Life After College: And The Growing Up Begins

May 26, 2009     Posted in Reality

growth chartI’ve grown up a lot in the past week. How could I not with all the positive encouragement from the commenters last week? I got up off the couch, got a pants suit, and got a job with benefits. Well I got off the couch… and that’s a start.


By Jenni

This past week I went to a BBQ at one of my few (I’m talking 1.5) remaining high school friend’s houses. I don’t know why the adults there think that the best side dish to ribs is asking me about my future. I had cole slaw hanging out of my mouth half the time as I explained that, yes, I was doing an internship; no, it was not paid in any amount that can support me; no, there are no health benefits; no, they are not hiring at the end of the summer; yes, that’s definitely potato salad hanging in my hair (the most asked question of the day).

I’m about ready to start making flashcards with my plans to hand out to people rather than spend four hours attempting to justify why I thought it was a good idea to get an internship instead of a job after graduation. Apparently some people don’t keep up with the news and are unaware that most of the class of ’09 did not graduate with job offers.

I’m pretty sure I  sound angry. But I’m pretty sure that anger is one of the stages in the grieving process. Last week was denial and I think next week is hunger…but I’m no doctor, so I can’t verify that.

But I am starting to slowly move on. And, like I said before, I’m practically a functioning adult now. I’ve taken a liking to cottage cheese and I think that habit places me around 75 years old. I guess it’s one new grown-up habit a week from now on. Who knows what I’ll pick up this week. Maybe learning how to file taxes? Or perhaps how to shop at Chico’s?

It’s all up in the air for right now.

2 Comments on "Life After College: And The Growing Up Begins"

  1. Mary says:
    Tue, 26th May 200910:18 am 

    OMG!!! Jenni, it's gonna be ok!!

    I understand ur pain, I really do. I actually am in fear of graduation so I'm taking a 6 month break before my final three classes — It's only for my asst's, but I'm clinically frightened to move on to my bach — only one more step to full graduation and no prospects..

    Wait I'm not sounding very encouraging, am I? Ok, honestly take a lil time for fun when you can, and while you are busy working on your internship network, network, network!! Use you newfound adult skills to suck up to the ppl who matter, who know other ppl, and use this time to develop your social skills in the cut throat world. I'm not sure what major you finished with, or what industry — but you're going to be just fine.

    Next time someone pesters you, just be like Well, I'm working on improving my personal skill set so that when I am ready to enter my career, I'll have 5 steps ahead on the competition. Finances? Oh, I didn't know my income was a requirement for this conversation — so, did you see that game/show/political scandal?? ((ppl ought to get the hint))

    Ok so I realize I went on a tangent, but if you got through this I hope I was able to give ya some sisterly love and advice that you can use.

    This too shall pass, Man!!

    Peace : )

  2. Erin says:
    Tue, 26th May 20092:12 pm 

    I remember that time after college….so painful to explain my plans over and over to people. My mother never understood why it pissed me off to keep telling people the same thing over to people and the fact that most of them never went to college or understood my degree didn't help. But it will get better. Like Mary said change the conversation when the questions become too much. Or nicely explain that your tired of talking about it and maybe you'll talk to them again about it later when your feeling up to it. I promise things will get better it took me 2 months to get a store doing Gift wrap at a department store, that was quite a downgrade from trying to get jobs at a Gallery or Window Dressing. I'm where i want to be at the moment I'm sure in a couple months or even years you'll be there too.

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