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I needed a job—and found much more
Originally appeared on spirituality.com
“What am I going to do with my life?” As college graduation day drew closer, I was asking myself this question every day. And while I kept putting off plans for my future, the stress of finding the right job was mounting. As a journalism major at a large university, I watched my classmates secure jobs and make big plans to change the world one news-breaking story at a time. However, I wasn’t so sure I was cut out for the ultra-competitive journalism job market, where a few news writers would land the jobs that many more would apply for. What’s more, the economy had slowed, and news organizations were posting even fewer jobs.
With my small portfolio of work and meager list of work experiences, I took whatever interviews I could find and tapped into every connection I had. When no job offers came, I expanded my search to include any interesting position with a decent salary.
Still unsuccessful, I began to seriously doubt my skills and wonder if I had made the most of my higher education. As my confidence waned, I became increasingly lazy, putting less and less effort into searching. With laziness came guilt because I felt I was taking advantage of the generosity of my parents who let me live with them rent-free while I struggled to become financially independent. I felt lost, useless, and certain that gainful employment was impossible.
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