| Every New Year brings hope for something better. | | | | about upcoming graduation for those of us who are |
| When the ball drops on December 31st at midnight | | | | seniors; however, the amount of people graduating |
| people begin to make resolutions. There is a yearning | | | | with a job is scarce. Many students have decided to |
| for improvement, hope for a fresh start. Most New | | | | go to Graduate School hoping the job market will |
| Years, people decide to loose weight or stop | | | | recover by then. The problem is they are not sure |
| smoking; however, for the beginning of 2009 it is | | | | and the future does not seem as promising as our |
| different. Our economy is not doing well; the | | | | first day as freshmen. Instead of graduating, getting |
| recession is finally staring to show its effects. Last | | | | a place of their own and becoming an "adult", they |
| year there was a mortgage crisis, the Madoff scandal | | | | are continuing the life of a student. I heard students |
| and the fall of the stock market significantly resulting | | | | from many colleges discussing this issue and for a |
| in the loss of homes, retirement funds and jobs. The | | | | moment I was concerned that I would face the |
| unemployment rate is rising; so this New Years | | | | same problems. Then I took a breath and relaxed, |
| instead of hoping for weight loss or a nicotine free | | | | knowing that my job market is different; I am an |
| life people are more concerned with getting a job, | | | | Accounting major. |
| affording their house (or finding one) and figuring out | | | | Over the years there has been numerous crises' with |
| a way to get back the savings they thought would | | | | large companies. The fall of Enron is the first to come |
| be there when they retired. It is a different time and | | | | to mind. How was that issue dealt with? The |
| since I am a student about to graduate college and | | | | Sarbanes and Oxley Act of 2002, more regulations |
| enter the world of job markets and housing it is a | | | | were enforced. The increase for audit procedures led |
| great concern of mine. | | | | to more billing hours for the accountants. Now we |
| Currently I am a senior at West Chester University | | | | are faced with more screw ups by the banks with |
| as well as a part-time employee at Thomas | | | | the mortgages and the Madoff scandal. There are |
| Jefferson University Hospital. I am learning about the | | | | already discussions about ways to prevent these |
| recession in different ways from both of these | | | | problems, more audits and stricter regulations. Who |
| experiences. I work in the Nursing Business Office | | | | will be the ones to take on this responsibility? Of |
| two to three days a week to pay for expenses until | | | | course the accountants will take on this task; more |
| I graduate. My boss is the Director of Finance for the | | | | work means more distribution of responsibilities and |
| Department of Nursing. Our main job involves | | | | more staff. |
| budgeting and financial reporting. Each year I am | | | | So as I come closer and closer to graduation all I feel |
| responsible for the Capital Budget process for the | | | | is excitement because I will start my job in |
| next fiscal year. I will take purchase requests for | | | | September. Other seniors in my major are as lucky |
| each of the nursing units and enter them into a | | | | as I am; I have not yet met a senior in the |
| system so they can be approved for next fiscal | | | | accounting department at West Chester University |
| year's budget. This year only essential items were | | | | who does not have a job lined up in the fall. The |
| allowed to be requested. Even though the amount of | | | | outcome looks the same for juniors and sophomores; |
| requests were drastically decreased from last year's | | | | I heard from a professor that internship acceptance |
| Capital Budget there were still concerns about | | | | for accounting majors is at an all time high this year. |
| whether there would be enough money to even | | | | As a result, I do not worry about having to continue |
| fund those requests. The apprehension does not | | | | as a student, I can enter the world of the workforce |
| stop there; there have been numerous budget cuts | | | | regardless. While others are stuck in the middle of |
| and every inch of the Nursing Department is trying to | | | | the chaotic job market I am relived because the |
| cut back on expenses, the next option is to lay off | | | | accountants are thriving off the downfall of so many |
| employees which has already been a discussion and | | | | companies. The more scandals that occur, the more |
| definitely all hires are postponed. It does not look | | | | every company will need to be investigated and |
| good. | | | | reviewed which means, of course, more work for |
| At West Chester University there is excitement | | | | the accountants. |