Thursday, August 22, 2013
new & old beginnings
I found an old blog of mine, and though I'd share a post written a year and some months ago. It's amazing how much better things can get over time.
Last June, I graduated with my undergrad in Business Administration, with an emphasis on Hospitality, and a minor in Music. About a month out of college, I was promoted to a management position at my job, at a restaurant and hotel. Lucky, right? Fresh out of school, and straight into a management position "in my field," in the middle of the recession. Everyone congratulated me. I was taken out for drinks. My dad told me how proud he is of me.
I almost turned it down.
I hated my job. But it was okay, I told myself. If I just get in another year at this place, I'll have management experience to put on my resume. It's the practical thing to do, especially considering the economy. Plus, I would gain experience. Never mind that I already knew I wanted to get as far away from hospitality as possible. Never mind that I had planned to quit and travel with my friend on the WWOOF program after summer. I could apply management experience to anything I wanted to do in the future! ...I think. And I could always travel later... right?
Three weeks ago, I put in a month's notice. Do I have another job lined up? Nope. Maybe some interviews at least? No - I'm going to go on some road trips instead. Do people look at me funny when I tell them that? Do they tell me about the job market, and make mental calculations about how spoiled I must be? Have a delightful number of my friends and family decided I am naive, ungrateful, and headed for financial ruin? Yes.
Am I happier and more excited about my life than I have been in the past year and eight months? YES.
I've been pretty good about always doing the practical thing so far in my life. I never spend too much money, and am good at saving. Previously, I quit a job I LOVED in order to have a job that didn't pay me under the table. I majored in business, not music, despite that it was obvious where my heart was. I pay my rent on time. I'm always the designated driver. I look both ways before crossing the damn street.
The most impractical thing I have done yet was to take a quarter off of school and go to west Africa to volunteer and study for four months. And I don't even have to say it - you already know what I'm going to say because it's intuitive - but here it is anyway; it was one of the best experiences of my life.
But what about the economy? How easy do you think it's going to be a job when you get done with your little excursions? Have you ever not had money to eat? I didn't think so. And you're getting paid $12 an hour plus tips? Do you know how lucky you are? Don't quit. Tough it out, it can't be that bad. This economy is terrible. And the economy's really bad. And I have I mentioned the economy? IT'S KINDA SUCKY.
I know I have been lucky. Lucky doesn't even begin to describe it. And I know the economy is dismal. But I don't want to live my life by other people's rules and perceptions. I don't want to live in fear, going through the paces of a soul-draining job when I'm only 24 years old. I'm told life is what you make it. I'm of the opinion that happiness is not something you arrive at one day, but something you must be choosing constantly. I'm young, with no family to support - this is the time for adventures.
I also think fear of the economy is one of the things that are keep people exactly where they are, thus contributing to a lack of flow in the job market, and perpetuating this economy. So, there. I'm doing my part. As I leave, one of my staff members is getting promoted to my job. And someone will be hired in her place.
It's the circle of life, dude!
And so I begin this blog with a journey in front of me. I will chronicle my adventures with travel and job searching, road trips and interviews. My budgeting schemes, and reckless abandon. So far, I just have a handful of small road trips planned, with close friends and even closer destinations. They're what you might call practical.
...
Or maybe I'll go to Thailand. That sounds like fun.
And then I did.
Last June, I graduated with my undergrad in Business Administration, with an emphasis on Hospitality, and a minor in Music. About a month out of college, I was promoted to a management position at my job, at a restaurant and hotel. Lucky, right? Fresh out of school, and straight into a management position "in my field," in the middle of the recession. Everyone congratulated me. I was taken out for drinks. My dad told me how proud he is of me.
I almost turned it down.
I hated my job. But it was okay, I told myself. If I just get in another year at this place, I'll have management experience to put on my resume. It's the practical thing to do, especially considering the economy. Plus, I would gain experience. Never mind that I already knew I wanted to get as far away from hospitality as possible. Never mind that I had planned to quit and travel with my friend on the WWOOF program after summer. I could apply management experience to anything I wanted to do in the future! ...I think. And I could always travel later... right?
Three weeks ago, I put in a month's notice. Do I have another job lined up? Nope. Maybe some interviews at least? No - I'm going to go on some road trips instead. Do people look at me funny when I tell them that? Do they tell me about the job market, and make mental calculations about how spoiled I must be? Have a delightful number of my friends and family decided I am naive, ungrateful, and headed for financial ruin? Yes.
Am I happier and more excited about my life than I have been in the past year and eight months? YES.
I've been pretty good about always doing the practical thing so far in my life. I never spend too much money, and am good at saving. Previously, I quit a job I LOVED in order to have a job that didn't pay me under the table. I majored in business, not music, despite that it was obvious where my heart was. I pay my rent on time. I'm always the designated driver. I look both ways before crossing the damn street.
The most impractical thing I have done yet was to take a quarter off of school and go to west Africa to volunteer and study for four months. And I don't even have to say it - you already know what I'm going to say because it's intuitive - but here it is anyway; it was one of the best experiences of my life.
But what about the economy? How easy do you think it's going to be a job when you get done with your little excursions? Have you ever not had money to eat? I didn't think so. And you're getting paid $12 an hour plus tips? Do you know how lucky you are? Don't quit. Tough it out, it can't be that bad. This economy is terrible. And the economy's really bad. And I have I mentioned the economy? IT'S KINDA SUCKY.
I know I have been lucky. Lucky doesn't even begin to describe it. And I know the economy is dismal. But I don't want to live my life by other people's rules and perceptions. I don't want to live in fear, going through the paces of a soul-draining job when I'm only 24 years old. I'm told life is what you make it. I'm of the opinion that happiness is not something you arrive at one day, but something you must be choosing constantly. I'm young, with no family to support - this is the time for adventures.
I also think fear of the economy is one of the things that are keep people exactly where they are, thus contributing to a lack of flow in the job market, and perpetuating this economy. So, there. I'm doing my part. As I leave, one of my staff members is getting promoted to my job. And someone will be hired in her place.
It's the circle of life, dude!
And so I begin this blog with a journey in front of me. I will chronicle my adventures with travel and job searching, road trips and interviews. My budgeting schemes, and reckless abandon. So far, I just have a handful of small road trips planned, with close friends and even closer destinations. They're what you might call practical.
...
Or maybe I'll go to Thailand. That sounds like fun.
And then I did.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)