Girl Meets Pickup

This is crazy.

Several times during the momentary divorce from reality (also known as finals week) at Grove City, I promised to start a blog and tell my fellow Grovers what it's like out there in the "real world." Funny how writing research papers about literature is much less intimidating than dealing with the stuff of daily life. Well, I promised, so here goes.

Soon after I got home (to a surprise snowstorm that left us housebound), I received an early Christmas present from my parents. When my dad got a new company truck, they gave me his old one: a dark blue 2001 Dodge Dakota. If you are laughing right now picturing me driving a pickup, I don't blame you. Nevertheless, this is my first vehicle and I am suitably thrilled. (I named the truck Brego, for you Lord of the Rings fans out there.)

New truck = increased incentive to get a job. So like the bright-eyed new graduate I am, I began typing hopeful search terms like "editor," and "publishing" into Craigslist's job database. Several days later, after applying to an admin assistant position and setting up and interview with a temp agency, I felt frustrated and inadequate. I was nervous about the interview, nervous they would give me a typing exam, or maybe a spelling test. I drove to the mall and bought a suit at Ann Taylor, hoping to at least look professional.

It was when I got my final grades from GCC that I realized how silly I am. While all the work and late nights studying had "paid off" on paper, in a few moments I had forgotten it and was back to obsessing about getting a job. All the stress translated into maybe 20 minutes of thankfulness before I was looking at the next impossible hurdle. That's one cycle that's going to stop.

So I guess my first lesson from the real world is to quit worrying. Really.