Graduates don't use pencils

BYU,

I received the Alumni Questionnaire you send to each BYU graduate three years after graduation. I am one of those graduates. That's right, I haven't graced your campus as a student since December 2007.

But here's the thing. Since graduating, I have moved on to the real world—a world where we write on computers or phones, maybe even with pens (I even use an erasable pen for editing).

So when your questionnaire requires that I fill in my response with a pencil...I'm a little stumped. You see, I don't regularly visit a testing center that requires a No. 2 pencil to grade my bubble sheet. (Not a Scantron, thank you very much Bud.) I don't EVER use a pencil. Most notes I take on a computer or with a pen on a sticky note. A pencil?? What IS that?

I searched my room for 15 minutes trying to find one. I found one from a Relief Society package I got last week. But I don't have a pencil sharpener. I'm stumped.

Maybe my not being able to fill out the questionnaire will help you categorize me as a BYU graduate:

• I am not married and thus do not have kids who may more regularly use a pencil.
• I do work in the industry I graduated in (Communications)—an industry increasingly welcoming technology and the Web and saying goodbye to things like paper...and pencils.
• I am confident in my ability to stay informed on developments in technology.

My favorite question on the survey:

If I were starting my college career over, would I choose to graduate with the same major?

Definitely Yes

I love what I do. I couldn't have asked for a better degree combination to fit my skills, interests, and career goals.

That's right, I'm Karianne Salisbury

BYU Graduate

B.A. degree in Communications: Print Journalism

Emphasis: Design and New Media

Minor: Editing (magazine track)

Next up...an MBA degree?? We shall see.