Tuesday, March 30, 2010

From Scholars to Soldiers


The depleted economy is all that most Americans can think about these days, and here in Tampa we are seeing very harmful effects with the unemployment rate. Tampa’s 13.2% is among the highest in the state of Florida. The scarcity of jobs around the metro area is forcing students to make hot and heavy decisions upon their graduation. As an incentive, certain branches of our military can offer to pay for student loans in full. Considering the difficulty of finding a fulfilling occupation around Tampa, is it more practical for graduates to have the government pay for school and serve their country in the process? Many students whether in an ROTC program or not, seem to be considering the armed forces as an option. Some of the students feel it will give the initiatives being implemented by the white house time to turn the economy around creating new jobs all around the country. Others students want to wipe out student loan bills mainly to take pressure off themselves financially so they can afford houses, cars, and other vital things for a normal day to day life. Tom Sawicki, a UT senior and member of the universities ROTC program thinks that currently, the military is a sensible option for graduates to partake in. “The military can offer a feeling of accomplishment, confidence, and maybe even turn on young people to making the military a lifelong career,” said Sawicki. 
            Other people find that enlisting is only a way to run away from the high unemployment rate in Tampa and the entire country. John Robbins a UT senior thinks that to enroll in a branch of the military, you must have somewhat of a passion for serving. “You can’t just go in to avoid looking for a real job after graduation. You have to want to serve the country and have enthusiasm about it,” said Robbins. “I have all the respect in the world for our countries military men and women because that is what they truly want to be doing,” added Robbins.  The opinions of students around campus definitely seem to be diverged as these two are. Yet the high unemployment rate is a still a very realistic and scary thing for this years graduates. So what is the best plan of attack for students rapidly approaching commencement? Researching and weighing your options is always a good approach. Students can use resources like the Internet; employ UT, and internship opportunities to fast track their way into a paid position. If the military were still an option, than meet with a recruiter to find out more about military positions that would be suitable for someone with a college degree. The most important decision for students to make is one that ensures stability and safety in our society. 

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