Just over 2 years since college... now what?

Can I just say right now that.... life after college did not go anything as I planned or envisioned it to be. When I entered college 8 years ago and then 6 years later (after changing majors, deciding if Poly was still going to be an option thereafter) I walked across the stage at commencement after completing my degree (and just 2 months away from a finished senior project), and had no idea what to do next. College is a tease of the real world. For me I was paying my own bills and way, but I still had enough cushion to not need a full time job, I was living super close to campus, and I was somewhat still padded from the brutalities this world has. So in June of 2008, I was kinda unsure what I was to do with my life besides find a job as quick as I can-- oh and move out of our recently sold house I was renting. So.... with that I moved to San Diego, for irrational reasons but still trying to rationalize it myself.... and was in the same job, different location-- making coffee for even more stuck up people who need their milk to foam just right and waiting in line for 3 minutes is 3 minutes too long!

As I would boil that milk and make that velvety foam-- I became bitter. I did not go into $22,000 of student loan debt, just to make coffee. I mean really! I was searching high and low in the city I hated, and it never happened. The first opportunity to get the heck out of dodge and back to my safe little bubble on the central coast.... I did it... warp speed.

Fast forward two years after that and I am still on the central coast... in my small community... and now I feel crowded. Still over worked, underpaid, and trust me... I don't need a degree to perform my job duties. Since last summer I have flown to New York City 2 times to interview for positions that I may not have been super passionate about, but I would have been challenged, out of my comfort zone... and maybe the probability of meeting a future spouse would increase by like 100%. See, when you live in a small community.... and you know everyone. Either they are not safe to date, they would make you compromise something you want in a person, or they are taken... or like I state they are creepy.  So with my heart always being on the East Coast (I mean I was born there after all), I know that I am being pulled back all the time. So, in August I am in Midtown Manhattan after 5 phone interviews, and I take the risk to pay to fly out to meet with this company... who's organization leaves something to be desired (bad time management planning!), and it turned into nothing. But... I was out of my comfort zone in one of the hottest weeks NYC had seen all summer and I was trekking around from the streets, to subways, to taxis.... making my way around Manhattan! I even couch surfed using Tripping.com (which I highly recommend and plan to review later and compare it to my oh so amazing experience using couchsurfing.com).

Fast forward again to October.... and my pursuits for a job continues... with New York still being my first choice, I am learning to not always put expectations that have no flexibility. You can't settle on a mate... but you can sometimes settle in a job as long as you don't remain comfortable, and you work hard and kick ass to get up ladder. Patience is key, and it can be frustrating I am finding with applying to over 30 jobs in the past several months without a serious bite (just phone interviews... and maybe a couple email exchanges). I have come to terms with graduating at the worst time in the economy downfall... and I am kinda tired of hearing it. But yet... no one prepares a college student for how hard it really is. Even in career fairs....they make you hopeful. Just wait... in 5 years representatives from dating sites will be there too... just to help you get optimistic about all aspects of your life's prospects.

So... for those of us who are in the "I have been out of college for a little while.... now what the heck do I do??" And guess what... persevere. Because out of 50 jobs I apply to... I can only take 1 if all of them offered me a position, and the same with dating. I can only marry one guy in the end... so press forward.

But how do we get there? How do we have a great life after college? How do you expand the social circle that depletes because everyone moves all over the country for their new plush jobs? We join special interest groups perhaps? travel? stay with what we know? How do you meet new people? How do you continue to network when you don't have your prestigious university to bring those people to you? How do you find someone without going to eharmony or plenty of fish or match.com?

So where are you now? Near your goal? So far from it you can't figure out how on earth you ended up with a graveyard shift at the gas station or working at McDonald's? Where do you want to go? And do you have a flexible plan to get there? What are your priorities?

(I ask myself this all the time-- I am still figuring most of it out!!)

Just some things to ponder together as many of us continue to get our feet in the water and battle the entry level jobs, or jobs that want experience even though they are entry level and we just graduated college. And are we flexible with our plans?

I am there in it with ya!