The commencement speech for Jessica Happi's University of Miami graduation ceremony had scarcely ended Friday, and already she was thinking about employment.
The international finance and marketing major has pondered returning to France, where she was raised after her family emigrated from Cameroon, but decided instead to stay in the United States.
''I'm currently looking for jobs around the New York and Miami areas,'' said Happi, 20, who had removed her graduation gown shortly after the ceremony but still proudly wore her traditional mortarboard. ``Since the economy is slowing down, I know they don't employ a lot lately, so I'm kind of scared about it.''
But on this day, optimism and confidence ruled for more than 3,300 new graduates who participated in three ceremonies Friday at the BankUnited Center on the Coral Gables campus. Keynote speakers included Tony- and Golden Globe-Award winning actress Angela Lansbury Shaw, of Murder, She Wrote fame, who was bestowed with a doctorate in humane letters.
Even talk of a souring economy couldn't get students down Friday.
''I'm still optimistic,'' Happi said.
Andre Rand, 22, graduated with a music business degree and hopes to find work with a major entertainment company.
''We hear all the talk about recession, but I think we'll be fine,'' Rand said.
The day's speakers presented a powerful metaphor in their commencement theme Friday afternoon: dealing with disaster. UM President Donna Shalala reminded students that when they began their studies four years ago, they were welcomed by Hurricane Frances.
''Many of you weathered the storm locked in your residence halls,'' Shalala said. ``Your parents fretted about your safety and comfort, and you couldn't wait to get back out to the Richter library's new Starbuck's.''
To drive the point home, UM invited Xavier University President Norman C. Francis to serve as keynote speaker for the midday commencement for the schools of architecture, communication, education, music and nursing. Francis is the longest-serving university president in the United States, being at the helm of the Louisiana institution for 40 years. He lost his home when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast near New Orleans, but remained there afterward and saw that his students were able to attend school.
''In your experiences of the future, you will face crisis. I hope that you will return to a very basic quality, and that is faith,'' said Francis, who is Catholic.
UM graduate David Miller, 22, of Washington, D.C., who studied mechanical engineering, said he has faith that everything will work out, even with the construction industry slumping.
''I plan to take a break and relax,'' Miller said. ``I'm just very excited. It has been a long time coming, four years of hard work. It's given me a lot of options, a lot of different things I can try, a lot of different industries. I plan to go back home.''
Video | UM graduates look ahead