Underemployment

So today marks exactly 6 months since graduation day. I just sent in my first payment for my loans. It is ironic that I have received this college education, that thus far, has me asking people if they want anything to drink. I do not say that because I think I am better than the job I currently have, because I do not. I do know that this position is not what I want to do and as I continue to spend my days reading articles and watching TED videos, I realize how much I enjoy becoming more informed.

I recently looked through my cover letters that I have sent out for about 6 months now. They have definitely improved. There are some that seem more generic and then there are some where I have exaggerated more than I probably should have. Some cover letters have resulted in phone interviews and some have responded in form emails telling that while I have an excellent background or a phenomenal amount of passion, they have found someone with more experience or something of that sort. The problem is that all I have to offer is my passion and willingness to learn.

Six months of apply for jobs and at a very slim estimate of 50 jobs with people I really want to work for, not to mention the random jobs that I find on Craiglist have led me to very little. It is a state of rejection that I have never known before. I have been able to read blogs and talk to friends about how I am not unique. I am competing with people who have graduated this year, last year, and people who are graduating in December at a time where the unemployment rate is higher than it has been in decades. Yet, this information is not always comforting.

Writing a cover letter for a job where the requirements are that I can use a computer, fax machine, and answer phones is challenging. I have to convince people that I am capable of using equipment that I have grown up using. I trying to get people to let me do basic office tasks while making it seem like I will be honored to make them copies and make their travel arrangements. Yet, nothing.

The degree I received in May was worth it. I have friends to commiserate with about being unemployed. I have pictures to fill my room with and I have memories that I will cherish for as long as I live. But as I mark the six month point, I remain underemployed. I am being denied the ability to use my degree and my passion.

I will continue to write the cover letters and send them out. I will contact random people who might be able to help me out. Until I get my chance, I will continue to smile at my customers and tell them how to get water from the Coke machine.

I read a blog recently that mentioned how TV has ruined us! It was quite funny but very true. Shows like Seinfeld and Friends have groups of people who never seem to work and yet live fabulous lives in fabulous apartments. I, too, want to live in New York and go out all the time, live in a beautifully furnished apartment, and never go to work! So if you know how this works, please let me know ASAP! Until then, I will continue to write cover letters.

A Life Update

So as pointed out by Chrissy, I have not written anything in a month! So here is a short update on my life working backwards.

This past weekend was a blast! Alyssa and Amy, two friends from Chapman, came to visit me. It was so nice to have two of my best friends in DC.

We got to go out a little, did some sight-seeing, took an amazing number of pictures, and laughed a lot! It was a good weekend for all of us! The weather was perfect! This is us at the WWII Memorial.

I learned that I have adapted to the cold weather! I didn't think it was cold out, while Alyssa (also from San Diego), told me that it was, in fact, cold. I am still not sure that I will survive the winter.

I am still working at the pizza restaurant. It has been very busy there since Obama mentioned the restaurant in a speech about small businesses. It makes it all the more fun at work. I really like the people I work with. I have been able to go out with one of the woman I work with. She took me to a place with live music in Adams Morgan. It is really nice to be making friends. I ran into an old friend on a bus a couple of weeks ago so that has been nice. I have also met a few customers at work and through some of these people. Unfortunately, I work mostly nights so it has made it difficult to make plans with people. I have also been invited to a few holiday parties, which is exciting!

I am heading to Boston next Wednesday for Thanksgiving. I am so excited to see my brother, Stephen, as well as the rest of the family. It is going to weird to not be with Anthony and my parents but I am happy to be able to see everyone else! I also bought my ticket home for Christmas. I will be home for a week so that will be really nice. When I get back I am going to Philly with another friend from Chapman and then we are going to go to New York City for New Year's Eve, where we will meet up with Craig and few others from Chapman. I am really excited for this!

While I continue the job search, I am taking advantage of being able to take time off from work. Financially, it may not make the most sense, but I am doing just fine there so 2 weeks off around Christmas will be just fine. I have a few leads for openings after the holiday season.

I have also started looking into teaching English abroad next year. I would love to go Africa, but Asian countries have more benefits so I will most likely go there. I am doing my research and looking at Thailand at the moment. =) Studying for the GRE has not been very successful lately, but I am going to set a schedule for myself.

I slipped twice last week calling DC "home" which I think is a good thing. I am feeling good about life!

Love you all!