Song Saturday!

I'm actually a bit proud of myself for posting this on Saturday, and at a decent time at that! This long weekend might be the reason, but I'm just going to pretend I'm on top of things.

Today's song comes from the band Gregory & the Hawk, and is entitled "For the Best." Listen to more from this band here or here.

Gregory & The Hawk - "For The Best"
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

Happy weekend everybody!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My mom woke me up this morning with her famous caramel rolls straight out of the oven and now this lady came to visit before all of the festivities start! I'm a lucky girl. I'm thankful for all of you. Hope you have a fantastic, happy Thanksgiving!

Today,

at the celebration for a program that I will be planning soon, a student got up in front of the crowd consisting of business professionals and her classmates and addressed us all on what she thought about the program.

She said a few things, was a bit dramatic and true to her 16/17-year-old self. And then she said this:

"This actually went off exactly as our teacher told us it would. We've all gone through so many disappointing things in our lives, but this wasn't at all. I'm thankful that we got to see that some people really do care about us and our futures."

This is why I know this job is right for me. Successful second day.

I'm employed!

I'm officially a full-time, working woman! I've been offered and accepted a position with a fantastic nonprofit that promotes financial literacy and college and/or career readiness for high school students in Minnesota!

Today was my very first day, and it almost went by too quickly for me to really focus on it! I was up super early to get ready and on the road, only to go outside and find that my car was literally iced shut from the freezing rain we've been having. Yikes! I finally got into the passenger side of my car, and shoved the drivers side door open. (I'm super graceful at 7am.) There were a bunch of accidents on my way in, so, even though I left extra early, I was starting to get nervous that I'd be late! Thankfully, I got there on time and everyone at the office is incredibly nice. I couldn't ask for better co-workers. They all came up to me at different points in the day, purposefully using my name, offering me coffee, asking me questions, and really being warm and welcoming all around.

Now that the big first day is behind me, I already have an out-of-the-office event to attend tomorrow and another one on Wednesday! I'm really getting thrown in to the mix, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

My role is as a program associate for two of the five programs the nonprofit has. I get to network and recruit professionals to be e-mailing mentors for classes of high school students, and then plan special events where they actually meet up in real life. This is my main job during the school year, and then during the summer I'll be planning, recruiting and putting on two camps! This is going to be fantastic. :)

For Kayla (and you!)

Let's listen to The Script for a moment, shall we? We shall.


For those of you who do not know me in real life, Kayla is my sister. She's been a bit upset with me for the fact that I haven't been blogging very well lately, as I am one of her tabs and she likes to postpone/delay/stop doing homework and see what I've been up to. My apologies!

Dear Kayla:

This is what I've been up to. (Okay, you're right. That's you. But we were chatting so it counts.)

Would you like to see another blog soon? I'll work on it, promise.

Love,
Janae

Song Saturday.

Today we had the first snow in Minnesota, and man was it heavy. First of all, I'm not lying when I say that it was 60+ degrees at one point this week. And now we have so much snow that both Minneapolis and St. Paul are in snow/winter weather advisories. It's crazy!

There are all sorts of silly ways Minnesotans like to share their love/hate relationship with the flurry, white flakes, but a few of the best are claiming that we now officially live in Minnesnowta or, like in this particular situation, we are in a snowpocalypse.

I prefer a few calming songs, some delicious hot chocolate, comfy clothes, snuggling under blankets and reading or watching a movie. And that is just what I am about to do as I had to leave my warm house before 7am this morning in order to make it to a day-long conference I helped plan. It was a wonderful, productive and energizing day, but I am one tired lady who is happy to now be sitting on my bed in dry clothes instead of driving down slick roads in a car that may need new tires.

Happy first snow!

Have you been feeling neglected?

Because I've been feeling like I've been neglecting this little space of mine. It's not that I haven't been doing anything, it's more along the lines of the fact that I haven't felt like anything I've been doing is very interesting to write about.

As of the end of August, I've been unemployed. I've done a few odd jobs since, but have been facing the hard battle that is the economy for the past few months and let me tell you, it's a beast. It's been a trying time for me because I've never been someone who can't get a job. Usually, I am someone who tries to take on too many things, who has a hard time saying no to any new opportunities. Lately, I've been forced to realize that this is not always the way.

I know that I am not the only recent college graduate (or person, for that matter) who is going through this. And, I am very, very lucky in that I have a wonderful support system - full of family, friends, and past colleagues who send me tips on new jobs and give me recommendations and references. I do know that, and I definitely appreciate it.

But, even with lots of people behind you, rooting for you to succeed, that doesn't always mean it happens right away. I've been applying to jobs all over the country, am willing to move at a moment's notice, just wanting to help people, and so far I haven't gotten anything.

I've had interviews, and I know I'm good at interviews. That may sound super narcissistic but go through a 2-hour-long interview when you are 16 and trying to prove to someone that yes, they should pay for your entire summer studying abroad in Japan, even though only 17 people in the country will get that honor. And then win one of those spots. And then tell me that you can't do interviews, because if anything will get you to learn how to interview and do it well, well, that is it.

I think the real issue is realizing that even though I checked off every goal I had for myself in college, I still am coming up empty handed.

graduate in 4 years? check.
have 3 internships before I graduated? check.
study abroad? check.
get involved in at least 2 clubs? check. 
graduate with 3.5gpa or higher? check

If you are thinking "well, she had 3 internships, why don't they hire her?" I have an answer for you. I took internships for the work experience and knowledge I would gain, not for the potential for employment post-internship. This was probably a bit naive of me, yes, but what's that they say? That it's in hindsight that everything is 20/20? Because that is true.

Yet, I worked in an office in London on an online magazine. I had over 50 stories published with my name as the byline before I even took my first official reporting class in college. I helped a woman start a business. This meant long hours, lots of research, figuring out how to make podcasts, and keeping up relations with a whole host of people I'd never met in real life. I was a marketing intern for a nonprofit that I truly believe in. I got over 80 stories published about this organization in the few months I was interning, and I learned more about how a nonprofit functions on a day to day basis.

I had experiences that will definitely fuel any future endeavors that I may come across.

I just have to find that position that will take a chance on me. That will see that I am qualified and eager to learn new things. And in the mean time I have to keep my spirits up, which, I admit, was much easier to do a few months ago. The brave face is on, but that doesn't mean I'm not struggling with this.

I guess I just want to say that if anyone who reads this is in a similar situation, I feel you. I understand. It's not something a lot of people openly talk about, including myself. It is a struggle. It is hard. But we will get through it.

Song Sunday!

A little song and video for your Sunday. Sorry I didn't get this posted yesterday! I started a part-time job and have been busy training in, which leaves less time for extra things like blogging. Hope you have all enjoyed an extra hour of sleep, or friends, or coffee, or a movie, or something equally enjoyable today. Happy Sunday!

Halloween!

 

I hope all of your Halloween nights were fantastic! It was the first time my roommates and I all went out as a group, so we had a lot of fun. Since I hadn't really thought of what I wanted to be ahead of time, I threw together a little Clark Kent/Superman outfit - super easy and comfortable and I already had everything I needed! The boys in the above picture are my roommates, and I can honestly say this is my new favorite picture.

What were you on Halloween?

Music Monday!

So, I got behind (actually I got a bit into the Halloween spirit) and forgot to post song Saturday!

Here is a song for the week! I chose it primarily because it was the song that was on in my car as I finished up an interview today. Hey, why not? :)

The Script - For The First Time found on Pop