While interviewing students on the Bakersfield College campus in regards to graduation plans, it became evident that many BC students have ambition to learn and to further their education in order to succeed in the occupation that they desire.
Edwin Marroquin, 21, a Shafter High School alumnus, is in his second semester as an Industrial Technician major. Currently, he is taking 17 units and plans to continue taking the same amount of units in each semester and attend summer school until he graduates. He plans to graduate by fall of 2016. As if 17 units weren’t hard enough, he also works for a company that has a direct correlation with his major. Once Marroquin graduates he hopes there would be an advancement in position and pay.
Victoria Barajas, 25, Nathalie Hernandez, 18, Stephanie Abrigo, 18, and Hannah Eyraud, 20, are all nursing majors, which seems to be the most popular major at BC. Hernandez, formerly of Wasco High School, is in her third semester and currently taking 13 units. She plans to graduate next spring before transferring to finish her bachelor’s degree at the University of California- Davis. Upon graduation at the University of California- Davis, she intends on working as a traveling nurse. Traveling nurses, according to Wikipedia, are those in the nursing profession “…who travel to work in temporary nursing positions, mostly in hospitals…”
Christel Vitela, 18, a graduate of Bakersfield High School, is majoring in criminal justice. She is in her second semester and currently taking 12 units. Although she has no idea when she will graduate, she plans to attend Fresno State University before applying with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Jeff Buehler, 21, a Garces graduate, and John Evans, 37, formerly of Kansas City Southern Home Education, are both majoring in Geology. Buehler is taking 15 units while Evans is taking 10 units. Both are planning to attend California State University- Bakersfield before looking for work as a geologist.
Tehachapi High School graduate Sean Jaruis, 20, formerly of Tehachapi High School is majoring in Kinesiology – Physical Fitness. He is currently in his fourth semester, taking eight units and plans on graduating next year. After graduation Jarius plans to transfer to California State University- Bakersfield and then work at a gym.
Joel Sangster, 22, formerly of Frontier High School is majoring in Radiology Technician. He is in his second semester and taking eight units. Although he has not determined what year he will graduate in, he knows that he will work at a good hospital after graduation.
Many of the students who were interviewed were not completely sure on an exact company for employment after graduation, but most of them said they would go where the money is.