pic: FIRST Alumnus makes front page of New York Times

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

Because of some bad business practices by the people in charge I have countless friends who have been laid off work, friends who are barely in their 20's."

And in other cases...their 30's, and 40's, and 50's, and......

[tangent]
I feel for all who are currently in the job search mode in this market. If you think it's hard for a recent college grad to pursue a job, something they'd be doing anyway, try scrambling when you've given 20+ years of your life to a single organization and show up to work Monday to suddenly find your position has been eviscerated.
[/tangent]

Let's return to the topic of the pic.

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

Let's return to the topic of the pic.

I believe these topics are closely related...

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

I believe these topics are closely related...

I was referring to talking solely about the college graduate's challenge to find employment in the current economy.

I just wanted to quickly state that the youngins aren't the only ones competing for work. If you would like to keep the expanded discussion scope, ok then.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by RoboMom

I believe these topics are closely related...

Jenny, you are very generous in your wisdom. Travis is right, too.

Although this photo highlights the clever use of what I think is white duct tape (or is it contact paper?), it also highlights achievement, hard work, and the effort and dedication that graduation represents for these graduates and their supporters. Forgive me for failing to offer congratulations to your son, Nate, his peers, and you and your family, Jenny. You guys rock.

Jane

[RoboMom]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Although this photo highlights the clever use of what I think is white duct tape (or is it contact paper?),
Jane

It is standard grey duct tape, which, as it turns out, reflects well in a crowd. Apparently obtaining special tape would have taken too much effort late at night, but 3 years of frat life and 4 years of engineering studies made it easy to locate a roll of duct tape.

We were able to pick him out of thousands looking down on the field from the stands. So was the AP photographer.

[Beth Sweet]

Yeah I feel his pain.

5 years of college at a Big 10 university, starting a robotics team my freshman year, running it for 2 years and mentoring for 5, getting my degree in accounting with backgrounds in communications and Spanish (including translating multiple times in Atlanta) and I'm still looking for a job weeks after graduation.

Ms Jenny, wish him luck for me!

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

And in other cases...their 30's, and 40's, and 50's, and......

[tangent]
I feel for all who are currently in the job search mode in this market. If you think it's hard for a recent college grad to pursue a job, something they'd be doing anyway, try scrambling when you've given 20+ years of your life to a single organization and show up to work Monday to suddenly find your position has been eviscerated.
[/tangent]

Let's return to the topic of the pic.

No one would dare say we are the only ones, truth is, we are the lucky ones. Most of us do not have houses, do not have families to support. We don't have the massive expenses that people in their 30's and 40's have, we can also rely on mom and dad for some help. In essence this is just another lesson we are learning, and this is the best time for us to learn it. (Obviously Id rather NOT learn this lesson but if it must be I may as well learn something from it no?)

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

No one would dare say we are the only ones, truth is, we are the lucky ones. Most of us do not have houses, do not have families to support. We don't have the massive expenses that people in their 30's and 40's have, we can also rely on mom and dad for some help. In essence this is just another lesson we are learning, and this is the best time for us to learn it. (Obviously Id rather NOT learn this lesson but if it must be I may as well learn something from it no?)

Then there's those of us who will be entering college next year and many of us are deterred from some schools due to worries of paying for college. I am confident in financial aid though and having a brother who's a financial analyst helps out too with that type of stuff. Honestly though, my parents have taught me to risk a lot for the best education possible, and if that means me having to pay off student loans for many more years than generations past, then that's fine by me, this is something many students these days are not willing to accept and for that, I am a bit saddened.

Andrew is right though, we should consider ourselves lucky for not having liabilities and dependents at the moment...like we are for our parents.

BTW Beth, my brother feels your pain. Although he has a job related to his diploma's major (finance) its mind numbing to think that he may not find a job in finance or accounting for a while...

[gblake]

I tend to think that blaming a "generation" ascribes cause without correlation. I doubt any one generation (whatever that may be) has any more or fewer scoundrels in it than any other.

Blake
PS: I like the photo.

[RoboMom]

Nate's head just was on ABC Nightly News as the backdrop for a story on ....

College Grads Seeking Work
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=7639570

[techtiger1]

Hi nice picture.

[Jon K.]

Been a long time since I have been on the boards here, but tell Nate I say congrats on graduation!!! That's awesome that he has been seen internationally like that!

[bhweezer]

This picture is awesome! Very humorous

[RoboMom]

And now to page 15 in June 1 issue of TIME Magazine....

[JayLopez191]

Did Nate have any involvement with FIRST in college?