Young alum Channing Trent knows the post-graduation rut all too well. After graduating from North Carolina A&T State University in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in graphic communications, Trent was faced with many options. Unfortunately, starting his career right away was not one of them.

Trent quickly began to doubt his degree and the years spent studying and preparing for a job he couldn’t find. For almost two years, Trent worked at a restaurant that he, on many occasions, felt too embarrassed to mention. The Aggie soon learned that the key to changing his working environment was simple—all he really had to do was change his attitude.

While working at the restaurant the Washington, D.C., native began thinking more positively about his professional career goals. He made a choice to think and speak more optimistically, saying things like “something will come along.”

“To be honest, it was an emotional rollercoaster,” Trent said.

Now, Trent is an IT specialist for the U.S. Department of Treasury and can look back on that post-grad phase that many American college students face and encourage his peers to persevere.

A few weeks after he renewed his outlook on life, Trent had an impromptu networking conversation at the restaurant that ended with him sharing his resume with an interested customer.

“I got the phone call at work, I checked my voicemail and they made an offer,” he recalled. “It felt like I made it to the NBA.”

In October 2012, a few weeks after receiving the job offer, Trent started his career at the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 2013, he accepted his current position and within the first six months he received two promotions.

What’s next for Trent? For now, he’s happy where he is but he does have plans to pursue a master’s degree.

By: Courtney J. Jackson