Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!caip!unirot!pooh
From: pooh@unirot.UUCP (criminal @ large)
Newsgroups: soc.singles
Subject: Re: Life after graduation....
Message-ID: <1082@unirot.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 30-Sep-86 10:34:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: unirot.1082
Posted: Tue Sep 30 10:34:21 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 1-Oct-86 02:55:21 EDT
References: <1140@oliveb.UUCP> <2066@pur-phy.UUCP> <2997@ihuxf.UUCP> <1038@mhuxl.UUCP>
Reply-To: pooh@unirot.UUCP (criminal @ large)
Organization: Public Access Un*x, Piscataway NJ (The Soup Kitchen)
Lines: 65
Keywords: many people leave school sooner or later. . .

Yes, I think I can say that I have made a successful transition from
academia to the Real World [sic].  I've been out of college for
two years now and I don't miss it enough to go back.

School is indeed an Instant Social Place, since you're placed in
close proximity to lots and lots and LOTS of people close to your
age and status (all students between the ages of 17 and 30).  Scads,
in fact, if you went to a place like UT.  It's also true that you
have to work a little harder to meet people once you get into
the workplace, since not all of them will be at the same stage in
life.

There are still plenty of activities to get involved with that will
let you meet people AND (here's the key part) enjoy yourself even
if you don't meet Mr/Ms Right right away.  

Some of the activities that I started outside school through which
I met people were:

community theatre - this is a great thing to get involved with.
                    In my years of theatre, I have found theatre
                    folks to be very warm and accepting and
                    interesting.  There are few things to bring
                    you closer to people than working on a project
                    like a play.  And I've learned a lot of skills
                    while doing set construction and lights.

computers - yes!  I admit it!  I was a liberal arts person and
            never took a computer science course.  This all USED
            to be a hobby, and then it got out of control. . .

co-op living - I lived in a co-op with 30 people, and in one with
               120 people.  There was ALWAYS something to do, and
               people to get to know.

crisis center -  volunteer work can be gratifying.  I worked on
                 a hotline and made myself useful, while meeting
                 lots of very caring people.  I also did a brief
                 stint as a counselor for the Youth for Understanding
                 group in my town (high school foreign exchange
                 program)

carate -   okay, really karate, but I realized that all the other
           things I'd done began with a `c', so. . .:-)

If you're lucky enough to find a job that you really like, it can
become a fulfilling part of your life as well.  I don't know where
my time goes, but it always seems as though I have something to do
and somewhere to go.

In general, anywhere you go REGULARLY can be a good place to
meet people.  A gym, a restaurant, a bar, a class, a park,
an office. . .you get the idea.  If you go somewhere on a regular
basis, you can't help but get acquainted with the other people
who also go there.

Good luck!

Pooh             topaz!unipress!pooh
                 caip!unirot!pooh
                 pooh@aim.rutgers.edu <-- Pepsodent, anyone?

SWBear seeks the writer of these silly want ads.  Object: to
watch the new Frank Zappa video I just bought.  Bring the 
Nasti Asti.