CAMDEN — For those Rutgers-Camden University acceptance admission Thursday, there were abiding anxieties and concise anxieties.
"Honestly, I'm aloof afraid about falling on stage," said Andrea Williams, dressed in her cap and clothes alfresco the Susquehanna Bank Center an hour afore the College of Arts and Sciences commencement. "With these heels on, with anybody watching."
The Camden citizen was abutting by Ashley Lee, from Cape May, who aggregate not only her per-ceremony apprehensions about falling, but additionally added abiding apropos about actuality on the border of what will be their aftermost summer vacation.
"After this, there's no added summer vacation — it's the absolute world," said Lee. "It makes you nervous."
Despite their agitation of what the approaching holds, the two 23-year-olds already accept a arch alpha on their careers — Williams, a bent amends major, is now a badge abettor with the Camden County Badge Metro Division, and Lee is a accounts administrator at Harrah's Chester.
Rutgers-Camden bestowed a absolute of 1,712 degrees throughout four abstracted ceremonies Thursday. The bigger admission came aftermost and saw 767 undergraduate and 191 alum acceptance from the College of Arts and Sciences and University College accept their diplomas.
“I aboveboard achievement that you allotment my action and that you see the bottomless possibilities ahead, but I am abiding that you apprehend that there are additionally obstacles ahead, and you will accept to acceleration to accommodated them,” said Kathryn Holloway, who gave the admission abode for the College of Arts and Sciences/University College ceremony.
Holloway, who accelerating from Rutgers-Camden in 1980 and after became arch of neurosurgery at Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Hospital, in Richmond, Va., apprenticed the graduates afore her to acceleration to the challenge.
“Many times you will acquisition your way blocked,” she said. “You will be asked to do what you anticipate is impossible. You may be asked to accord added of yourself than you anticipate you accept to give. I would ask of you that you don’t advertise yourself short. You will be afraid at what you can do. I can acquaint you that all of this has been accurate for me."
Mark Zanghi, an burghal studies major from Deptford Township, affairs to accompany a master's degree, but alleged his affairs at award a job "scary."
"It's seems like you're a bondservant to debt and the banks sometimes," said Zanghi, 30, whose concise affairs accommodate award an IT job at Rutgers-Camden. "Going out and alone actuality able to acquisition a minimum-wage job — it's not actual inspiring."
Standing nearby, 24-year-old Sabrina Harrington, from Sicklerville, knew the feeling. A folklore above with affairs to acquire a master's amount in early childhood studies and accessible a daycare or adolescence mentoring program, she said while she is aflame to move on, she is additionally apprehensive.
For all those with agnate concerns, Holloway approved to allay their fears, cogent them they accept abilities to accomplish it through the "dark times."
“Work appear ability but ability for article above your grasp. Be accessible to booty advantage of the unexpected, see the bottomless possibilities ahead. There will be times back agnosticism invades your thoughts. Know that you accept hidden strengths that will alone be broke into during these aphotic times. Use them to accomplish yourself better, smarter, stronger for the abutting challenge.”
Earlier in the day, the Rutgers School of Business in Camden bestowed 287 undergraduate and 120 MBA degrees; the School of Law accelerating 274 students; and the School of Nursing saw 73 undergraduates airing for their diploma.
Contact Jason Laday at 856-845-3300, ext. 228, or jladay@southjerseymedia.com
