Being a Busy Bee

Cute AND capable of helping you sort out your life. That's legit.

I can't believe it -- but I have actually been busy recently. I know, I know. Pick your jaw up from the floor and continue reading, if you can push past the awe and amazement. It's true. My days are no longer consumed by boredom, endless internet job searches and chit-chatting with my dog. Instead, I have been spending most of my time at the mall in my new sales associate position and in between shifts, eating, sleeping and catching up on my reality TV.

I feel like I'm old me again. I bought a really cute planner from Lilly Pulitzer and for a while, I worried that the only thing I'd be able to write in it was "go to gym," "take dog for walk," or even worse, "remember to change out of pajamas in the morning." Lately, my planner has been filled with my work schedule, my impending vacation days (going to Puerto Rico next week!), seeing the Hunger Games, a second interview for t hat manuscript assistant position and a day of learning how to blog bettah with other Boston bloggers (more on that in a later post, I promise).

While in school, so much of my identity was tied to the fact that I was a student pursuing a particular degree, but now that I am out of school, I am trying to figure out how exactly to identify myself now. I can't cling onto my intended major or even my student status in my post-graduate heydey. Instead, between my newfound busy schedule, I'm constantly re-evaluating what it is I want, like and am. Generally, that is a bit overwhelming, and even more so when doing all of that heavy thinking in the midst of an ever-changing schedule. I have so many things happening at once -- a new job, interview for another job, maintaining somewhat of a social life -- that even putting it into my new planner doesn't necessarily mitigate the stress.

One of said busy weeks filled with lots to do... Ask me if I did everything I had set out to do...

For now, I'm trying to take things one day at a time. My job search is certainly not at its end. I have big plans ahead -- grad school and, improving my blog (for all of my lovely readers, of course) to name a few -- and I want to make sure I'm in an advantageous position to get where I want to be. Being busy is great, but only when keeping my eye on the prize... which is still yet to be entirely determined.

You can tell when I actually started getting busy/got the planner...

Let's Go to the Mall

It's official, folks. I have a job -- albeit, a part-time job at the mall working as a sales associate -- but a job with an actual paycheck nevertheless. Cue Robin Sparkles' above hot single "Let's Go to the Mall" from one of my favorite TV shows "How I Met Your Mother."  (I've watched a lot of TV these past few months of unemployment.)

Of course, this new gig isn't necessarily ideal. When you graduate from college with your Bachelors degree, you're expecting something more in-line with your career goals. And while I certainly love shopping and clothes, I didn't think I'd be back in retail after 3.5 years of a college education. Now, I'm certainly not trying to imply that working in retail isn't a good job -- it is -- but I have career goals that lie outside of the mall. However, while I'm trying to figure out exactly which career path to take and whether or not grad school is definitely on the horizon, I want to work. Maybe it's not exactly what I was looking for as a recent grad, but I'm certainly ready to do something aside from my usual routine of walking the dog, going to the gym and doing chores around the house.

In the meantime, my job search continues. I'm supposed to have a second interview for that manuscript assistant position I mentioned in an earlier post, and I'm still trying to look into new opportunities. As for grad school, the thought, at this point, overwhelms me. Sadly, it's the financing of grad school that has me more hesitant than ever, even though I miss the classroom. That is a decision I will definitely be mulling over as the impending deposit deadline looms over me. Like I've said before, I'm in the era of big decisions, but for now, I will be making those in between shifts at the mall.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Where the creative juices flow... or falter...while I wait for change.

Since last week, I have definitely been faced with quite a bit of impending changes. On Saturday, I had an interview for a retail sales associate position at the local mall, and then on Monday, had another interview in Boston for a manuscript assistant position at a medical journal. On top of that, as mentioned in a previous post, I got accepted to another grad school. Clearly, within a few weeks, definitely a few months and even in the next year, things are going to be a lot different and certainly, my daily life will be changing.

With the prospect of grad school on the horizon, I have been viewing my job search in a different way. Primarily, the goal is to save as much money as possible in a short amount of time to prevent grad school from being an overwhelming financial burden. At the same time, ideally, it would be great to find a job that would be in line with my career goals. However, after so much inactivity over the past few months of post-college life, I don't know if I can really afford (pun intended) to wait around for that stepping stone position. Could this be a bad decision in terms of starting my career and gaining more experience? Maybe. But in a day and age where money rules all, I'm at the point where I need to get things moving a little faster so that I can start saving for grad school and become more financially independent.

As much as I love to contemplate these potential changes from the comfort of my own desk, I'm ready for something to do. I've accepted the retail position in the mean time in hopes that I can start saving money for all of the things I'd like to do in the future -- continue my education, travel, perhaps buy a car... But I haven't given up all hope in finding that "stepping stone" position, much like the manuscript assistant position I applied for and am waiting to hear about. Though I realize that I might end up in over my head if I do get offered the manuscript assistant job after having already accepted the retail job, I feel like it's something that I have to do. I have only been waiting for all of these changes to happen, without experiencing any of it. I wake up and do pretty much the same thing every day except maybe in a different sequence, hoping that today will be the day I get offered a job and am set on the path to career enlightenment. That is unlikely to happen. Instead, I am trying to be more pro-active in pursuing change. And if I get caught in that pickle with two jobs? Honestly, I suppose that is not the worst position I could be in at this point. Like I've said before, it's nice to have options and even nicer to finally be receiving a paycheck.