Nearly 1,480 graduate from University of Iowa

IOWA CITY- After years of studying, hundreds of newly-minted University of Iowa graduates can finally hold their heads up high with a new degree in hand.

"It was a rough long journey, but I finally made it,” said graduate Julia Krein.

Nearly 1,480  degrees were confered this weekend in three December commencement ceremonies.

"I'm really proud of myself and my fellow graduates,” said graduate Sara Millar.

Graduate Rifugio Ceniceros thanked those who helped him along the way. "They love me and I'm glad they're here and they've been with me the whole way,” he said.

The next step for these graduates? Finding jobs.

"It's kind of scary now that I'm out of school and going into such a bad job market with the economy so bad,” Millar said.

But Millar hopes she'll have a relatively easy road to the next big steps in her life.

"Anything will probably work and then graduate school in a year or two,” Millar said.

Graduate school also is the plan for Krein, who hopes to be a high school history teacher.  But the current budget crisis many school districts face poses another threat to her dreams.

"They're laying a lot of teachers off so even getting into a teaching program would mean everything,” Krein said.

Ceniceros said optimism about finding a job is key. "The university has a lot of programs that will help you out, so I'm not really worried about it,” he said.