Self said back, “Katie, you are here because you are scared. You are scared to move to Boston. You are scared to begin the new chapter.” I immediately replied to Self, “That’s bullshit. I am ready to move on. I am ready to start my life. You don’t know what I want.” Wait, this is my self, she knows me.
I apologized to myself and thought about what she said. Maybe I am scared. Maybe I am not prepared to start this new chapter. Sure I want to move to Boston. Is that the best idea right now? Sure I am ready to make new friends and begin a new life, but am I ready to leave all this behind once again? I thought I was and I think I am, but when I think hard about it, I come close to crapping my pants. I do not know what it is that is making me scared. I guess it’s the unknown, the fact that I don’t have a job, and the fact that I don’t know anyone.
“Oh Self, help me out here. What am I supposed to do?” Self replied, “Get your ass out of here. Go to Boston and start anew. Augustana wrote that song about you. You are supposed to be there. Boston and you are supposed to be together.”
I told Self, “Of course. So Boston is the place for me? Boston is the place I will find a job? Alright, Self, I will go and I will love and I will be happy and accomplished. Alright Self, I will leave in a couple weeks…”
I graduated from the University of South Carolina in May of this year. With a degree in Public Relations, I moved to Boston thinking there would be a better job market. Then all went to hell with this recent economic disaster and I am thinking I may have been better free-loading off my parents for a little while longer. However, I am in an ideal situation. I am living with my sister (for free, except for the occasional babysitting service, which I don't mind in the least bit) and I recently returned to my serving job I had last summer at a local restaurant. Serving food to people, however, is not what I want to be doing for the rest of my life (even though I do enjoy it. At times).
So, I am started this blog because one day I was searching for blogs by recent college graduates, and well there weren't too many. This is also in attempt to reach out to those of you who may be in the same position as me. Jobless, searching, and feeling overwhelmed. I hope this will help others and I hope others can help me.
I never thought I would be in this position. Throughout college, I did everything the way my advisors, teachers and mentors told me to. I was involved in a number of organizations and groups on campus. I completed three solid internships that I thought were the ticket to getting a great job. I loved my internships! The people I worked for were awesome and I knew this was what I wanted to do. Now that I am searching for a job, I have realized that maybe I didn't do enough. I didn't meet as many people as I should have. Maybe I was too lazy.
Through many informational interviews, I realized this is the way that I am going to find a job. I've always heard it but never really believed the saying, but it truly is all about who you know. Of course you have to be qualified, but if you have someone that can help you get your foot in the door, it's a huge help. Through these interviews, I have been encouraged to keep up the search and to bear with the economy right now. Many times I have heard, "it is very unfortunate that you are looking for a job at this time, but I promise the job will come." I realize it will, however, when I am the one in the situation, it is a little different.
I look forward to posting more about my adventures of looking for a job, which is a job in and of itself.
