Until We Meet Again, Eagle Rock

This Sunday, Occidental College seniors, dressed in black gowns and draped in orange-hued garlands that nod to their Tiger pride, will be filing into Remsen Bird Hillside Theater for their graduation from one of the top liberal arts colleges in America. (Positioned just above Bard College and just below Kenyon College, Oxy stands at number 36 on the most recent U.S. News & World Report’s Best Liberal Arts Colleges ranking).

You might think graduating at the tail end of one of the country’s worst recessions might be daunting, even with a high level of intellectual training. But when we asked these Oxy seniors for their take on the future, they showed a healthy optimism and well-considered plans for the future – that along with a dose of gumption thrown in for good measure.

Here, four seniors look forward – at graduate school, traveling the globe, and choosing jobs that enable them to give back to their communities – and backward, namely at the little northeast Los Angeles town that was their home for the past four years. Where are they going next and what will they miss about the Rock? Read on to find out:

Stephanie Babij, who grew up in Ontario, a small rural town in eastern Oregon, is graduating with a major in economics and a minor in math. And now she plans to go global. This fall she’ll be headed to Velbert, Germany, to play semi-professional basketball.

“The whole season lasts for 10 months,” she says. “Depending on my experience and if I get signed for another year I could very well stay for two years. This summer I’ll be doing my best to learn some German!”

Beyond basketball, what are Babij’s hopes for her career?

"When I return from Germany, I hope to get started in a finance career when I return. In 10 years I hope I’ll be well established in a company where I can work my way up to an international finance position. I would love to travel and work internationally so I hope to be in a good company that can utilize my skills and provide the opportunity for me to follow my passion."

Given the recession, does she feel optimistic about a future in finance?

"The finance industry is a hard field to break into to begin with, and with the past financial crisis the likelihood of securing a good job has become even more difficult. I do feel that I have a great educational background as an Oxy graduate. Coupled with my athletic and competitive spirit, I hope I will make a desirable candidate. I also think the Oxy alumni network is great and I will be building a lot of contacts which can facilitate my search and provide opportunities to secure a good starting job."

What will she miss most about Eagle Rock?

"The weather! My family is always so jealous when I say I am laying outside in the sun studying while they are still experiencing the cold and rainy season. The quiet community surrounding Oxy is so nice and peaceful. It was wonderful having the perfect, quiet study environment outside whenever it was nice out. Where else but a nice town in southern California do you get to enjoy 75-degree weather in February? I've been spoiled with such nice weather these last four years!"

What's her favorite Eagle Rock memory?

"I'd never been to a farmer's market until I went to the Eagle Rock farmer's market. It was so fun and I loved trying all the different fruit, it's amazing! Plus, Elvis was there singing--who can forget that?"

Renato R. Rocha moved from his Oakland home to Eagle Rock with a deep interest in politics, which he majored in at Occidental. After some summer R & R with his family on the coast of Mexico, he will be moving back to the Bay Area for a while, spending this transition time to looking for a job in Washington, D.C. and applying to graduate school. His 10-year dream: To earn a joint JD/MA in public policy and then after graduate school, he plans to root himself in Oakland and work as a policy analyst for the Oakland City Council.

How optimistic does Rocha feel about his job opportunities?

“I was in Oxy’s Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Program so I hope to be able to use this network of alums to find jobs in the D.C. area. PPIA is a national program that prepares juniors in college for an advanced degree and ultimately for careers in the public sector. My job search has been difficult but I hope the move to D.C will facilitate better access to job opportunities."

What is the most important thing he believes he will take from his Oxy years?

“One of the most important things I will be able to take from my Oxy years is the importance of fostering my vocational and academic interests. During these four years, Oxy has given me the opportunity to research topics in public policy in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Chile and China. This research has developed my academic curiosity and served to strengthen my knowledge in public policy.”

What will he miss most about Eagle Rock?

“Swork! I love the coffee and will truly miss their chai tea.”

For Baltimore native Rachel McCandliss, the summer after graduation won’t bring a respite from the books. This Diplomacy and World Affairs major (she also minored in music) will be head down for the next few months for more studying.

At the end of May, McCandliss will be starting a one-year post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. And that will mean taking a year of science classes to complete her pre-med requirements. After the year at Hopkins, she will take a year off from school and apply to medical schools.

Where does McCandliss see herself in 10 years?

“I hope to be finishing my residency. I’d also like to be working, at least part time, providing medical care in developing countries. While at Oxy, I spent time abroad in South Africa studying community health and that prompted me to make the switch from my original plans to work in policy to focusing on medicine. There is a dire need for doctors in developing regions. I hope to help fill that void, while acting as a mentor for health professionals from those regions.”

How optimistic does she feel about her job opportunities?

“I'll be in school for practically the next six years, at the very least, so it's going to be a while before I start looking for long-term jobs!”

What does McCandliss feel is the most important thing will take from her Oxy years?

“Besides my academic work, the most important aspect of my time at Occidental has been singing in the Glee Club for all four years. I'm so proud to have been a part of the century-old musical tradition. I will take away the memories of making beautiful music, the skills I learned as a musician and as a leader, and the lifelong friendships I have built.”

What's her favorite Eagle Rock memory?

“This past summer I worked downtown, so I took either the 83 or 84 bus to work everyday. I loved the silent, friendly companionship I had with everyone who was still on the bus by the time we finally got all the way back to Eagle Rock.”

Sky Mangin might come off as a born-and-bred local Los Angelena. But in reality she was born in Suphan Buri, Thailand, where she lived until she was 7-years-old. Those years in Southeast Asia were formative for this  politics major who, during her Oxy years, interned for the Thai Community Development Center (TCDC). After graduating she will continue her work with the TCDC and start an internship with the California Department of Justice in office of Attorney General Kamala Harris. She’s also hoping to snag a Capital Senate Fellowship, which provides an opportunity for 18 students around the country to work for the California Senate in Sacramento.

What are Mangin’s hopes for her career?

“I am hoping that my internships and work experiences will provide a clearer overview of the best entry points for me to begin a public service career. I am committed to ensuring that my vocation matches my values and so I will most likely work for the government or nonprofit organization. My experience at Oxy and abroad have solidified my active sense towards achieving social justice for historically and newly marginalized populations. I hope to pursue a dual degree program and obtain a J.D. and also a Masters in public policy. In 10 years, I hope to have a job that allows me to work in the intersection of economic development, social justice, and environmental sustainability.”

How optimistic does she feel about her job opportunities?

“Given the current economic climate, I do feel disheartened at immediate prospects. I feel that if we as a nation do not improve our public education system, competitiveness in the business realm, and achieve a greater degree of environmental sustainability – we will only be setting up a bleaker prospect for future generations.

“The struggles that I have gone through as an immigrant, woman of color, and first-generation college student are not aberrational.  While I do agree with others that the job market will be eventually revitalized, I think it is just as important to analyze what preconditions brought us here in the first place. Addressing the systemic and root causes of achievement gaps, racialized wealth disparities, and a weakening commitment to public service and providing safety nets in times of need must be addressed.”

What is the most important she will take from her Oxy years?

“I am tremendously grateful for the vast opportunities that Oxy has provided as well as the institution’s effort to enable us to do public service and outreach. Colleges can no longer be ivory towers where students study and analyze the plight of others and of their ancestors without taking action. Throughout my four years, I have seen the administration, faculty, and students increase efforts to be actively empathetic through the creation of community outreach programs, mentoring programs, and students who simply take the time out of their schedule to act in solidarity with the communities. Oxy has taught me that while going to college can be a financial catalyst, college is also a place where we come to question and identify our values and subsequently pursue a life where we can be individuals of integrity. Throughout my years, I have had amazing professors, advisors, administrators, and peers who viewed my success as their success. I believe in this mantra. The collaborative nature of peers in the politics department was refreshing in contrast to larger schools where grades were distributed along a predetermined curve.”

What will Mangin miss most about Eagle Rock?

“I will miss the Eagle Rock farmer’s market on Fridays. It’s been one of the avenues where locals and students can interact and get a better flavor (no pun intended) of Eagle Rock. I will also miss the Eagle Rock Music Festival. I will also miss driving on Colorado and seeing the banner welcoming Oxy students back on campus every September.”

Her Favorite Eagle Rock meal?

“Classic Thai all the way! They have an amazing fried won ton and shrimp stir fry with veggies and cashews. Also, the staff there is amazingly nice and welcoming. It has a cozy vibe and a beautiful front patio all decked out with a pond filled with koi fish."