Surprises in the Job Search

On a college campus in May, discussing graduation with a senior is like discussing weather with a senior citizen.Even though I feel my conversations these past few months are like a song on repeat, I can't be mad. Last year, I was asking the graduating seniors the same thing. Plus, when I see an acquaintance on campus, I fall back to these go-to conversation topics as well.

As the days until graduation quickly approach, there are two questions that I am asked repeatedly throughout a given day:

1. So...are you ready for graduation?
2. What are your plans?

The first question is usually asked expectantly, with a subtle smile sweeping across the inquisitor's face. The latter is often more hesitant, as if my questioner is somewhat nervous to ask. While my response to each question usually varies, depending on my audience, my stress level and my mood, it can be boiled down to some basic statements.

When asked if I am ready for graduation my response is simple: yes and no. Yes, I am excited about all the opportunities that lie ahead of me. There is something thrilling and at the same time nerve-wracking about not knowing where you will be in one month. Despite the economy, I know my options are limitless, and am confident that I will find a great job. It just may not be tomorrow. No, I am not excited at all about saying goodbye to my friends and college life in general. We have it great here and I will miss the unique community of a college town. Where else can you walk into a bar and know 60% of the people there?

And as for my plans...I usually shrug my shoulders, grin slyly and explain...I have no idea. Applying for a job is a full time job, and right now I can't make that type of commitment. School is my full time job. Plus I have extracurricular commitments that I can't leave hanging. I took a vow a while ago not to be the senior that skeets out on everything her final semester. Right now, I have a few job applications out there, and once I wrap up school, I am going to hit the ground running. Watch out employers, because in two and a half weeks I will be knocking down your door.

Sure there are lots of graduating seniors that have jobs, but a lot don't. I'm gonna go out there on a limb and say that many of those without jobs feel the same way I do. Give us time. Let us wrap one thing up so we can fully dedicate ourselves to the hunt.

Now if you see me or other graduating seniors on campus, you don't need to ask us about May. Lets talk about something different, like the latest good book you read.

Wait, don't go so fast

Not to get too sappy, but I can't really think of a better song to describe this moment in my life than Chantal Kreviazuk's "Time."

A little taste of the lyrics:

Time, where did you go?
Why did you leave me here alone?
Wait, don't go so fast
I'm missing the moments as they pass

Sprinting a Marathon

I often find myself using the phrase, "It's not a sprint, it's a marathon," to describe school work, college and life in general. But, for the next two weeks, that phrase doesn't really capture school work, college or my life in general.

I have a marathon ahead of me, but not enough time to run it the proper way: strong and steady. Basically, I have to sprint a marathon. The problem with sprinting is that it means I will hurt my body (think less than 5 hours of sleep for 2 weeks straight) and probably not run my best (think less-than-stellar work and bad grades).

Although I do admit, I only have myself to blame for this sprint. Living in the moment is great, but because I didn't plan ahead, everything is landing on my plate at once. For now, the job search has to be pushed to the back burner as I try pass my classes and make it to graduation.

I'm pretty sure everyone has sprinted a few marathons in their day. Have you?

Ay, ¡Díos Mío! ¡Mis clases españoles!

Last night, or perhaps more accurately this morning, as a stared blankly at my computer screen, I cursed the day I ever decided to double major in Journalism and Spanish. As I worked on my first of three 6+ page Spanish papers due before I graduate, I was fuming. Why did I decide to do this? It wasn't like I had to do it to graduate. I could have coasted through school, only taking 12 hours each semester starting my junior year. Then I stopped myself.

I decided to double major in Spanish because I love it! In theory, I enjoy speaking in Spanish (constantly and much to the annoyance of my friends and family) and wanted to improve my language skills. PLUS, how baller would it be to be fluent in a foreign language? After spending summer 2008 in Spain, I was ready to drop of college and live there forever. So, at the beginning, majoring in Spanish seemed like a great idea.

Now, in the middle, I hate it. Well, I don't hate Spanish, I just hate all the work. But, I have to remind myself that all that work is going to be worth it. Based on my past experiences, in the end, I am fairly certain that I will be happy I decided to do it. After thinking about this some more I realized, this has a been a constant theme throughout my life.

I look back at my high school swimming experience and see the same pattern. I was ready to be part of a team, exhausted and frustrated in the middle of it (being in the pool two times a day for almost eight hours will take it out of you), and cried when swim season was over. At the risk of sounding cliché, being a part of my high school swim team has made me a stronger, better person. To this day, no matter how exhausted I am, I remember my days in the pool and know that I can make it through anything.

I think that this is more than something that just happens to me, it is a universal pattern in life. With anything that requires extra time and effort, we are excited to start, frustrated in the middle, and exhilarated by the end. As I prepare to graduate, I wonder when I will face this pattern again. Up to this point, there has always been a definite end in sight. Now, an entire future lies ahead of me.

Have you seen this pattern in your life?

What about Cuba?

Last Wednesday afternoon, I called my mom for our daily chat on my walk home from class. Usually, this conversation consists of updates, questions and generally friendly conversation. Today was different.

After our regular salutations, I dove straight into the purpose of my call. "Why didn't you ever tell me about Cuba?" I asked in a slightly heated tone. She, like any normal person, responded, "What are you talking about?"

Without a pause, I continued, "The Balseros, the Marielitos, all the people who died trying to get to America." With other end of the line silent, I began to explain my current distress.

As I was working on a presentation for my Teatro Cubano (Cuban Theater) Spanish class, I was stunned to find that in 1994 thousands died trying to get to America. No one told me! This shock was the culmination of a semester of confusion and frustration academically. Cuba is America's closest island neighbor, but my generation knows nothing about it. We received a spotty, one-sided perspective of the revolution that was skewed by an anti-communist sentiment.

With Cuban relations back in the media spotlight, I have begun to realize I don't know know enough about the country to form any type of educated opinion. This got me to thinking, what else did I miss throughout my 16 year education?

After 12 years in the Johnson County, KS public school system and 4 years at the University of Missouri, I had never really questioned the quality of my education. In fact, I would venture to say that I have received a better education than 95% of Americans and 99.99% of the world.

BUT...I haven't learned everything I needed to. Blue Valley and Mizzou aren't to blame, though. I blame inherent flaws in our education system. We aren't taught recent history. Sure, I know that Bill Clinton ran against Bob Dole sometime in the 90s (I lived in Kansas, remember), but that is about it. My education about US history stopped at around 1980. Plus, even if I had been taught recent US History, I'm not sure I would have gotten the whole story.

What is "The Final 30 days"

In 30 days, I will officially become an alumni of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Journalism in the Media Convergence sequence, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Minor in Business. While some people feel that college graduation means they are finally "Home Free," I fear that for me it will mean that I am "Without a Home."

Over the past four years at Mizzou, I have made lifelong friends (and quite a few future bridesmaids), developed a love for learning and grown as a leader and individual. While I am excited about the unknown that lies ahead, I am also nervous to leave the home I have made here in Columbia.

There is no doubt in my mind the next 30 days will be an emotional roller coaster. This blog is an opportunity for me to further develop my voice as a writer and shine light onto the struggles and excitement that graduating seniors face this May. Follow me as I search for a job, wrap up my college education and say goodbye to my current home.