So I am about to grow up, like the real, actual here, grow up. Yeah, yeah, I have been saying for years and hearing other people comment on my maturity and basic “grown-up-ness”. But, here is the thing – I really am not. Even though I know how to create a budget and pay the bills and clean the bathroom, that does not mean I am a ‘grown up’. The real transition, and perhaps I should change this title to graduating, but I think becoming a grown up happens when you finally leave school and get a full time job.
What a rite of passage! So my life, to this point has been, finish pre-school, start elementary school, finish that and start middle school, finish that and start high school, finish that and start undergrad, finish that and start grad school, finish that and…..oh boy…..gulp……double gulp…..what?
This is what I am having a hard time with, and frankly a TON of anxiety. There is no clear next step. Yes, I realize that the next step is get a full time job with benefits and a retirement package, so thanks for pointing out the obvious – but what I mean is, what job? Or better yet, not just what job, but what’s the right job?
When picking out colleges, I was not very picky, basically you are going to school to learn and get that diploma. I think there are some fields where it really matters what school you attended, but for social work (my chosen field) as long as you go to an accredited college, I don’t really think it matters too much. So that wasn’t so bad, I picked the colleges that were convenient.
My first ‘grown-up’ job however, I want to be selective, but not too selective as we are still in a recession….so how does this work? I am young, only 22, and am going to have my Masters in a few short months (by then I will be 23) and I don’t recall taking any class or seminar that explained how to look for a job and know that it is a good job and even more importantly that it is a job that will help get you to where you want to go.
I know what I want to do for my career, at least I think I do, but that is like 10-15 years down the road, after I have experience and more practical knowledge. What I have no clue about is where to get that experience and practical knowledge. I can think a job posting sounds interesting and I bring some skills to the table while there are still areas for me to learn and grow, but is that job going to get me to that place 10-15 years down the road? Does it matter?
So here I am again, feeling more childish than ever, on the brink of real adulthood and grown-up-ness, and I am completely lost. Maybe I should just go on to get my PhD…..
optimism is worth it. 