<p>“I still don’t feel like doing EC’s, but the good part is that I hang out with my friends and that’s how I work on my social and communication skills.”</p>
<p>Your friends will not be interviewing you for a job. Your friends will not be members of your work team. By putting yourself “outside of your comfort zone”, you will be forced to engage and interact with a variety of different people. You will gain confidence and communication skills. </p>
<p>“I understand that part. Not doing EC’s won’t stop me from getting a job, but will it stop me from getting a good job?”</p>
<p>No one is going to hand you any sort of job on a platter. You will have to go out there and compete for any job that you hope to get. It doesn’t matter what kind of job it is—McDonald’s, Wendy’s, American Eagle, Starbucks—you’ll have to present yourself better than others competing for the same job. Don’t underestimate the value of the experience you will gain from working summer jobs or part time jobs that may not be directly related to your intended field. Lacking any employment history, you will be hard pressed to get hired anywhere.</p>
<p>“I have passions, I just don’t feel like doing EC’s.”</p>
<p>Then don’t participate in EC’s. What are your passions and how to you build upon your passions? Someone with a passion for writing will not go far unless they show and present their writing to the right people. Someone with a passion for music and a desire to be a professional musician will not go far if they simply perform alone and behind closed doors. Someone with a passion for politics must engage himself/herself to present their platform to be heard. Someone with a passion for science must engage himself/herself with others in the laboratory and research in collaboration with others.</p>
<p>You are well aware that a college degree is not a guarantee for employment. Take a good look around you sometime when you’re in a crowded location on campus. Look around at your competition for the job market. Now consider how many colleges there are in this country and how many other students are out there just months or a year away from earning their college degree. They are also your competition. Think of all of those other people all ready with college degrees–they are your competition. How do you plan on showcasing yourself above the competition? Grades are not enough.</p>