Into the Wild...Let the Hunt Begin #2

The story about how I don't turn away from awkward situations, but instead, make them more awkward.

I think I have hit a low point in my job search (already). I just got back from the gym and from what was indeed a very awkward situation. I walked into the locker room and began gathering my belongings and such, when a older woman, in nothing but a towel, struck up a conversation. This, alone, is an uncomfortable moment for anyone who has been in a public locker room before. You think to yourself, "Is this really the best time for us to act like BFFs, stranger?" But to make matters worse in my situation, the woman was unbelievably sweet and caring! I couldn't just stop talking to her or ignore her! She was somebody's grandmother and she even reminded me of my grandmother. Maybe that resemblance was her own downfall, because as she stood in front of me in a towel that was arguably too small, I found myself pouring my heart out to her about my ups and downs with my job search. Yes. I just made this situation more awkward. Turning what was most likely a friendly, awkward conversation into a friendly, awkward therapy session with a complete (naked) stranger!

The conversation progressed quickly. It started normal enough. The exchange of pleasantries. The "Where are you from?" and "What do you do?" The "College Student Personnel, what is that?" The "Do you want to be a principal?" (You wouldn't believe how many times I have been asked that!) The "What do you want to do after you graduate?" BINGO. The magic question. Attention, locker room occupants, the can of worms has just been opened. Please exit immediately if you wish to be spared any spectator-embarrassment.

I gushed. The dream job description, the current search I have undergone, the places I am looking--nationwide. After all these weeks, I was so caught up in all of my overwhelming emotions about the job search that I never realized how much I just needed to vent to someone! It's tough going through this alone. The search itself can bring up so many insecurities. I am a very introverted person (we'll talk more about how that works in a field like student affairs another time, yeah?) and so I don't like to share my vulnerabilities or insecurities much. But I guess when there is an older, kind woman standing in front of you in a towel in a locker room...carpe diem, right?

It's nice to vent to a stranger. If they judge you or think you're crazy, what do you care? I might never see this kind woman again. Once the floodgates were open, I hardly even noticed that she dropped her towel and changed right in front of me, mid-conversation, still mmhmm-ing and really?-ing all the while. I wish I were making this up. I mean, talk about awkward! But I didn't care. She was an angel, this woman. Sent to save me from bottling up my emotions and thoughts and boy did that take a weight off of my shoulder!

So what do you think? Is this a new low in the history of job hunt stories? Maybe not, but oh I bet I will get there at some point. I have comps coming up in two weeks, so let's break out a little math, shall we?

Comps + job hunt + cover letters/resume tweaking/applications + assistantship + internship + capstone research + classes + life = ..... I'm sorry, I think I just had a mental breakdown. Check back with me next week.