens, and two bottles of Softsheen Jheri curl activator. The contrast between the polished exterior and the humorous contents stayed with me and became one of those unforgettable moments that still makes me smile years later.
Getting ready for my interview, I figured, if that guy could get away with toting a briefcase, I could too. My interview with Stewart was a wonderful breeze and he immediately became an amazing mentor who recognized potential in me before I fully recognized it in myself. Several weeks later, the station needed a Saturday morning radio host, and Stewart gave me the job. That opportunity changed the trajectory of my life and career, proving that sometimes a simple phone call, a little courage, and a willingness to ask can open doors you never imagined possible.
This anecdote is for all the new grads out there—you’ve got your milestone, now create your break. Degrees, honors, and ceremonies are important accomplishments, but they are only part of the journey. Sometimes the next opportunity comes through persistence, creativity, boldness, and initiative. What text, email, or phone call, will you make to “make it happen”?
