Saturday, May 14, 2011

Happy One Year Anniversary


I remember writing cover letters where the topic sentence started with: “As a recent graduate …”

Now they begin with “A year since …” My god do I feel the gap from my youthful freedom getting larger.

The other night I went line dancing at a place in SD called Incahoots. Though I do not know how to line dance for the life of me, they gave us non-line dancers a moment to shine while they played JLo and Rihanna. My Sunday Co partner-in-crime (Lauren Turner) and I literally brought the house down. People stopped to stare, and those few who dared, joined. It was very JGaff and Douglas Baille for those Trinity folk who know what I'm talking about. Sprinklers and running mans everywhere.

I hadn't danced like that since college. It was like I was going through withdrawal from non-fratting and I finally said "Screw it I'm gonna DANCE." It was maybe the most cathartic moments I have had all year.

That being said, here are a few reflections on my one year anniversary since hitting the Real World:

1) Work study is the smart thing to do. Don't wait to pay off all your loans post-graduation. (trust me, I'm learning the hard way. all the money I made in college went to food and fancy beverages)

2) Effort counts for 90% of what you do. Where there is a will, there is a way. No joke.

3) NETWORK. It is, unfortunately and fortunately, depending on how you look at it - the way the job world works. Knowing someone who will put in a good word for you, or knowing someone who knows someone where you want to work is KEY. Do NOT be afraid to NETWORK. People are more than less willing to HELP YOU, as long as you have a good attitude.

4) If you don't know what you're doing post-graduation, it's okay. I still don't know what I'm going to do. But to help you feel focused - write down goals. There are examples in this blog to help you get started. (see posts "Goals" and "How to Find Your Life Aspiration")

5) TRAVEL ABROAD. I did not do this in college, though I did get to live in NY for a junior semester. I do not necessarily regret my decision, (I don't like to use the term "regret" because I don't believe in that philosophy) but I do wish I had done it. I thought it'd be easy for me to do after graduation, but it is harder than I thought.

6) SAVE MONEY. Start this your freshman year of college, if not before. Open an account that you can use post-graduating. Save, save, save. Put 10% of each paycheck from either your college job or summer job. This will come in handy when you need a car, apartment, or travel money after receiving your diploma. I did not do this. I wish I was smarter back then.

7) You are going to feel discouraged. "What?" you ask. I'm being real. You will get rejected from jobs. A lot of people do not land their dream job after college. They become discouraged, thinking they aren't good enough. But guess what. You're not a loser, and you're not alone. You may have 6 jobs before you finally land the perfect one. Hell I've had 6 jobs plus (paid or not) in ONE YEAR.

8) Take classes that have always interested you. I would have never known I was a skilled oil painter. (I took that class out of desperation so I didn't have to be stuck at home 24/7).

9) It is VERY hard to visit your friends once you have a job. Sad Panda

10) Adults, you realize, are not really adults anymore. It doesn't matter if people are 24 or 78 - you realize that age is just a number and personalities defines the character. I have friends who are 48.

11) DANCE

Congratulations to all the wonderful and amazing people who just graduated from their institutions. Welcome to Life Will Work Out.

Love,
Hanako