Adam Levine: Profile of a Graduate in Limbo

Profile of a Graduate in Limbo

by: Adam Levine

(Athens, OH) Often times, students toss around the word “senioritis” as a means of describing the extreme procrastination and frustration that occurs during your senior year.  Students will miss class, assignments, and even sometimes exams all in the name of senioritis. Adam Blimbaum, however, takes a different spin on this concept.

Adam Blimbaum is a graduated senior at the Ohio University who studied finance and accounting.  After graduating in the winter of 2011, Blimbaum had plenty of decisions to make regarding his remaining 10 weeks at OU.

Blimbaum with his girlfriend Jessica Armstrong at a Columbus Blue Jackets game in Columbus, Ohio in 2010.

WORKING AT WEST 82

“I knew I needed a part-time job here.  If I want to have fun I also need to have some money, so for me that was an obvious choice,” said Blimbaum. “On the other hand, it seems like everyone and their mothers works at West 82, so I felt like I was conforming,” he added.

Blimbaum getting ready to go work at West 82 in Athens, OH

At West 82, the food court in the Baker Center, Adam’s job is far from glamorous.

“I essentially clean tables and the food court area.  When I’m lucky I get to roll a burrito or two, but other than that, it’s all pretty much 'Charlie work,'" Blimbaum quipped.

When asked what “Charlie work” is, Blimbaum referenced the popular FX television show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” and explained that Charlie Day’s character on the show is often forced to do all of the menial and grotesque work no one else wanted to do.

“I started off working 20 hours a week, but now I have been picking up doubles left and right,” he said. “I figure I have nothing else to do really, so I might as well make some cash for the weekends.”

OPTIONAL CLASS

Most students would revel in the opportunity to be void of class for an entire quarter—Blimbaum isn’t most students.  After being accepted for a position in the JP Morgan & Chase Company, Blimbaum decided he didn’t want to numb his brain for an entire quarter before starting his career.

“I decided to sit in on a class that I never took during my undergraduate years,” he said. “I know it seems crazy, but I just go to class and do the work that’s assigned…even though my name isn’t on the class register and I’m not really enrolled in school here anymore,” he added.

EXTRACURRICULARS

Even if you aggregate all of the hours Blimbaum spends working along with the hours he spends for his one class, there is still a considerable surplus. Blimbaum handles this surplus in various ways.  Whether it’s being the acting vice president of OU Club Boxing, or visiting his girlfriend in Washington D.C., Blimbaum certainly spreads himself thin on campus and off.

Blimbaum in 2011 at Boxing Club in Athens, OH.

“I have a passion for boxing,” he said. “I started when I was a sophomore and have really developed a deep love for it.  It’s a great workout and a great way to release pent-up energy from not doing anything,” he laughingly remarked.

 GRADUATION LIMBO

Blimbaum is in an interesting position. While he is truly living it up in his last quarter here on campus, he is also dejected knowing that this is, in fact, his last quarter on campus.  Although he is leaving OU with a highly sought-after job, he still feels like there is more to accomplish in his closing weeks.

“I just don’t like being in limbo,” he said. “It’s like I have one foot in the grave and one foot on the gas.” 

Fall 2007	Began school at Ohio University
Spring 2008	Achieved a 4.0 GPA
Fall 2009	Elected Vice President of OU Club Boxing
Winter 2010	Received job offer from JP Morgan & Chase