Sometimes
10/24/2013
We tell our kids . . . You can do anything you want!
And we mean it. We really do. Because we see The Potential and we know about Chasing Your Dreams and we trust that there will be Really Great Things Ahead for them.
But sometimes . . . reality bites. They graduate with a neat and tidy degree, all wrapped up and ready to take on the world. Sometimes, they even get an even neater and tidier Masters degree, even more determined to take on the world.
Sometimes . . . there are bumps in the road.
Sometimes . . . you have to work at Rite Aid so you can pay the rent.
Sometimes . . . you take an unpaid internship - for the experience - and discover there is no desk for you. And you have to bring your own laptop. And you have no access to the organization's network. Or even the internet. And you also don't even have an outlet to plug your laptop into electricity. And there really is no direction.
Sometimes . . . you are one-of-two-finalists for position . . . after position. . . after position. Losing out each time . . . to Experience.
Sometimes . . . you go on an endless stream of seemingly-pointless informational interviews.
It really is a tough world for our kids these days - in terms of getting a job. A real job. A challenging, career-focused, full-time job WITH benefits. It takes a lot of work . . . to find work. It's discouraging and disheartening and humbling. And extremely frustrating!
But sometimes . . . the hard work and the time and the hustling pay off. And the Most Perfect Job just kind of lands in your lap. Right when you were at the End of Your Rope.
So, Erin. As you start your new, career-track job today (full-time, WITH benefits!), remember that you CAN do anything you want. Sometimes it just takes a lot of soul-searching, the ability to dig deep, and the hustle to keep trying to make it happen.
Congratulations, Ms. Editorial Assistant.
Welcome to the world of 9-5!