Into the Wild...Let the Hunt Begin #20

Life threw perhaps the most unexpected curveball at me two days before graduation: a death in my family. It has been very difficult to say the least and has really affected a lot in the past two weeks. I found out after I left my office on my last day of work in my assistantship, as if that day wasn't hard enough already. Of course I was unable to attend my graduation, which was honestly one of the hardest things for me to think about. I was so looking forward to pictures with my friends, classmates, professors, and family. It is hard to be in this state right now---juggling the "congratulations" from family members and friends at the same time they are giving me their sympathies.

However, I do not want this post to be about my grieving. I wanted to share my thoughts on how something like this has affected the job world. When I selected this job opportunity, I was pleased to be close to home, even though at first it may have not felt as adventurous. But things happen for a reason. I truly believe that this job is what I needed, even though I may not have known at the time, "fate" or whatever entity you want to believe in, guided me to this job because it was right for me and for some reason, I knew I needed to be close to home. This incident certainly makes me feel so relieved for not only having a job in the first place, but for having a job that is not a plane ride away from my family.

In addition, when I told my new supervisor about this, she was more understanding than I imagined. I was supposed to start on June 1st. Given the circumstances, I knew I wouldn't be ready to get up and leave so soon (not only considering my emotional state, but also the practicality of moving into a new apartment). I asked for a short delay and she told me to just contact her when I am ready and not to worry about anything. I am very grateful for their flexibility. It shows they really care about their employees.

I will have more to report next week, at which point I will be in my new home and preparing to start my new job. But to all of you who have graduated by now: congratulations. We have made a huge accomplishment.

Real World: Job Search #17

In-Between

There really isn’t much to report lately. I have graduated and am now a Master of Education. Yay! I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t a relief to know, as I walked across the stage, that I had a job waiting for me. I’ve started making arrangements for the imminent move to a new state, new city, and new job: figuring out how to switch my license over, how to change my residency, etc. I’ve also been spending time learning more about the area in which I’ll be living: where to shop, where I could meet people, where to go to have some fun.

Between the preparation, research, and spending time with family and friends, I’ve been keeping busy. I’m looking forward to some time spent traveling—but I know that July (and my first day of my new job) will soon be here!

There are still a lot of friends and colleagues who have not yet found that perfect job…keep looking. Keep your hopes up; it’s somewhere out there. There are still positions opening up daily. I wish you all the best of luck and much success in the rest of your job search.

Into the Wild...Let the Hunt Begin #19

Counting Down the Days.

So in exactly one week I will be walking across the university's stage in my cap and gown and donning my new masters hood. I am very excited. Everything is coming to an end so quickly that it is really hard for me to fully grasp this concept of completing graduate school. I will be 25 year old with a master of science degree. Looking back just three years ago when I was graduating with my bachelors, I did not imagine my life would turn out like this, but I am so grateful to have chosen this path.

I found my fit and I am excited to see what my first job in the field of student affairs will bring. I have changed so much during this program both professionally and personally, and I can honestly say that my life would not be as so rewarding as it is now if I had not made the choice to change my career from media to higher education. I feel like I have chosen a path that I am truly passionate about. Having passion to do what you do day in and day out is so important and I realize that as I am about to enter this new career.

One week from now I will be writing in this blog with my masters degree officially conferred. One week from now I will no longer be a graduate student. One week from now I will be a new professional. One week from now a new chapter in my life begins. (One week from now I will have to drop the subtitle of my blog: "Let the Hunt Begin")

Into the Wild...Let the Hunt Begin #18

Reality of Ending Graduate School Part II: Finding a New Home.

I think I mentioned that I spent last weekend looking at apartments for when I move in (less than) three weeks. I thought I found a place that was perfect for me. Three days after I see the place and I am under the impression I have secured a new home, I get a call from the realtor telling me the owner backed out and is not putting this particular room up for rent anymore. COME ON! I was so happy and relaxed because I thought all I had to do for the next two weeks was focus on finishing up graduate school and participating in graduation. Now I have to start from square one and line up new places to look at and make another trip down to the area. The drive itself is about 3.5 hours away. Not what you would call "close." Also, the routes to get to the place, of course, are perhaps the most notorious highways in all of the northeast. You may say, "Quit exaggerating! You're so dramatic!" Well, you sit in my driver's seat for those 3.5 hours during rush hour and maybe you'll change that tune.

So I made a second trip to visit places and this time went much smoother than the first. Maybe because I'm getting used to driving around the area so I was less stressed. Each place I saw I knew I could live in, it was just a matter of comparing what was better. I have to take into consideration the cost, commute, amenities, and space. After weighing all the pros and cons, I have decided to suck up a little bit of a longer commute than what I'm used to currently a more open floor plan and separate living areas (not a studio). For graduate school, my commute is literally 10 minutes. This new place that I'm going to try and secure is going to be about 15 minutes without traffic, and probably 25-30 minutes during rush hour. It might not sound like that big of a deal, but with bad city traffic, apparently it can get frustrating.

I'm excited though I don't want to get my hopes up. If this place works out, I'm just minutes away from a beautiful state park, shopping, grocery stores, banks, and the train station. It's a really nice location, just like my original choice from last week. I'm the type of person that moves to a new place and really likes to settle in. I don't like to move around a lot. I prefer to dig in my roots. For example, in graduate schools, I stayed in the same house share for all two years. I just like to get comfortable and make the strange familiar.

It's going to feel very real that I am starting this new chapter in my life when I move into my new place. Just please cross your fingers for me that this one will work out and I will not have to make another trip to view other apartments. I love craigslist.org but honestly, my eyes may pop out if I have to sort through more apartment listings!

Into the Wild...Let the Hunt Begin #17

Reality of Ending Graduate School Part I: Leaving the Ones You Need.

Sorry for the late post, folks. This past week has been very busy and full of some happy and sad moments. I wrapped up my year-long internship on Friday. While the internship was frustrating at times and I may have thought to myself that I was being underutilized, it wasn't until I had to start packing up my office and had time to reflect that I realized how very meaningful the experience was and how much I truly learned.

I always told my classmates, colleagues, and professors that the best thing about my internship experience were the people. I have never worked with such an amazing team before in my time in student affairs. These extraordinary women come from all walks of life with a wonderful understanding of social justice and they have backgrounds and life experiences that are so valuable in this field. I really cannot express how much I have learned from them just through our daily conversations. It's funny how sometimes the most valuable experiences are what appear to be the most mundane (conversations that do not relate to work projects). If anything, these amazing women reinforced my passion to continue my own education as I develop as an advocate for social justice.

Leaving these women, who truly understand what it means to encounter a microagression, for example, and have such skill when working to educate students on the importance of diversity, was bittersweet. On one hand, I was happy to have more free time during my weeks to focus on my capstone assignments and wrap up graduate school. On the other hand, it made me nervous about my future. Will I be so lucky to find such allies in my job? It was so comforting to have these women to talk to and not have to worry about being viewed as "oversensitive" when discussing the -isms in our society and on our campuses. I suppose I took it all for granted. Now that I am leaving, I am nervous I will not be able to have those candid conversations with other colleagues in my new job. If that is the case, how do I find such people? How does a new professional seek allies?

My internship supervisor heard my concern and suggested to 1) keep in touch with all of them whenever I needed to talk, and 2) to look for organizations or groups on campus at my new job. There may be a group of faculty/staff whose focus revolves around diversity or the school may have a intercultural center, become involved in their efforts. I will never forget these women and hope to keep our relationships growing to ultimately develop into mentor relationships. I really think I will need their support wherever I go in this field over the years.

In addition to leaving my internship, I also made a trip to my future home in order to go apartment hunting. It was quite an experience. After a full day of driving from town-to-town, looking at closets, kitchens, bedrooms, discussing prices, utilities, areas, safety... oh gosh, I felt like I was buying a home! I was extremely excited about one option though. When I pulled into the neighborhood, it just felt like home. As you may recall, I'm moving to a city-like area, which is not really the type of person I am. But this one place was like an oasis in the middle of the city. It was close to everything: the school, the mall, the upscale downtown scene, the park...everything! It was quiet and peaceful and removed from the chaos of highways, parkways, turnpikes, and multi-lane roads. I am up against one other person for the place, so please keep your fingers crossed for me.

I graduate in 20 days and start my job in 30 days. I just hope this place will be my new "home" otherwise, my next post may be me freaking out about more apartment hunting trips.

Real World: Job Search #16

The Hardest Parts…

The semester is winding down. It’s May. Graduation is right around the corner. So is moving. So is leaving. I’ve never been really excited about change. I suppose I cope with it well enough; if I can envision the changes, it usually helps. But it’s not something that is terribly enthusing. The problem is that there are some many intangibles—so many uncertainties—right now and I can’t picture the future. So to have to deal with a whole bunch of changes at once—this is going to be overwhelming.

As I’m sitting in the apartment where I’ve lived for the last two years, surrounded by boxes, my walls bare for the first time since I’ve moved in, preparing for the big move—it hits me: I’m not READY for the big move. I like this apartment. It’s home. Even the blue carpet and the green tile. It’s tacky, but it’s comfortable and familiar. I don’t know where I’m living yet, what my new apartment will look like, or how I’m going to decorate the space. The uncertainty is causing mild anxiety.

But it’s the thought of leaving behind the people that leaves me absolutely breathless, on the verge of tears every time I think about it. I’m so excited about my new job, and I absolutely cannot wait to start it—but if I could take everyone with me to my new job, well, I’d just be the happiest girl in the world. My students are absolutely amazing and I’m so thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to work with such a phenomenal, motivated, and dedicated group of students. Many of them have broken through the barrier of the advisor-adivsee relationship and have become my friend. Some of them will be graduating with me, but I will leave others behind. It’s times like these that you hope the lessons you’ve taught make a difference.

The thing about friends, though, is that if you find a really great group of people, they become your family away from home. There’s a quote I found that just so perfectly sums up the friendships I’ve made:

“Your college friends become a kind of family. You eat together, go to games, laugh fight, cry, and do absolutely nothing together—until you can’t seem to remember how you ever lived your life without them in the first place.” These are the relationships I will treasure. I don’t know what I would have done with out them—and I don’t know what I’m going to do without them right there when I need them.

And now that I’ve become way too emotional, it’s time for me to get back to studying. Just a few finals and a paper to go before I get that diploma. It’s going to be so bittersweet.