I dream of having a flexible career in my desired field, where I can pretty much plan my schedule, making time for myself and my family. Of course, I would also like that job to bring in enough money where I can give back to my community, take vacations, travel abroad and so on.

Is anyone else terrified that their dreams will fail?

I don’t want to sound overly cynical, but I’m guessing there are plenty of other students at NC State who want the same things in life that I just described and are equally afraid that they will end up living paycheck to paycheck inside the hamster cage, so to speak.

If you think (like me) that other people may hate their jobs but it won’t happen to you, consider where you will be when you graduate. Unless I start saving thousands of dollars to explore possibilities upon graduation, I will need a job immediately. There is the option of graduate school, but not even that guarantees a job.

Once I am lucky enough to obtain a job, I do hope I like it, but it is possible that it won’t be my purpose in life. It may, quite simply, pay the bills.

I will not quit this job unless I know that I have another one secured, especially if at some point I am paying a mortgage and car payment and trying to feed the kids that I would like to have.

This is not me being cynical. This is the reality of living in the working world, where at the very least you are paying for your meals and a place to sleep. It may not be the reality for everyone, but it is the reality of most. m

According to a 2013 survey released by Bankrate.com and covered by CNN, fewer than one in four Americans have enough money in their savings account to cover at least six months of expenses, which is enough to help cushion a job loss or medical emergency.

The positive turning point of this column is that there are things you can do now as a student to lessen your chances of seriously struggling after graduation.

Of course, we will all still have our struggles.

There will be losing days, possibly even losing months or years. You may keep applying for jobs and getting turned down, lose your job altogether, quit to handle personal issues in your life or find that what you were planning on is no longer an option.

There is one piece of advice I have picked up from my summer internship and odd jobs I had during my high school summers that I think is worth passing along: Diversify yourself.

If there is one thing I have learned from talking to adults, it is that hardly anyone is doing what they thought they would do. You may think that a degree in a specific field like engineering or teaching or anything else for that matter, will guarantee a job, but getting a job largely depends on where you live, your experience and who had the personality that the employers wanted on their team.

Diversifying yourself doesn’t mean you have to double major, but it doesn’t hurt. Neither does adding a few minors or continuing with your foreign language courses. Graduate or professional school offers another opportunity to advance your skillset.

Take classes at NC State that you don’t necessarily need to graduate if you have the time. I am so thankful that I took equine science and introduction to the Old Testament last semester, because I loved the professors and learned about careers I’m actually interested in; I might just be an attorney that specializes in equine law one day.

It doesn’t stop at your diploma. Internships are vastly important for your future career. Not only do they help you figure out what type of career you are seeking, but it helps potential employers see your work ethic. A good recommendation or a job opening at your former internship goes a long way.

What goes further? Knowing people. I now make a point of introducing myself and starting conversations with people everywhere. Not only has it allowed me to meet people from all over the world in completely different careers, but it has led to strong friendships.

I know that I have a network, that hopefully grows, of people willing to help me out if I’m in a tough spot on my career search. That means a lot more than a new LinkedIn connection. If you think about it, it makes sense. Your friendships have grown from face to face contact, and so do partnerships in the business world.

So yes, work on your resume, but more importantly, get out there. Get involved with a violin ensemble, join the soccer team, apply to internships for the school year in Raleigh and try something new. You’ll have some great experiences while making it possible to not only get a job, but switch when you find you need something new that still pays the bills.

I am still uneasy thinking about the large gap of time between graduation and retirement. I was going to put a “but,” until thinking about the length of time left my stomach churning.

Once we are hitting the open road, the road where your life could go a million different directions, try not to freak out. No amount of preparation will prepare you for everything that life throws your way, but diversifying yourself and being flexible to careers you didn’t imagine doing will open up opportunities otherwise not possible.