At the 2024 New Life Invitational, several stars emerged, including Ackera Nugent and Donald Thomas. However, a disappointing performance by Jamaica’s 4x400m relay team cast a shadow over the event. Ackera Nugent, a rising Jamaican sprinter, showcased her speed in the women’s 200 meters. She clocked an impressive 22.52 seconds, asserting her dominance on the track. Her performance hinted at her potential as a future Olympic medalist. Donald Thomas, a veteran Bahamian high jumper, also impressed with his remarkable leap. He cleared a height of 2.30 meters, demonstrating his unwavering determination and skill. His success highlighted the caliber of athletes competing at the invitational. Unfortunately, the Jamaican 4x400m relay team, a highly anticipated event, fell short of expectations. Despite fielding a strong lineup, the team failed to finish on the podium. The result underscored the intense competition at the invitational and the challenges faced by teams seeking Olympic qualification. The 2024 New Life Invitational showcased a blend of rising stars and established veterans. Ackera Nugent and Donald Thomas emerged as standouts, while the Jamaican 4x400m relay team’s setback highlighted the demanding nature of international competition. As the road to the 2024 Olympics continues, these athletes will undoubtedly strive to improve their performances and pursue their Olympic dreams.If you’ve talked to recent college graduates lately, you’ve probably heard how difficult it is to find a job after college.
If you’ve talked to recent college graduates lately, you’ve probably heard how difficult it is to find a job after college. Statistics show that there are enough jobs available and that companies are hiring. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ February 2023 jobs report, there were 3.6 million unfilled jobs nationwide. The current unemployment rate is 3.7%, which is low compared to the past twenty years. But 2023 and 2024 graduates still say they’re having trouble finding full-time jobs, despite feeling like they’re doing everything right. Hailey Kukrul, a 2023 graduate of Kent State University, applied for 209 jobs between Jan. 1 and March 1. Kurkral graduated with her bachelor’s degree in digital media production. In college, Kukral ran a radio station with more than 70 team members while running her own radio show. “Even with that experience, I was still told that the company went with a different candidate because he had more experience. For an entry-level position,” Kukral said. And Kurkral is not alone. The job market is tight right now, said Eric Johnson, an associate professor of economics at Kent State. Johnson explained that inflation reached almost 8% after the shock of COVID-19. The normal story is that when inflation rises, a recession follows. People tend to avoid leaving stable jobs when the economy is uncertain, Johnson said. “When people have confidence in the economy, they’re happy to quit because they say, hey, I’m going to get another job soon,” Johnson said. “And we’ve seen stops going away–like no one’s stopping. So anyone who has a job keeps it. And companies aren’t hiring, like we said, so… (it’s) starting to look not so good out there.” Companies also tend to be more conservative in hiring when they think a recession is approaching. In the pre-pandemic job market, it was common to have plenty of vacancies but not enough applicants, Johnson said. Now that surplus of vacancies has disappeared, leaving too many applicants and not enough vacancies to fill. However, that recession did not occur. And Johnson said the Federal Reserve could start cutting rates this year, which could ease some of those restrictions. “Inflation is pretty close to where they want it to be…. And they are talking about an annual reduction in interest rates,” says Johnson. “So when that happens, we don’t necessarily know. But once that starts to happen, things will loosen up in the labor market.” Joblist surveyed 1,000 job seekers across the country in 2023. On average, job seekers apply for 10 to 15 jobs and receive 6 to 10 rejections before receiving an offer. The survey also found that 49.5% of job seekers lose confidence in themselves after being rejected, most of whom are younger generations such as Generation Z. “You might get a hundred no’s, but you’ll get one yes,” says Alison Spitzer, COO and partner of Hay There Social Media and president of Spitzer Automotive Group. ‘You just have to move on and realize that rejection, no matter what field you work in, is just a part of life. And if you can’t handle the rejection, you won’t keep chasing.” Spitzer has interviewed hundreds of people for her companies. She says she doesn’t just rely on resumes or job interviews;++she looks broadly at the way applicants distinguish themselves. “If I had just graduated and was looking for work, I would network,” Spitzer said. “I would say yes.” There are plenty of ways to network, Spitzer said, such as attending dinners, events or sending cold emails asking for a quick introductory meeting. An easy way to get started is to find companies and jobs that interest you on company websites and search engines and find the people who work there on sites like Linkedin. “Establishing some kind of knowledge networking relationship with them is going to be so much more important than just firing off 100 resumes,” Spitzer said. Patricia Hadzinski, a 2023 graduate of Loyola University Chicago, applied for jobs for four months. She attended networking events, sent cold emails to marketing and PR firms in various cities, and went through multiple job interviews only to be told they had gone with another candidate. After receiving an invitation to dinner with a colleague, Hadzinski met her soon-to-be boss, who asked if she would help her for a week. Now she works there full-time. “I did an internship from August to December. And it was just my literal luck of the draw that I was even able to do that,” Hadzinski said. “And now I work full-time, but it only took me eight, nine months to get there.” While Kukrul is still looking for a full-time job, she works part-time as a live streaming auction technician for Greenie Sports Cards and part-time as a studio coordinator for School of Rock. “I specialize in audio and I would love to do that for the rest of my life, but it doesn’t really exist on this scale right now,” Kukral said. “I don’t have the privilege to be picky. There may be a job that doesn’t really interest me, or a company that I don’t necessarily like, but I applied because it’s something.” This story was originally published by the Kent State News Lab, a collaborative news channel that publishes journalism by Kent State students.
Jamaican athletes Ackera Nugent and Donald Thomas showcased their talents at the 2024 New Life Invitational. Nugent dominated the women’s 100m, while Thomas secured a podium finish in the long jump. However, Team Jamaica’s 4x400m relay team experienced a setback at the Olympics. Despite high expectations, they failed to qualify for the final, falling short of their Olympic aspirations. The team’s performance raised questions about their preparation and strategy. Nugent, a rising star in Jamaican sprinting, displayed her speed and determination in the 100m. She surged ahead of her rivals and crossed the finish line in a blistering time. Her victory cemented her status as a contender in the upcoming season. Thomas, a seasoned jumper, demonstrated his consistency and skill in the long jump. He executed a series of impressive jumps, securing a respectable podium finish. His performance served as a reminder of his capabilities on the international stage. Despite their individual successes, Team Jamaica’s 4x400m relay team’s Olympic performance came as a disappointment. The team, which included talented athletes, was expected to challenge for a medal. However, they struggled to maintain their form and fell short of expectations. The team’s failure to qualify for the final has raised concerns about their training and preparations. Analysts are scrutinizing their approach, hoping to identify areas for improvement as they gear up for future competitions. Despite the setback, the Jamaican athletes continue to inspire and showcase their exceptional talent. Nugent’s impressive victory and Thomas’s consistent performance offer hope for the future, while Team Jamaica’s 4x400m relay team’s experience provides lessons for growth and development.
