UNC celebrates over 6,800 graduates, some concerned about future job market

A sea of Carolina blue at the Old Well Saturday for UNC’s commencement ceremony.

“It’s been a long ride, and I’m looking forward to this,” said UNC graduate Maggie Strother.

More than 6,800 total students graduated from UNC Chapel Hill. About 4,300 of them were undergraduate students, 1,400 master’s students and about 900 doctoral students.

Some alumni are aiming for even higher education, like law school hopeful Cesar Sosa.

“Immigration law,” Sosa said. “I’m Hispanic myself, and I kind of want to make it easier for people just to be able to get in and not have as many problems once they get here.”

Though the day is supposed to be for celebrating their accomplishments, some told WRAL they are looking ahead at the future with some anxiety entering the job market.

“It’s always a little rough,” said UNC graduate Cesar Sosa. “Right now, you see some places aren’t as excited to be hiring as many people.”

Saturday’s commencement speaker Mia Hamm, a UNC alumna and one of the best women soccer players in history, urged the new alumni to revel in the journey and of the precious present.

“When I look back, the best times were not the exciting beginnings, or the triumph of endings. The best times were in the middle. That is where life is lived. It's moments, not mountains."