Leaving school and entering the real world may seem like a terrifying prospect to most undergraduate students; fortunately, for these recent Capital graduates, life continues on.
Zac Boyer
As he neared graduation and the end of his senior year, Zac Boyer felt that he was ready to leave Capital and begin a new chapter in his life. Also, by working as a summer resident assistant, he managed to stay at Capital for just a little bit longer. Boyer didn’t have to leave Capital until the end of the summer, and when it was time to pack up, he realized he wasn’t ready.
“I sat in my empty room in Schaaf and starting bawling,” Boyer said. “It was embarrassing how little I had prepared myself emotionally to leave this place I had called home for the past four years.”
Boyer, an art therapy major with studio art and psychology minors, decided that he did not want to attend graduate school for art therapy directly after graduation. With the help of campus mentors, Boyer decided to enter the field of higher education and became a candidate in the Higher Education and Student Personnel master’s program at Kent State University. In addition to his work towards a graduate degree, Boyer is also the graduate assistant for the Office of Student Activities at Ursuline College, as well as the Fraternity and Sorority Life intern at Hiram College.
Boyer’s schedule is stressful, with 20 hours a week at his assistant position, ten hours a week at his internship, and the course load of three classes. Despite the time commitment, Boyer still enjoys what he does.
“More than adjusting to a new schedule, the more difficult change has been switching from being a student leader to being the advisor and mentor of student leaders,” Boyer said.
Boyer’s dream job and eventual goal is to work with a college LGBT community, possibly as a director of an Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Although Boyer is enjoying his new professional positions and classes, he misses Capital, his brothers and sisters in Sigma Alpha Beta, walking home from the Zig, and long nights in the library.
“I miss being able to wear sweatpants and a hat to class,” Boyer said. “Enjoy dressing like a homeless person as long as you can.”
When asked what tips he had for other recent graduates, Boyer simply said, “It’s more than okay to not know what you’re doing; you’re not a mess, you’re 22.”
Marcus MtCastle
Marcus MtCastle graduated from Capital University last year as a psychology major with a music minor. He realized his passion for psychology after switching his major four times. MtCastle began as an instrumental music education major, switched to dual music education, switched again to double major in psychology and music, and then finally settled upon only psychology.
MtCastle helped figure out his future with the help of advisors such as Lynn Roseberry, Michael Torello, and Nancy Moore.
“Nancy Moore in particular went absolutely above and beyond,” MtCastle said.
MtCastle used his degree to become a psychometrician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Westerville, Ohio. Psychometricians administer psychological tests to children in order to diagnose developmental disabilities. His eventual career goal is to attain his master’s degree and become a school counselor.
MtCastle’s life may seem steady now, but he describes the time leading up to now as an “emotional roller coaster.”
“I felt really lost after graduating,” MtCastle said. “I went with the Chapel Choir to Ireland and took a break from the real world.”
After Ireland, MtCastle eventually found work in the Columbus area by networking. He was told about his current position by a friend, and his supervisor is a former professor.
“When you graduate, don’t be afraid to use your Capital resources,” MtCastle said “Reach out, keep in contact, and network.”
The most valuable skills MtCastle gleaned from his time at Capital were learned from his position as a resident assistant. He learned organizational skills and how to work in a professional setting.
“The most important thing I learned from being an RA [resident assistant] was how to get along with difficult people,” MtCastle said.
MtCastle misses his brothers and sisters in Sigma Alpha Beta and knows that the connections he made in SAB are for life.
“Greek life can be for life, but it’s by choice,” MtCastle said. “You can be as involved as you choose.”
