May is graduation season, and we'd like to congratulate our own Debbie Synnott on her recent graduation. Read Debbie's thoughts about finishing college here...

Grateful When Graduating
by Debbie Synnott

In preparing for another crazy week ahead, I was filled with gratefulness. No, it’s not Thanksgiving, the time we hold special for being grateful or take a moment to thank God for our blessings, even for the feast we enjoy. For me, it is graduation time---a time, I have to admit, about which I have not had the best attitude.

You see, I was negative about finishing school because I worried about finding a job when I finished, let alone a job having to do with my major, Construction Management. I constantly fought those worries again. "Will there be work?” “Will they hire a woman out all the applicants they receive?” “What will I do to make my contribution to this world?” I was, at age 42, scared, unclear, fighting off worries and handing them over to God for His help.

The summer before my last year at College of the Canyons began, September 2010, and these haunting thoughts continued. I applied for a couple of internships, and one of those companies actually gave me a chance. Santa Clarita’s local solar installer, Green Convergence. They welcomed me into their “family” to learn more about going green by having solar replace your energy bills. I say "family" because that is the peaceful environment in which business thrives under partners Mark Figearo and D.J. Schramm. I have learned much more than what solar can do for you. I learned the best business practices come with integrity, good stewardship toward what is given you, to be honest with your clients, and wake up and do that all over again. This happens every day here.

I went from unpaid intern that first semester to paid intern this semester. I have jumped in and help them in any way I am able. As they expand commercially, they would like to move me into Project Management on their commercial side. It always helps to have a great role model. My teacher Regina Blasberg (head of the Engineering Department at College of the Canyons) continued to bring up-to-date construction facts and her “out-in-the-field work experiences” to the classroom, with a great deal of  professionalism and enthusiasm.

To my fellow graduates, I take off my hat and say, “Whoooo! We did it!” Be sure to get out there face to face, to apply for internships, to offer to work for free for a company. If nothing else, it will be another learning experience, something to place on your resume, a possible stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Green Convergence just recently went to College of the Canyons Job Fair and hired another six interns. I truly believe there are a lot of companies out there that would be happy to welcome you for the learning experience, but you can’t expect it to just be handed to you. Make an effort, what is the worst that could happen? Could they just say, “No?” Maybe, but I believe that if you persevere, there will be one company out there that will say, “Yes!”

College of the Canyons has some great resources that can help and they are available to anyone in the community. They provide assistance with writing a good resume, intern sites, job sites, CWEE Department and relevant classes offered. I would also like to mention that COC is developing a solar program to starting next year! Mark Figearo, CEO of Green Convergence, is on the advisory committee for their solar program.

We live, we learn, we graduate, we get a job. Even with the current economy in a low state there is still a reason to have hope, to be positive, to keep trying, to hand over your troubles, to pray, and yes, to be thankful, even when it is not Thanksgiving time! In the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”  I am grateful for so many reasons. I pray God blesses your endeavors. He certainly has blessed me.