By Nick Peppers

They called his name. They shook his hand. They handed over his diploma. Christopher Carroll had finally graduated college. Now he is thinking, “What’s next?”

Because of the recent economic downturn and diminishing job market, graduation day is becoming more so a day of doubt and indecision for new college graduates. For Christopher Carroll, however, it meant confronting a new challenge.

“It was sort of bittersweet, leaving college and going into a difficult economic climate,” said Carroll. “Overall, graduation was a really great thing. It meant that it was time to test my skills in different professional ventures and figure out what I want to do next.”

Carroll graduated in May 2009. He currently works a paid policy internship in the office of Dr. Wilsie Bishop, the chief operating officer on campus. In this internship, he manages the Division of Health Sciences Web site and writes human-interest stories for it.

While working with Bishop, Carroll published his first article for the ETSU Division of Health Sciences entitled “A Day in the Life of a First-Year Medical Student.” The article can be viewed at the Division of Health Sciences Web site.

Last summer, Carroll clerked in the law offices of Tony Seaton, who specializes in worker's compensation and Social Security disability law.

Carroll hopes these experiences will offer some insight into what he wants to do next. Considering the volatile economic climate, he said that this is a good strategy.

“'I’ve taken this year to enhance my law and policy background by working these paid internships before I decide on the next step,” he said. “The experiences have already provided a lot of new perspective to what I already had before.”

As an undergraduate, Carroll obtained his degree in history. He served as a member of various organizations like POLO, President’s Pride and Admissions Ambassadors. He was also a University Honors Scholar. During his senior year, he served as the Student Government Association vice president, a position that greatly impacted his decision to study law and politics.

His work as an undergraduate along with his current work as an intern should well prepare him for law school next fall, he said. This will most likely be his next step. As he suggested, further schooling in professional studies is a smart choice for recent college graduates dealing with the unsteady economy.

Since the recent economic downturn, it has become increasingly difficult for college graduates to enter the job market.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 1.9 million recent college graduates are unemployed.

“Many workers are holding on to their jobs for longer than they anticipated because of the downturn, so many students are going to professional school in one way or another,” Carroll said. “It's a smart choice, and it's one I will most likely make with law school. There are ways to get involved with the workforce immediately, but it has to be through distinguishing yourself in a positive way.”

Carroll recognized the challenges that are present for not only him, but for all college graduates. The best way to combat these challenges is to get involved early, he suggested. Furthermore, professional skills and contacts, Carroll said, are not always gained in the classroom. Extending experiences outside of classroom provides for more flexibility in the job search.

“My experiences have made it a little easier for me in a tough economic climate,” Carroll said. “Whether I go into law, policy, or writing, I will be able to trace it back to getting involved with campus and the community from the start.”

Carroll explained how his situation is working well for him. He is obtaining valuable work experience through his internships and actually making money in the process. Moreover, he is able do this all while considering his long-term career options.

In addition to his current workload, Carroll has additional plans before law school. His long-term projects are writing an athletics-related business plan for ETSU and conducting two types of medical organizational research for Bishop. Next summer, he will be working a paid internship at the Times Free Press in Chattanooga as a reporter.

“I've been fortunate enough to get opportunities in disparate fields that are still related to each other,” said Carroll. “The goal is to find the field I enjoy the most, and the quickest way to get there is through direct tastes of professional experience.”