Since the job search is stressing me out, I thought I would write about it to keep me grounded. I promise not to be too ranty or depressing.
I've been asked "What do you want to do?" so many times in the past few months. The only consistent answer I have given is "I don't know." I've said sports journalist, newspaper columnist, "something working with people," or "working in a community setting." I'm tempted to just say garbageman next time. (I've secretly wanted to be a garbageman since high school.)
I gave that response to a journalism professor in the basement of the COM building in late November and he responded semi-disapprovingly with, "Well, you better figure that out." That response made my blood boil. Couldn't he help me figure that out? Is there a place for people who are still "figuring it out"? Is it okay to not know?
I get secretly jealous of people who have their careers planned out by the time they are sophmores in college. Or even my friends in grad school who have their careers mapped out already. I don't. My feelings on journalism, writing, and the media have changed a lot since I started at BU in September 2012 (some good, some bad.) I don't know if I even want to be a reporter or journalist.
A friend of mine (whose my age) gave me a piece of advice a few weeks ago that really resonated with me. He said that even at 25, you really don't need to know what you are doing with your life. I don't have any long-term commitments other than my student loans. I'm not married. I don't have kids. I don't have a mortgage. All I really want is a bit of financial security.
I also think of my parents who did a lot of random things before they finished their careers as educators. My dad was a travel agent for a while before he became a guidance counselor. I think he probably enjoyed that because that's what he does for most of his time now.
So, should I be in a rush to figure "what I want to do?" Maybe not.
Accomplishments for 1/6:
- Applied to Trefis.com Editorial Position
- Applied to Creative Circle Freelance Social Media Position
Lloyd was asked that question of what do you want to do in "Say Anything", and I've used his response ever since whenever anyone asks me that annoying question: "I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career."
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