What I Came Up With

Well after about three months of nothing but dead ends, I was about to pull my hair out.

But instead of pulling my hair out, I decided I would volunteer at the VA hospital my mother works at in the mental health department since my degree is in psychology. I figured if I can't get a job because I lack experience, I could volunteer and get experience in that way, and that I should volunteer in a place that I could use my degree on some level. I would also be able to make contacts and have good references for when I apply for jobs and graduate school.

After going around in circles trying to do the paperwork for becoming a volunteer (it took a really long time and parking at this hospital is atrocious) and finding someone who will take me in under their wing I was ready to go, in the substance dependence treatment program for veterans.

What do I do?

At first I sat in on classes with the veterans so get a feel of how things worked in the program. The veterans would talk to me about their experiences during the wars they were in and the struggles they went through. They also taught me things like how to get high off of Pam and other household cleaners! Which I will never try, and honestly have no interest in, but I found that interesting and it was quite a laugh.

I also do patient reviews, case reviews, random projects they have for me to do, research, literature reviews and even some projects they have dealing with their homeless population (which is a decently large number).

Okay, so I'm a volunteer, what do I do about income? Because I'm not getting paid to drive to the hospital every morning to do all this work, and I don't get an allowance or anything. I had to go and find a part time job that would be flexible with my schedule.

Looking for a needle in a haystack

Getting a job after college is easier said than done.

At first I tried searching on those job search engines like hotjobs and monster only to realize that most the job postings on there were for non-degree jobs >.< Sadly almost everything that I found required previous experience which I did not have because I just graduated college!

How am I supposed to get a job when the jobs I apply for want people who have previous experience but no one will hire me because of my lack of experience so I'll never be able to get any experience or a job T_T. Right?

My other choice would be to go back to school to get my masters. Higher education is always the way right?

So what did I end up doing???

It's time to play!!! -- ??

So once I was finished being a "college student" I decided it was time to play and enjoy myself after all the hard work I put into being a good student. I figured "hey, I'm done now, all I have to do is find a job so might as well enjoy this part of limbo in my life right now".

What did I end up doing?

Well for three months I was unemployed because the place I worked at while in college closed down just as I was finishing up with finals and graduation. Perfect timing huh? So I spent most the time watching movies, shopping, hanging out with my friends/family, eating out, reading books, practicing the piano and doing basically whatever I wanted. I partied almost every single weekend, and was having a blast!

I even decided for a while to record myself playing the piano and post the videos on youtube. That took a lot of time! More time than I thought it would take. But I got good feedback from viewers so that was worth it ^_^

It was really nice while it lasted, and very relaxing. I had no stress, no worries, my life at the time was carefree and wonderful.

How did I have the funds to go on gallavanting for three months?

I was going through the money I earned working at the part time job I had throughout college, and as the months went on I saw how quickly those funds were depleting and didn't like the thought of that. And there was no way I was going to go through my savings!

So towards the end of the three months that I was unemployed I decided it was time to look for a job I went to college for.

You've graduated college, now what??

During your college years you probably thought, "yes! after this I'm through, no more studying, no more sleeping at ungodly hours to finish a paper or cram for an exam, once I graduate I'll get a good job and do anything I want".

The anticipation of graduating gradually increasing as days, weeks, and years pass. The excitement of being independent and off in the world on your own gives you something to look forward to. You work hard to keep up with your grades and still maintain your social life. You spend countless hours studying in the library or working on your research paper, do the extra credit whenever you can, and even participate in extracurricular activities so you're a well-rounded student.

Then the day comes when you put on your cap and gown, walk across the stage and you graduate, ta-da!!!! It's time to celebrate and party it up because you did it!!

And everything changes...

This is about my post-grad life at the present moment, which I'm sure others can relate. Life after college is, at first, one tough reality after another.

Growing Older

This is a poem one of my good friends I grew up with wrote and sent me:

Growing older

Youth and young
plain and simple
having fun
while we're little

elementary fun and games
turns into calling names
lessons learned, hard not easy
getting older makes me queasy

education high school college
the sacrifices we make for knowledge
decisions tear us in all directions
and I'm the one who couldn't make exceptions

seconds minutes hours pass
days weeks months last
not long enough before complication
growing up brings frustration

so how do we grow up now?
b.s. degree, oh yipee
no job, career, or a clue
help me God what do I do?

I never pictured me this way
Living at home for a 5 month stay
I had bigger better plans in store
Please will you just open a door!!!

Friends are scarce and hard to find
it only gets harder with the time
really i feel like I am losing my mind
Shot of tequila with some lime?
No really i just need to unwind
Promise everyone I'm doing fine.

Tired of lying not telling the truth
keeping the secret since my youth
i think you've already figured it out
my heart harbors tons of doubt.

within I'm lost with no where to go
sometimes my thoughts drag me so low
but it's time to forget the past
the future is now so take off the cast

grow up and figure it out
so what if you've lost some clout
stand up get moving
shoulders back start proving
time to see what I'm all about
can you hear me as I shout?