It's not about who you know, it's who your parents are

As a graduating college student, I have three categories of friends at this time. First, there are those who want to postpone "real life," so they're going to graduate school, even though many professors (at least in my field) have told us it was not a good idea (especially at the same school, but hey even more security blanket for cover, right?). Next, there are those graduating friends (I'd say about 60% of those I know). Absolutely none of these people know what they are doing after they graduate. They might know what they want to do in the long run, but as for their current job prospects, they have not gotten any job offers. In fact, none of my roommates have jobs yet, which makes me feel better about my joblessness.

Onto the third category. Students who have their lives planned out. All my life, I've been told, "It's not about what you know, but who you know." and "Network, network, network." So, I think you will see why it's discouraging for me, some one who does try to be friendly with everyone and is conscious of how my actions will reflect on my future hiring, when I see people getting jobs through what they call networking, and what I like to call relying on your family members. Perhaps it is because my parents have no influential friends, and no one in my immediate or distant family works in media that am I bitter about this aspect. However, the more I hear "well my dad works here so," ... or "my aunt set this up for me" ... or "I don't have to worry too much, my so-and-so said that newspaper will save a spot for me," I get annoyed. I work hard to network and not to say that others don't, but I have a major chip on my shoulder when it comes to people who are just handed opportunities, when despite my Tribune internship, I must keep digging for jobs to apply to.