Well it has almost been two full months since I graduated and I’m at square one with the job search after numerous (I’m talking over 70) applications, 6 interviews, and lots of stressing. I’m frustrated to say the least. You know what is most frustrating? Hearing that I need experience over and over or that I even though I have an excellent background, they gave the position to someone who had more experience than I have. It’s more frustrating than I ever imagined.
Granted, I knew that this wasn’t going to be easy. I never thought that I would be handed a position, and that’s not the way I would want to get a job. The most frustrating thing, though, is this whole experience thing. How am I supposed to gain it if you won’t give me a chance to do so? I’m excited to be a school counselor, soooo excited, and I can’t even get a chance to prove that I would be an asset to a school. I had great training at PSU and at my internship, but I can’t show anyone that.
Maybe I’m jumping the gun, and there is a position still out there waiting for me in a school. I definitely have not given up hope, because that’s not my style, I’m just saying it is getting harder to stay positive even though I’m not giving that up that easily! I know that there is a plan for me, even if it is not what I have imagined because they life is what happens when we are busy making plans, right? Right. No need to panic yet, I do have back-ups should I have to engage those, lol. I’m just hoping that something shapes up in these next few weeks.
Getting the perfect job is still in my future I believe, and I know that the big guy upstairs is probably sick of hearing me complain, but I have faith that he has it planned out for me and it’s going to work out. Who knows, maybe I’m meant to get started in a different position to gain that experience before a job in Pittsburgh opens up!
I also know that I’m not alone in this frustration. I was at one of my cohort member’s weddings recently and we all toasted to unemployment. What a toast, but it’s so true right now. Panic isn’t quite setting in yet with us, but it is definitely getting close. I’m not going to lie and say that everyday has been peachy keen in this search, but I have to remind myself that no one said it was going to be easy. I’m not an engineer, lol, and I know I could never been one, so I can’t be picky. Also, maybe this is my sign to go back to get my doctorate sooner than I thought. I do love academia, and it would be perfect to be out and just go back. That’s also something to consider for sure.
Otherwise, I’m enjoying this summer. I’m staying in my apartment and working part time to enjoy what time I do have left in State College with some of my best friends. It’s hard to believe that it has been two years that I’ve been here. I still can’t believe that, and it is hard to fathom that time flies like it does. I used to leave here almost every weekend because of my busy schedule and just to get out of this town, but now I’m the opposite. It’s weird how things change, and State College definitely has a special place in my heart. I’ve gained a lot of great friends here, and I’ve had some great times with friends that I knew before I lived in State.
Another saying goes that you shouldn’t cry because it’s over, but smile because it happened. That’s definitely how I’m going to feel about leaving State. I can’t wait to get started on my journey of whatever it may be post-grad school life. The future can be a little scary, and this one is for sure scary considering I don’t have any leads, but I’m still up for whatever! I’m keeping the faith, and I’m relying on my hard work and dedication to land a position that is right for me. 🙂