Natalie Latta refuses to stop learning after her graduation this May. She, like many other seniors, plans to challenge herself with something other than a paying job right out of college. She plans to forego paychecks and anticipates an adventure.

“Be a little idealistic while you’re young,” Latta said, just ahead of her 27-month stint in the Peace Corps.

Latta, a senior majoring in English and political science, represents what seems to be a larger movement among students perpetuated not only by the U.S. economy’s current state, but also by a measureable respect for learning through service. Latta points out that she considered a job in magazine or newspaper publishing, but in the end, decided to follow what she called a chance to grow as an individual.

“The decision to enter the Peace Corps is a personal one,” Latta said. “No one should commit to something this monumental if the decision isn’t completely theirs.” Latta said no one influenced her decision, and she has her own strong reasons for joining.

“I was attracted to the challenges of learning a new language, living away from everything I find comforting, and the massive amounts of cultural understanding I would have to undertake and disseminate during and upon completion of my term,” she said. “For me, the decision was instinctual.” Latta’s instinctual decision was made easier with her appointment. While she doesn’t know her exact assignment location yet, Latta was nominated for a post in Eastern Europe to teach English.

“I hope to learn about folk art and women’s issues, and maybe the interest will develop into a larger effort,” Latta said about her Eastern European post. “After I get back,” Latta said, “I hope to return to the Capstone to get an MFA through our acclaimed book arts program.” Latta noted that she also wants to bring the experience back with her and assess the relationship between Alabama’s communities and the arts.

Overall, Latta’s decision reflects the idea that learning can easily continue after the attainment of an undergraduate degree. Latta said she thought about going straight to graduate school, but considered service in a branch of AmeriCorps before her other options.

The Peace Corps is just one option available to graduating seniors other than a job.

John Killian’s views on his time immediately after graduation mirror Latta’s sentiment. Killian plans on joining Teach For America, which he calls an ambitious and dedicated program.

Teach for America is a donor-funded organization that aims to eliminate the education gap along class lines in the United States. The organization recruits “outstanding recent college graduates from all backgrounds and career interests,” according to the organization’s Web site. The chosen applicants teach for two years in urban and rural public schools.

“I can’t help but be drawn to people who set big goals and then put in the work to achieve them,” Killian said, noting dedication and ambition as the two strongest, most attractive aspects of the program.

“I was drawn to it initially because it represented an alternative path to enter education,” Killian said. “I’d always considered becoming a teacher, but certification processes limit that opportunity for students not following a traditional Ed school pathway.”

Killian sees the service as a perfect opportunity to overcome limited opportunity. “I was also considering graduate study in economics, working with Impact Alabama, or attending medical school,” he said. He put all those on hold to work with Teach For America.

“Someone else that definitely influenced my decision to pursue teaching was Dr. Mark Scott, the Director of Admissions at South Alabama’s medical school,” Killian said. “Last year, he and I talked about whether it made sense to apply to medical school – how to weigh the opportunity to teach against the opportunity to begin medical school.

“Bottom line,” Killian said, “he said it didn’t make sense to commit to medical school yet if I held a similar passion for education. He thought that a two-year investment in teaching made a lot of sense, and he gave me the confidence to trust that.”

Latta’s comments mirrored Killian’s. “Too often college graduates are handicapped by the possibility of disappointing their parents or wanting to continue romantic relationships,” she said. “People should just do what makes them happy.”