My college career kicked off in the fall of 1988, the day my dad dropped me off at Cumberland Hall-affectionately known as “Scumberland”-at the University of Maryland.
From the start, I had one clear goal: join the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. The parties and the lifestyle were intoxicating, and I knew I wanted in. Beyond the fun, the recruitment literature promised a lot more: a built-in community and support system, lifelong friendships, philanthropy, leadership opportunities, and a powerful alumni network for my future career.
I took those promises to heart. Over the next five years, I stayed deeply involved and stepped into various leadership roles, convinced that this level of activity would be my “magic ticket” to success. By my final semester, I was already leaning on those connections, firing off letters to alumni in hopes of turning that fraternity network into a professional reality.
First, I reached out to well-known alumni… the Prominent Pikes. Later, I compiled a list of all alumni of my chapter in the Washington, DC area and sent them a mailing.
I received 100% rejections, but those from my brothers on Capitol Hill hurt the most, because that’s really where I wanted to be. I still have those rejections in a binder from back in 1993. Here are some of my favorites.
After graduating and not getting the job offers I was sure were inevitable, I moved back in with my dad and looked for local jobs.
Rather than an entry-level position with a power player in Washington, I got a position working the front desk of the Comfort Inn and Suites in Laurel, MD, for $5.50/hour. After a few months, I moved on to an assistant manager role at the Blockbuster Video in town. That job paid $7.00/hour.
I was on my way, but the way was no clearer than it was back in 1988. Just another Gen Xer who was underemployed with student loans, car payments, car insurance, and credit card debt.
But at least I managed to move out of my dad’s house in the spring of 1994 and move in with some friends.
I bought a twelve-pack of Private Stock malt liquor 40s to my new home to celebrate with the new roommates. In spring 1995, I headed to New York City with the hopes of getting a job as a writer. I sold one article to a free paper, the New York Press, for $100.
It wouldn’t be until early 1996 that I finally found a job with benefits. But I did have a lot of fun in college.
Originally published at https://shawncollins512.substack.com.