thedrifter
05-30-03, 06:16 PM
May 30. 2003 12:00AM
For some grads, patriotism steers their career choices
By KIMBERLY KRUPA
The Courier
HOUMA -- The night before the most important day of his life, 18-year-old Justin Jude Fitch worked until 1 a.m. on his dad’s fishing boat so his bone-tired father wouldn’t have to.
Fitch graduated from South Terrebonne High Thursday night, looking refreshed and relieved despite hours spent on the sea the day before.
When asked what he plans to do with his life, Fitch, who lives in Little Caillou, said "anything but trawl."
Fitch is among the 5 percent of males who say in The Courier’s
Class of 2003 survey that they will enlist in the military after graduation. About 9 percent of female respondents also say they plan to join the armed forces.
For Fitch, the ticket to post-graduation success is the Marines, which will pay for the training so he can be what he really wants -- a businessman and electrical specialist -- while also serving his country.
"I want to represent my country and represent my people," said Fitch, who adds that his decision to enlist was in part influenced by the ongoing terrorist threats against the United States. He’s scheduled to depart for training Sept. 2.
"9/11 hit this class really hard," he said. "It was our class that it hit the hardest because it made us really realize we have to stand up for our country, for what we believe. We have to be aware."
While joining the military is not the most common career goal cited by this year’s crop of graduates, about one out of four students who plan to enlist -- about 14 students -- say they made their decisions based on patriotic desires to defend the country.
Other students say their plans to join the Marines, Air Force or U.S. Navy were sealed long before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks or the war with Iraq put the once-promising national economy on life support. Many seniors cite anticipated education savings as the No. 1 reason for enlisting.
Though students cite many other long-term occupation goals in The Courier survey, including other not-so-material plans such as "be happy" and "have fun," several professions were cited hundreds of times by seniors from all parts of Terrebonne Parish.
The most popular career fields cited by male survey respondents: business, engineering, music, psychology, medicine, state trooper, pilot, coach, sports, lawyer, marine biologist, architecture, computers, welder and diesel mechanic.
Some male seniors have more generic responses similar to 17-year-old Steven Trinh’s aspiration: to be a billionaire. Students say they generally want to be successful, make money and get a good job.
The most popular female occupations are: nursing, teaching, motherhood, fashion, makeup, child care, psychology, doctor, forensics, FBI, engineering, marketing, lawyer, interior design, social work, beautician, actress and X-ray technician.
Several female seniors say their long-term plans include "taking care of my children" or working with children in general.
One 18-year-old South Terrebonne female who does not want to be named said her post-high-school plan is to get married in July and be a housewife.
Jonathan Deroche, an 18-year-old senior from Bourg, said he wants to make the most money he can in his lifetime. His plan is to study electrical technology at Nicholls State University this fall, then go work for somebody earning $70,000 a year, and that’s just to start.
"It’s the best, best feeling in the world to graduate," said Deroche Thursday night, just minutes before he stepped on stage to receive his diploma. "Now I’m ready to make some money."
So who earns what in today’s flooded job market, and what are the best jobs for the Class of 2003?
With companies expected to hire fewer college graduates in the next few years, students are being advised to make the same time-honored moves that have proved successful for other job-seekers over the years. For the most part, the best jobs and most sought-after fields are a constant -- health care, engineering, computers and finance.
But other jobs in government and law-enforcement fields may prove just as viable if the war on terrorism remains a high priority for the nation. Entry-level salaries for positions such as linguists, engineers, biochemists and physicists range from $35,000 to $50,000, depending on expertise.
According to 2000 census data, the average annual salary for year-round workers with professional degrees in positions such as dentists, doctors, lawyers and veterinarians is $109,600.
Here are other average wages for workers with different education levels:
)( Doctoral degree: $89,400.
)( Master’s degree: $62,300.
)( Bachelor’s degree: $52,200.
)( High-school diploma: $30,400.
)( No high-school diploma: $23,400.
Richard Savoy, a 19-year-old senior from Houma, plans to take a two-year computer course at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge beginning this year. Once he’s a certified programmer, Savoy expects to make anywhere from $15 to $100 per hour.
Here are the top-10 jobs for 2002, the last year for which data is available. Jobs are listed by rank according to national labor statistics.
1. Engineering. The average starting salary is one of the highest -- $53,000, for positions in software or hardware design.
2. Systems analyst and other computer-related fields.
3. Desktop publishing.
4. Health care, particularly working with the elderly.
5. Investment and financial services, for graduates with a master’s in finance or business.
6. General management, for manufacturing and other companies.
7. Consulting.
8. Buyers/Purchasing, for workers with degrees in sales, marketing or business.
9. Education, particularly special education, high-school teachers and teacher aides.
10. Social workers.
Courier staff writer Kimberly Krupa may be reached at 850-1148 or kim.krupa@houmatoday.com.
Sempers,
Roger
http://www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030530/NEWS/305300324/1026
For some grads, patriotism steers their career choices
By KIMBERLY KRUPA
The Courier
HOUMA -- The night before the most important day of his life, 18-year-old Justin Jude Fitch worked until 1 a.m. on his dad’s fishing boat so his bone-tired father wouldn’t have to.
Fitch graduated from South Terrebonne High Thursday night, looking refreshed and relieved despite hours spent on the sea the day before.
When asked what he plans to do with his life, Fitch, who lives in Little Caillou, said "anything but trawl."
Fitch is among the 5 percent of males who say in The Courier’s
Class of 2003 survey that they will enlist in the military after graduation. About 9 percent of female respondents also say they plan to join the armed forces.
For Fitch, the ticket to post-graduation success is the Marines, which will pay for the training so he can be what he really wants -- a businessman and electrical specialist -- while also serving his country.
"I want to represent my country and represent my people," said Fitch, who adds that his decision to enlist was in part influenced by the ongoing terrorist threats against the United States. He’s scheduled to depart for training Sept. 2.
"9/11 hit this class really hard," he said. "It was our class that it hit the hardest because it made us really realize we have to stand up for our country, for what we believe. We have to be aware."
While joining the military is not the most common career goal cited by this year’s crop of graduates, about one out of four students who plan to enlist -- about 14 students -- say they made their decisions based on patriotic desires to defend the country.
Other students say their plans to join the Marines, Air Force or U.S. Navy were sealed long before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks or the war with Iraq put the once-promising national economy on life support. Many seniors cite anticipated education savings as the No. 1 reason for enlisting.
Though students cite many other long-term occupation goals in The Courier survey, including other not-so-material plans such as "be happy" and "have fun," several professions were cited hundreds of times by seniors from all parts of Terrebonne Parish.
The most popular career fields cited by male survey respondents: business, engineering, music, psychology, medicine, state trooper, pilot, coach, sports, lawyer, marine biologist, architecture, computers, welder and diesel mechanic.
Some male seniors have more generic responses similar to 17-year-old Steven Trinh’s aspiration: to be a billionaire. Students say they generally want to be successful, make money and get a good job.
The most popular female occupations are: nursing, teaching, motherhood, fashion, makeup, child care, psychology, doctor, forensics, FBI, engineering, marketing, lawyer, interior design, social work, beautician, actress and X-ray technician.
Several female seniors say their long-term plans include "taking care of my children" or working with children in general.
One 18-year-old South Terrebonne female who does not want to be named said her post-high-school plan is to get married in July and be a housewife.
Jonathan Deroche, an 18-year-old senior from Bourg, said he wants to make the most money he can in his lifetime. His plan is to study electrical technology at Nicholls State University this fall, then go work for somebody earning $70,000 a year, and that’s just to start.
"It’s the best, best feeling in the world to graduate," said Deroche Thursday night, just minutes before he stepped on stage to receive his diploma. "Now I’m ready to make some money."
So who earns what in today’s flooded job market, and what are the best jobs for the Class of 2003?
With companies expected to hire fewer college graduates in the next few years, students are being advised to make the same time-honored moves that have proved successful for other job-seekers over the years. For the most part, the best jobs and most sought-after fields are a constant -- health care, engineering, computers and finance.
But other jobs in government and law-enforcement fields may prove just as viable if the war on terrorism remains a high priority for the nation. Entry-level salaries for positions such as linguists, engineers, biochemists and physicists range from $35,000 to $50,000, depending on expertise.
According to 2000 census data, the average annual salary for year-round workers with professional degrees in positions such as dentists, doctors, lawyers and veterinarians is $109,600.
Here are other average wages for workers with different education levels:
)( Doctoral degree: $89,400.
)( Master’s degree: $62,300.
)( Bachelor’s degree: $52,200.
)( High-school diploma: $30,400.
)( No high-school diploma: $23,400.
Richard Savoy, a 19-year-old senior from Houma, plans to take a two-year computer course at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge beginning this year. Once he’s a certified programmer, Savoy expects to make anywhere from $15 to $100 per hour.
Here are the top-10 jobs for 2002, the last year for which data is available. Jobs are listed by rank according to national labor statistics.
1. Engineering. The average starting salary is one of the highest -- $53,000, for positions in software or hardware design.
2. Systems analyst and other computer-related fields.
3. Desktop publishing.
4. Health care, particularly working with the elderly.
5. Investment and financial services, for graduates with a master’s in finance or business.
6. General management, for manufacturing and other companies.
7. Consulting.
8. Buyers/Purchasing, for workers with degrees in sales, marketing or business.
9. Education, particularly special education, high-school teachers and teacher aides.
10. Social workers.
Courier staff writer Kimberly Krupa may be reached at 850-1148 or kim.krupa@houmatoday.com.
Sempers,
Roger
http://www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20030530/NEWS/305300324/1026