September: A New Year

Screw January, who decided January should be the start of a new year anyways? Maybe it's some kind of Pavlovian response to nearly 20 years of new school years beginning right around Labor Day, but I've always felt that the sudden crispness of the air in September held more promise of a new year than the dull, frigid monotony of January. I mean really, what is even remotely motivating about December 26 through sometime in March when the world (at least New England) thaws? That's serious, hunker-down-and-read-a-good-novel time not hey-let-me-rehaul-my-life time.

Anyways, what that means is that I've been starting to fill my calendar back up again (just like Marisa). Gone are the long, lazy days by lakes or pools, soaking up the sun and disconnecting from the world. Let's see, there's:

• Work: My 9-to-5 job, with busy and slow seasons, keeps me pretty occupied throughout the week.
• Work #2: Ah, retail, gotta love it. Connecting with customers and completing a wall of perfectly folded chinos are the best rewards for a screwy schedule.
• GSEM Task Force: A new group within our Girl Scout council whose goal is to unite and support the service units in the Boston metro area. I'll be specifically working on the Adult Development Committee to recruit, train and recognize adult volunteers. I'm also a working toward becoming a Council Facilitator so I can lead my own training sessions. If you're interested in getting involved - let me know!
  
• "Open Classroom: Northeastern offers the community the chance to audit a class on urban policy and issues taught by Prof. Bluestone. Once you're registered, you can sit in on any of the classes from 9/10-12/10. A group of us are signing up (let [Marisa] know if you do too!), and while I may not buy all the books recommended on the official syllabus, I'm strangely hungry for poli-sci nerd knowledge and a classroom setting."
• Football: I plan on actually watching games this year. And spending lazy Sundays cooking lavish meals in my new gorgeous kitchen. Open invitation!
  

The 20-something Hustle

Recently graduated and realizing there's not many full-time desk job opportunities just waiting to fall into your lap? Welcome to our 20-something hustle.

With all the news about layoffs and the serious lack of companies looking to hire entry-level people, a lot of us are left wondering what we should do. And while I keep tossing around the idea of grad school, I know that I really don't want to be back in a classroom quite yet. What I've discovered instead is actually a schedule and a lifestyle (minus having to work on weekends) that works way better for me than if I had settled for a full 9-to-5 right away.

As a 20-something I have the luxury of only needing to support myself and my bills, no kids, no dog, and no ailing parents that need my care. I've always been a person who likes to keep busy and keep my options open, and working on a variety of projects has let me do just that.

My 20-something hustle line-up

• Working part-time in communications at a health care policy institute. This let's me work on another aspect of communications - mostly PR - while exploring a new industry (I was in financials before). Plus it pays the bills.
• Working part-time in retail. Again, paying the bills. But I also like the opportunity to connect with really great clients and see my friends.
  
• Consulting for a start-up. I've done a web design & usability project for them and now I'm working on teaching myself SEO stuff so I can present it to them. If they use it - great! And if they don't - well now I know SEO and have something pretty cool to add to my resume.
• Editing a book about people that are passionate about their jobs. I still owe the author my edits (which I should do this morning). This one is a great example of why I think we should go back to the barter system (more on this later). But basically I edit the book for free and get a little shoutout at the end. Plus it's a cause I totally believe in.
  
• Facilitating training for Girl Scouts. I haven't started this yet, because I still need to attend a train-the-trainer session, but I'm excited to be able to spread an organization that I believe so strongly in, especially in the inner city where it's harder to find training.

So what are you doing to keep busy post-graduation? Working on any interesting projects? Please share!

I'm ready to get off this emotional roller coaster

Sunday and Monday was a ridiculous experience of going from the highest emotional high to the lowest low. From speaking at Kyle & Laurie's wedding ceremony to finding out about getting robbed of my jewelry (and old laptop). It was emotionally, and thus physically, draining. Once I got back to the city Monday, I napped and laid in my bed for a few hours, unable to find the energy or motivation to go much farther. And also scared that somehow leaving would have dire consequences. Kari and I did manage to be productive in the evening when we started cleaning the front closet and pantry - which was completely beyond words disgusting. I needed the act of packing to excite me and make moving out of this shithole with my slumlord a reality. 24 days and counting.

Tuesday was slightly more energetic and productive, if only because it had to be for the most part. But then, for the first time since the start of January, I didn't close on a Tuesday night. So I was finally able to partake of Ladies 80s Night at Red Sky ($10 of booze gets you a free three course meal). I had the best experience ever with BPD (Office D. Brown) when filing my supplemental report. After Red Sky, and observing the ridiculousness that is Menino's corraling of street performers at Fanieul Hall (see Universal Hub), I went home and watched TV in our peaceful apartment.

Today was a lot of class and reading, and the next week of upcoming finals is going to be crazy. But the power of positive thinking (I'm convinced that's what it was) brought me to the Jack Johnson concert in Mansfield for free, with the decision made about 45 minutes prior to leaving the city. It took an arsenal of calls to BR sales people but it all came together, and I even ran into one of my best friends from NH on Rt 495 on his way to the concert too.

Of course, listening to music you haven't heard in awhile, and truly hearing the lyrics, makes you start thinking. Especially thinking of things that hadn't been thought about in awhile, that get sparked by seeing someone special.

Well I was sitting, waiting, wishing
You believed in superstitions
Then maybe you'd see the signs

The Lord knows that this world is cruel
I ain't the Lord, no I'm just a fool
Learning lovin' somebody don't make them love you

It's fucking gorgeous out and I'm trapped in this glass box

I feel like some kind of hampster. Or house cat. Or child.

It's fucking beautiful out -- 80 degrees, sunny, slight breeze -- and I'm trapped in my cubicle. I spent time this morning purusing Idealist.org and STA Travel looking for work abroad instead of doing the data entry (that I have deftly been avoiding for a month). I was searching for jobs that were meaningful, jobs that will let me travel, jobs that won't make me feel suffocated and confined.

It's funny - I didn't get this feeling at the last big financial firm I worked for. I don't know if it's because my desk was in the corner near the windows. Or because I could take my editing outside to the patio and work down there. Or if I somehow found enough meaning in the work that it was okay being trapped inside from 8-5, because I knew that at the end of the day I would have the whole evening to myself.

I don't even get to enjoy the outside when I "leave" work today because I'm going to my second job at Banana. I wish I could build a sky light in the store.

I don't know what kind of jobs would let me be outside sometimes, with the fresh air in my lungs. Anyone have any suggestions?

Holy shit, I'm almost done with college

That's the realization that flashes into my head about 3 times daily.

I'm currently on my third and final co-op at MFS Investment Management working in the marketing department. There are some things I love and some things I hate, but we'll get into those next time.

Here's what's going on in my life lately:

• Co-op 35 hours a week at MFS
• Working at Banana Republic (BR) about 4-10 hours/week
• Doing market research, marketing, anything else for Empower.Embody.Embrace (E3) - a personal coaching company my mom's best friend just started (big launch on Saturday!)
• President of Northeastern Unversity Campus Girl Scouts and Brownie leader for Troop 9744
• Editing the new PTP book!!

Girl Scouts will be wrapping for the year in about a week, but there will still be little projects over the summer to get ready for the fall transition. At the end of June, I will be done co-op and entering my last block of classes.

July/August

• The Entrepreneurial World - should be interesting to get a little background on entrepreneurship as I've always toyed with the idea of starting/running my own company
• American Society - fulfills my Soc minor

September - December

• Journalism Ethics - Journalism capstone!! (not really looking forward to the 30 page paper)
• Design & Graphics - so exciting, a class focused on playing with Adobe programs
• Elementary Spanish - with fluency in French, I figure it can't hurt
• Human Rights in the Global Economy - taught by one of my favorite professors, should be enlighting, challenging, and engaging
• E3 Internship - to get my one last credit - I wish I had known before now you could get credit for internships at NU!

And that will be all she wrote for Northeastern and me. It was a good ride for sure, let's hope the last few hills and loops are exciting and fun.