When Life Hands You Lemons
Five months ago, I published a post talking about my general displeasure with being in a situation typical of millennials after graduating from college. I had not locked down full-time employment. I was moving back home with parents. I felt like everything I had been working toward just crumbled at my feet.
I had a plan. I knew what needed to be done to see it through, but things just didn’t go as planned. Over the summer, I had the opportunity to really grow in an environment where I could make an impact on students even younger than me. It was a great opportunity. I learned a lot, but it was quite possibly my “worst job” to date. Not to say that it was the worst job ever – because it certainly was not. But if I had to measure on a scale of misery, I would say that I was miserable about 78% of my time at work this summer. This was my fermented lemon. Knowing that the summer was coming to a close, I knew that I needed to ensure that I could find employment after the summer was over. I needed a better lemon.
That job ended just over one month ago. I’ve been applying and researching jobs and interviewing by phone and in person. I know the job search for a fresh college graduate with an undergraduate degree in psychology is a task in and of itself, and I was starting to lose steam. I don’t like when my plans are forced to halt and it is not on my own terms. I felt disheartened and unproductive.
A few days ago I took the initiative to followup with one of the places I had an interview to check on the status of my application process. I received a call and was offered a lemon.
Now, this lemon is not the best lemon on the tree, BUT it will allow me to make a nice pitcher of lemonade. I have the opportunity to gain the incredible experience I believe will make for a stronger application when I’m applying to graduate programs. I just hope this position does not take the place of this past summer and gain the award for “worst job.”
I’m taking this lemon and juicing the living hell out of it to make the best lemonade I know how to make. I can only hope that I love the people I will work with and truly feel how it feels to be a real adult.
All I have to do now is add my own sugar and water to make a pitcher of something sweet.
