As a student at Bradley University, I always wondered what life would be like after I graduated. While the future has many possibilities, it can always be full of doubt and worry. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they do not, and it can be difficult to tell what will happen so we hope for the best because that is all one can do.
Someone else shared the same fear as I do, a Bradley University graduate named Brett Janssen who was kind enough to be willing to sit down and take an interview about his time at Bradley University and what it’s like living on his own, working a job thanks to his degree he earned from Bradley. Hopefully, anyone who reads this article can relate to Janssen and a way to push forward through the rest of their semester and graduate.
Brett Janssen was an ordinary student of Bradley University a mom, dad, and a brother, with several fluffy cats. His favorite color was orange and listening to psychedelic rock. His favorite bands were the Beach Boys and the Beatles. Janssen also had an extensive record collection and has records of his other favorite bands such as The Doors. His favorite movie was Raiders of the Lost Ark, he is also a fan of the Chicago White Sox. He grew up playing Nintendo consoles, his favorite games being Kirby 64 and Final Fantasy 9. When asked about his favorite Pokemon he said it was the ghost flying type Drifblim.
He is simply just a regular guy with specific tastes that interest him, unfortunately not all people can appreciate the uniqueness of psychedelic rock. The point I am trying to illustrate is Janssen is just a normal person and a gifted prodigy or has extraordinary abilities. He worked as a Hobby Lobby stockman to help pay for his tuition so he understands the difficulty of balancing work, college, and a social life which is something that a lot of college students need to contend with.
Any advice for current Bradley students? “Don’t stress it too much and enjoy your time.”
Janssen attended Bradley University through the years, 2019-2023, as a Computer Information Systems major. When the Covid-19 pandemic happened Janssen had to take all of his classes online and was not able to retain any information from the classes but managed to graduate all the same. His mental health was in rough shape due to the demanding nature of being a college student but began to improve in the latter of his time at Bradley by making friends who shared the same interests as he does. Janssen even joined a club on Bradly’s campus, the Asian American Association. Who knew other students at Bradley enjoyed psychedelic rock as well?
How difficult is your job? “Far easier than I expected.”
After four years of hardship and struggle, Janssen was able to graduate in the spring of 2024 with his degree in Computer Information Systems and found employment in a small town in North Dakota working as an IT Technician for Healthcare Systems, which pays very well for being an entry-level job with little stress. He commented that Bradley University was perhaps overprepared for the job which is far better than being underprepared. He was able to get his own apartment in North Dakota and have the ability to decorate it as he pleased without any pesky parents who occasionally visited him in North Dakota from Illinois. This causes him to go a bit haywire and buy anything and everything online which is expected with his newfound freedom. One would be surprised about how many objects are available in orange.
Any general advice for Bradley Alumni for their careers? “Post-college life is far less intimidating than it sounds.”
There are no big plans for Janssen’s future, he is currently just trying to get settled into a comfortable routine. Perhaps someday he will have his dream vacation to Japan or Australia where he can pet kangaroos. There is always the possibility of getting a Capybara as a pet but a cat seems more likely an option, but one can dream.
How optimistic are you about the future? “The future is very bright.”
Hopefully, this interview with Brett Janssen has given hope to any struggling Bradley University student. Not everyone faces the same problems, some people may be more lucky or unlucky in what advertise they must contend with in life, but if Janssen was able to transition from college to the workplace then so can other Bradley students. The future is imitating, yet it’s full of possibilities, all we can do is try our best in any given situation and have a positive mindset.
With complete sincerity as a Bradley senior, I wish you the best, hang in there and I will do the same.
