Today's college graduates are concerned about global issues, and they lean toward choosing careers that reflect their dreams and talents, say three recent Catholic grads.

Interviewed days before taking finals at their respective schools (Mount St. Mary's College and USC), the three college seniors, who were all active in campus ministry, shared thoughts on life and transitioning into the work force.

Community-minded
Twenty-three-year-old Bev Suson, who graduated May 14 from Mount St. Mary's with a double major in psychology and religious studies, hopes to land a social service job helping immigrants and families. She said an overriding concern for her fellow graduates is "whether or not we'll make a difference after we graduate."

Suson credited MSMC for giving the diverse student body many opportunities to explore different aspects of volunteer service to the community. During her sophomore year, she fed the homeless in downtown Los Angeles and, last year, interned at a domestic violence shelter.

This generation of college students, says Suson, is willing "to stand up for what we believe and be more vocal about it." She noted several MSMC students participated in last year's huge May 1 immigrant march, and many volunteer their time for organizations serving the needy and underserved.

"So much of our resources are [taken up] by war. We have people suffering in our own backyard," said Suson. She laments the lack of community outreach activities to immigrant children in Los Angeles. In an effort to help address the problem, she would like to work as a family advocate for a local non-profit agency.

She says her MSMC experience has prepared her well for the challenges that lie ahead. "I'm excited and nervous, but I know God's going to take care of it all," declared Suson.

A balanced life
USC's Nick Dietzen, 23, and Jenny Andreassen, 22, who both graduated May 11 with degrees in journalism/public relations and broadcast journalism/political science, respectively, say their peers are looking for a balanced life.

Dietzen, a Montana native who chaired the USC Catholic Center's pastoral council, said his life's goals include "having a career, a sense of normalcy and a commitment to community…. There seems to be a softening on the need to be the hardest working generation. Now everybody wants to be well-rounded."

While both Dietzen and Andreassen acknowledged feeling pressure to succeed career-wise, they also spoke of the importance of following their passion. Before starting down the career path, Dietzen will spend 82 days traveling in Europe with a friend from elementary school.

Andreassen, a Los Angeles Notre Dame Academy graduate who served as USC Catholic Center's pastoral council vice-chair, will move back in with her parents as she establishes "a life past college." Her interest in politics may eventually draw her to Washington D.C.

"Our generation is very idealistic. We want to be able to fix the world," explained Andreassen, who participated in numerous community service projects with Catholic Center students.

"We used to live here at the center," Andreassen joked. A few of the center's activities which Andreassen and Dietzen helped organize included Wednesday "spiritual life" nights with guest speakers and community dinners every last Thursday of the month.

As an out-of-state student, Dietzen said the center helped ease his entrance into the college campus. "It was one of the contributing factors in creating a new environment for myself. I found the people I had the most in common with and was inspired the most by were at the center," said Dietzen.

"From an outsider's viewpoint," he added, "this center was a beacon of strength. It helped give me support at a mercurial time of life."

Andreassen said she appreciated "the whole community of Catholic friends" she made during her college years. As the USC seniors go their separate ways, they will likely attempt what Andreassen said is "representative of our generation: follow our dreams and hearts."