Where the jobs at?
When my college graduation was looming back in May, I heard the opposite of what I expected after four years of dedication and hard work. From professors to parents, everyone was saying how sorry they felt for me and all my fellow grads.
How could this be? Aren’t recent college grads supposed to be welcomed into the “real world” with open arms and job opportunities around every corner?
Not so much. The reality we entered was dark and uncertain.
But, I am one of the lucky ones.
After applying to close to 30 jobs by May and having several “we just can’t hire right now” conversations, I finally got my shot with the largest PR and advertising firm in South Texas — KGBTexas.
As I got prepared for my starring role in the working world, I realized how familiar this change seemed. I remembered my first day of school, feeling the butterflies as I picked out the exact perfect outfit (pink OshKosh B’Gosh overalls and Keds with lace trimmed socks, naturally), posing reluctantly for the barrage of pictures my mother insisted on taking of my brother and me and heading out into the scary world of elementary school.
I felt the same nerves when I made my way up through junior high, high school and into college. The most recent change in my life course was no different. I was just as anxious pouring my coffee that morning as I was trying to make sure the seam of my socks was positioned just perfectly on top of my toes.
And much like all those other adjustments, by the time I made it though the doors, I knew I was going to be just fine.
My first day as a working woman was a whirlwind. I was introduced to dozens of people, all so warm and welcoming, and even sat in on my first staff meeting where I slowly began to realize that I wasn’t in college anymore.
The rest of my day felt unreal. I have had part times jobs before and internships in high school and college, but those all had ending dates. This was different; it was open ended and unpredictable, and most of all, it was exciting.
The uncertainty change can bring us can be scary. When the safety net is suddenly swiped out from underneath, it is easy to start worrying only about falling, when in reality, the most important thing to worry about is getting to the other side. If we are constantly looking down, how can we see where we are going?
(Photo from Dan Rybicky’s Flikr stream)
