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The red pin is for AIDS awareness. Pink is for breast cancer. Even the yellow one came out to support the troops. Now there's a green one. What does it symbolize? The Graduation Pledge (coordinated by the Graduation Pledge Alliance) for graduating students across the nation, declaring that their future Job concerns will go beyond personal benefit and the almighty dollar.

Seniors this year wearing the green ribbon on their gowns during commencement swear this allegiance: "I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work."

Whether or not these grads wear green pins, they are pledging that their future careers won't just be about Money.

Spreading Awareness
Grant Shafer, a recent graduate of James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA), says he'd rather make a difference than advance financially. He's even delaying graduate school to help others. His passion: educating men on how to help women recover from sexual assault and rape.

"I think men can be part of the solution for changing social norms and ending men's violence against women," explains the social work Major. Grant will soon be touring with the National Organization of Men's Outreach for Rape Education (NO MORE) as a peer educator on sexual assault prevention.

Low Hourly Wage Is Worth
It When Christopher Brun graduates from the University of Georgia, Grady College of journalism and Mass Communication (Athens, GA), he'll actively pursue a position as a production assistant. Sounds glamorous, right? Not quite -- production assistant jobs only pay about $7-9 per hour. And those who have been there know it's not all fun and games.

But for the 23-year-old who dreams of writing, directing, and producing films, the salary sacrifice is worth it. "My passion is film -- anything having to do with the cinema," he explains. "In the end, as long as I'm where I need to be in 10 years, the struggles will make it all worthwhile."

Using Art to Give Back
Abezash Tamerat, a graduating senior at Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah, GA), plans to use her passion for art to give back to those in need. Born in Ethiopia, Abezash was an orphan who fought for survival every day in the impoverished nation. After being adopted by an American, she moved to the United States and received an education.

She then co-founded Artist for Charity, an organization dedicated to raising money for focused causes through art. Though it's a non-paying position, Abezash spends a lot of time organizing art exhibits, where all proceeds are donated to charities. This year, the events benefited Dawn of Hope, a nonprofit organization that helps Ethiopian orphans who lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. "My long-term goal is to help bring art back to third-world countries." she explains.

Keeping My Creative Juices Flowing
For Colleen Kinder, a recent graduate of Yale University (New Haven, CT), pursuing a craft that doesn't pay keeps her knee-deep in odd jobs. Still, she wouldn't have it any other way. "I am doing all sorts of things to stay afloat in New York City while writing," she explains. She pays bills by tutoring Spanish, cat-sitting, babysitting, and freelance fact-checking.

In her spare time, she spends hours at coffee shops with a pen and paper. "Creative writing is my main passion, and I need both time and freedom to get the creative juices flowing," she attests. "I figure, if there's any stage of life when I can skimp by from month to month, it's right out of college. Now seems like the prime time to make passion my first priority."

"I'd be pretty miserable in a cubicle," she says, "bonus or no bonus."


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Gina LaGuardia is the Editor-in-Chief of The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school that's right for you.

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