The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 30

April 14, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 5 Features Getting that letter of recommendation With graduation right around the corner, now is a good time to start obtaining letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation are helpful when applying for jobs or for graduate school, and NSU has plenty of resources to aid students with their search. A good place to start when looking for a letter of recommendation would be the career center. Here, the advisors can point you in the right direction and provide recommendations of who to reach out to for a letter. Not only can they provide recommendations for who to reach out to, but they can assist you with how to reach out to people. When asking for a letter of recommendation, it is beneficial to ask someone that you have a relationship with. Some people to ask would be professors, supervisors and mentors. When someone you have a relationship with writes you a letter of recommendation, they are able to write more about you since they know more about you and your work ethic. The purpose of the letter is to provide a testimony of your ability to succeed in a job, position or program. “You want to make sure you ask not too long after your interaction with the person to ensure the interaction is fresh. You want to ensure enough time is given for the person to prepare your letter of recommendation. Do not assume that letters of recommendation are an automatic thing because the person or faculty member may not have time or may not be the voice you need,” said Grecia Chami, the assistant director of academic advising at NSU. Whether you are deciding to continue school post-graduation or go straight into the workforce, the best time to start asking for letters of recommendation would be in the beginning semester of your senior year or another time that Briana Ramnauth Contributing Writer Gap Year: To take one or not to take Regardless of what year they’re in, students may find themselves pondering the idea of a gap year. Is it good or is it bad? Well, there is no right answer to that question. Taking a gap year depends on the individual his or herself. Some may take a gap year, or years, right out of high school while others take one in between programs, such as after graduating from undergrad. Both seem to be very common. “There are a variety of reasons people may feel taking a gap year is beneficial. By taking a gap year, it can allow the individual to become more successful, such as strengthening their applications by adding in real world experiences,” said Emilio Lorenzo, the assistant director of employer relations at NSU. There are a lot of pros that come with taking a gap year. A lot of the time, for college students, the most beneficial time comes after undergrad because some students may feel they are not ready for the next step in their life. It allows them to get those experiences they need in order to make their applications stronger and for the individual to be able to go into the workforce for some time before spending even more money. Medical school, law school and other postgraduate programs are very expensive, for students who may not have that type of money, this year could help get those savings. On the other hand, some people may feel they are not comfortable with continuing their education post high school or undergrad. Whether that means financially, academically or even emotionally, some are just not ready to take that next step yet. There is no shame in taking a year to get 100% ready before making those next steps. Some may feel Abigail Johnson Contributing Writer gives the recommender adequate time to prepare. It is important to start asking sooner rather than later because it takes time to write a letter of recommendation. The person may also have other letters of recommendation to write and it may take them more time to complete the letter. Typically, people will ask to give them ample time to complete the letter of recommendation, so try to give them at least two weeks’ notice. Chami explained, “the letter of recommendation showcases what makes you stand apart.” Employers and schools require you to have a letter of recommendation to get to know you before scheduling an interview. This helps them get an idea if you are a good fit by reviewing your qualities, characteristics and capabilities. Beyond giving advice for students about letters of recommendation, the Center for Academic and Professional Success (CAPS) also provides a variety of other services to students. Nicole La Roque, a career and academic success coach in the Center for Academic and Professional Success explained, “We help critique students’ resumes and ensure they are on the right track for the program they are applying to. This way, people can see the most relevant aspects. We can also help students build a resume from scratch. We can do mock interviews to help students and gear the interview towards the program the students are applying for. We can also review cover letters and can help provide guidance.” Chami recommends that students “look at the monthly newsletters that career development sends. Most of the time, the emails offer opportunities and can be helpful. Also, use Handshake. Just roam around the website to look at jobs and internships.” ashamed of this decision, and it is most certainly not an easy one. Lorenzo said, “Evaluate the pros and cons. Although there are many pros, there also comes some cons.” He explained that, by taking a gap year, it can extend the career path for those looking to go into the medical or dental fields. Another downside to a gap year can be the adjustment back into the school routine. For some, this may be difficult. After not going to school for a whole year, getting back into the schedule and routine is not a simple thing to do. The biggest takeaway is don’t rush into it. Making the decision about whether or not to take a gap year takes time and discussions with other people, such as academic counselors, professors and even loved ones. As Lorenzo said, “A detailed plan is a successful plan.” Celebrating National Poetry Month Flor Ana Mireles Copy Editor April is National Poetry Month, a celebration meant to mark the importance of poetry in our everyday lives and in society. National Poetry Month was created in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets with the goal of highlighting American poets, encouraging the reading of poems and supporting poetry and poets on a national scale. The Academy of American Poets decided to host this celebration in April because it seemed like the best time to encourage readers to read poetry and gain year- round readership. Since it is National Poetry Month, all around the country, we have seen the emergence of new poets and poems, virtual poetry readings and events and poetry challenges. While we are almost halfway through April, it is never too late to get into poetry. Here are some ways you can participate in National Poetry Month at home and online. Read poetry One of the best ways to celebrate National Poetry Month is by reading poetry and supporting poets. There are tons of Instagram accounts that highlight different poets, and most bookstores have poetry sections if you’re interested in purchasing some poetry books to read in your spare time. Some notable mentions by known poets are “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman, “Maps for the Modern World” by Valerie June Hockett and “Home Body” by Rupi Kaur. Some poetry books that came out this year by lesser-known poets include my own “Perspective (and other poems), “Fortunate” by Kim Rashidi and “morning air, morning light” by Regan Smith. Participate in poetry challenges and prompts With National Poetry Month comes tons of poetry challenges and prompts to get the creative juices flowing. Award- winning poet Jane Hirshfield has a Poem- a-Day challenge happening, where she reads a submitted poem each day, and poet Savannah Brown is hosting Escapril, where she released prompts at the beginning of April for each day of the month and highlights different poets and poems that caught her eye. There are tons of other challenges out there, too. A simple Instagram or Google search for them will leave you with a plethora of prompts and challenges to choose from. Attend virtual poetry events While we can’t attend in-person poetry events and readings this year, luckily, they’re still happening online. Throughout April, there are virtual poetry events happening nationwide. Some upcoming events to consider checking out include #WeAllGrow Amigas’s free The Divine Feminine Poetry Writing Workshop on April 13 at 6 p.m. and Poetry & the Creative Mind’s Virtual Gala Supporting National Poetry Month on April 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Rupi Kaur’s virtual poetry performance on April 30 with $15 admission. Whether you’re a poet or just enjoy reading poetry, be sure to take advantage of all National Poetry Month has to offer. With permission to print from F. Mireles With permission to print from Unsplash.com