For students at Ithaca College, future career opportunities may seem daunting. But surveys indicate that 97 percent of students find a job or enter graduate school within a year of graduation. Contributing writers Moira Colley and Danielle Paccione spoke to six recent alumni from each school about their experiences after graduation.

Name Jennifer Best ’06
Major Recreation Management
Current employer/position Assistant Social Recreation Manager at Amelia Island Plantation Resort
Location Amelia Island, Fla.
What she does Best runs the 20-year-old children’s program “Kids Camp Amelia.” The camp entertains children between the ages of 3 and 10 with activities from treasure hunts to pool parties.
How she got there In high school, Best worked at a children’s camp called Summer Cohesion. She was in charge of planning, implementing and evaluating activities and field trips for 140 children. She entered the college knowing she loved her job at the camp but did not decide on a major in Recreation Management until she took classes and spoke with her adviser.
“I was so excited because recreation is my passion,” she said. “I never knew that I could have a job in something that I loved.”
Best secured her job last February while searching for a summer internship.
“I interned here over the summer, and the [day after the internship ended], they offered me the job,” Best said. “It worked out great.”
Challenges Though Best said moving away from home was hard, friendly and welcoming co-workers and customers made it easier.
“I love my job, I love my co-workers and I love my company,” Best said.