The Fall 2024 Semester Kicks off with Emotional Highs and Lows

Reporters: Mariam El Nemr & Rawan Al Wazir

Editor: Amira Gamil

As the semester begins, both freshmen and seniors say they feel the excitement and anticipation of a renewed start for some, and the end of a chapter for others.

Some freshmen say that being at university after graduating from high school is both a maturing moment and one full of opportunities for personal and academic growth.

Freshman Yassin Abdelkhalek says that he is still trying to navigate the curriculum at AUC and that he is both excited and a little bit anxious about fitting in, but Alya Elbaz, also a freshman, is looking to maximize opportunities for academic and personal growth on campus.

“⁠Hopefully I get to meet new people, and find the career path that fits me best,” said Elbaz.

Most of their concerns, however, revolve around academics, grades, and making friends. Elbaz felt that some of the classes were challenging because of the transition from a French education in high school to an American liberal arts university system. Abdelkhalek, on the other hand, is mostly worried about the declaration system and how he has to maintain a high GPA to major in entrepreneurship.

Seniors, while riding an emotional high of anticipated graduation just a few weeks away, are anxious about the challenges of finding a job in the real world.

Psychology senior Mahitab Elhelow says she is excited carving a future for herself in the ‘real world’.

“I am so excited to be finally graduating and to see the world outside the courses and the curriculum. However, it feels so stressful to suddenly be searching for jobs,” she said.

Many seniors share Elhelow’s mixed feelings as they worry about potential unemployment after graduation. That’s where the Career Center plays a role, encouraging all students to engage with them early and often, to take full advantage of the resources available and smoothly navigate this transition. 

“It’s never too soon to start exploring career options,” Assistant Director at the Career Center Caroline Nassar told The Caravan.

How smooth the transition is for graduating seniors can vary depending on how relevant their engagement with the career center was to their chosen career path.

“My advice is to attend career workshops, seek out internships to gain experience and participate in campus activities, to build transferable skills that will be valuable in any career,” said Nassar.

Elhelow says she applied for a work-study position as a peer career advisor with the Career Center. This opportunity helped her gain insights into creating resumes and giving constructive criticism to others, thus improving her job-hunting skills outside of AUC. 

“I knew exactly how to tailor my resume to the job requirements, and every application I submitted was followed with an interview,” Elhelow said.

Hania Taneesh, a Business Marketing senior, said the Career Center pushes students to find jobs and also provides them with useful resources after their graduation.

Before the graduating seniors begin this intense job-hunting process, however, events such as the last-first day afford them the chance to create lasting memories together.

This tradition has become a popular memento at universities like AUC, with the campus decorated with balloons, food, and music. 

Students dress up in their best white apparel, as they pose for pictures with friends, honoring the end of their scholastic journey with visual souvenirs. 

“I felt like I’m loved and that there were people who really cared about me because some of my friends who are not AUCians came for me, I really appreciate them,” said Malak Abaza, a graduating senior majoring in psychology.

However, others were not impressed with the last first-day vibes, as they had higher expectations of how the tradition would make them feel.

“I did not feel like it was my last first day,” said Electronics and Communication senior Youssef Walid.

“It will probably hit me when I’m on stage getting my degree.”