Students spend years in college, desperately fumbling toward that ever-so-sacred diploma. But what happens after the years of hard work and midterms come to an end? Let’s ask the lucky ones who have finally crossed the finish line.

Three graduates offer their stories, suggestions, and insights.

Shad Selby, 31, is a double major who will receive his diploma at the completion of this semester. He is majoring in communications video production and photography. Selby is already a professional photographer with work published in “Sacramento Magazine,” “The Sacramento Bee,” and others. He plans to establish a photography business and get into advertising design.

Selby advises students to have fun but stay focused. He recommends utilizing the internships that the university offers.

“There’s no shame in changing your major,” Selby said. “Get internships. Interning is the jewel of college. You learn way more than you will in a class.”

Selby recognized Sharmon Goff as his most influential teacher.

“I graduated because of her. She kept me focused and talked me out of taking a semester off. She does this for many students. She is a giving and unselfish professor,” Selby said.

Selby also credits Goff for improving his photo images. Selby said he is glad for the supportive professors in the Photography Department, but wishes that the university would recognize the needs of the department that are not being met.

“I won’t miss the lack of funding for the arts at Sac State,” Selby said. “I also won’t miss immature students that should have stayed in high school because they still talk when the professor talks and pass notes in class.”

Selby also said he wouldn’t miss the “parking gestapo.”

Selby said, “I just want to observe, learn, and get [out].”

Jason Frates, 26, has the same approach to school. He said he wants to get through school and get out.

Frates will graduate with a major in construction management. He transferred from Los Medanos College three and a half years ago and he plans to work with a general building contractor after graduation.

Frates said that he would miss “nothing” as he reflects on Sacramento State. He especially won’t miss the conflict in the Department of Civil Engineering.

“I won’t miss the constant bickering within my [civil engineering] department. The instructors don’t like each other and they’re always bagging on each other,” Frates said. “There is no unity within my department.”

Frates advises students to talk to their instructors outside of the classroom to get a complete grasp of the subject matter.

“Professor Nostrant is an influential teacher. He is a very accessible and professional instructor,” Frates said.

Tia Elliott, 33, started working at Lucy & Co., a public relations firm in downtown Sacramento, on May 16. Elliott is a communications major and a re-entry student. “I like the Communications Department, but I don’t like the distance education classes. I’m taking Communication Studies 170 and I don’t like it. I think I would do better in a classroom,” Elliott said.

She graduated from high school in 1985 and went on to Sacramento City College for one year.

“I didn’t do really well and I dropped out after one year,” Elliott said. “I went to school for the social aspects.”

After City College, Elliott went to work in a doctor’s office as a medical assistant. After having her first child in 1987, she went to Western Career College. Elliott bounced between American River College and City College for the next few years. She also balanced a full-time work schedule.

“After I got enough units at City College, I transferred to Sac State,” Elliott said.

Elliott got married one month before she was diagnosed with breast cancer in Feb. 1998. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and a mastectomy and is “so far, cancer free.”

Elliott had to skip the Spring ’98 semester because of the cancer, but started at Sac State in the Fall of ’98.

“I got more motivated to finish school after I got sick because I didn’t want to die and have nothing to show for my life,” she said.

Elliott advises students to not get frustrated and give up on their education. She said, “The end is near.”