Kids, Stay in School

 For those of you who don't know, this week has been my first week at my new job.  My first day was a little crazy...I left feeling scared, nervous, and very unsure.  However, my second day was a true success.

Today, as I was sitting at my desk workspace, I had an overwhelming emotion come over me.  It wasn't one of those creep up on you kind of emotions, nope- it hit me so hard I thought I was going to fall right out of my chair.  This emotion was quite unique when considering the other emotions that go along with the first few days of your very first job; or at least not an emotion I anticipated feeling.

Today I felt proud of myself.  As I sat down in my cubicle workspace, checking my emails, studying up on the mile high stack of booklets and papers that really tell me what I've gotten myself into, and just absorbing this new title that I hold behind my name, I caught a glimpse of my diploma.  Yes, its only the second day and I've already decorated my office workspace.  And yes, the first thing I put on my shelf was my diploma.  Thank goodness I did because as I looked up at my diploma, the feeling I got is one that I hope I will always remember and one that I for see getting me through these next few weeks of brutal training, and probably other rough patches in my future as a career woman.

I remember countless occasions where I was ready to give up on school.  I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, I was spending thousands of dollars on a "piece of paper" that I was sure was going to get me nowhere.  Now, I had some AMAZING mentors in my college years.  Advisors, professors, bosses...I wouldn't have made it through college without them.  They all warned prepared me for a lot of those times in life that I would have otherwise said, "I wish someone would have told me this was going to happen."  However, no one ever told me how proud of myself I could be for what I have accomplished.  (Probably because they were always so busy telling me how proud of me they were).

A lot of people complain about having to grow up and move on from their college years.  "Life in the real world and all the things that go along with it suck."  However, the optimist in me is loving it and soaking it all in.  For example:

Waking up early:  my roommate bff who is letting me take over her basement as my living space for the moment and I have started working out together every morning at 6 am!  It's a great way to get ourselves going in the morning, and there is nothing better than having someone to share that with.

Traffic: okay, so maybe my car doesn't have AC and I sit in stop and go traffic for 45 minutes in 90 degree weather.  So what?  At least I have a car that gets me there.  Plus, its perfect time to listen to my new favorite station, NPR. (Insert completely inappropriate hash-tagged comment: #lookatmeallgrownup)

Working: as much as I am already missing my daily routine that always included a nap, the feeling of having a great job with great people around you who encourage you is irreplaceable.  On another note, I am luckier than most to have found a job right out of college-and that is something to be proud of.

I'm a pretty lucky girl, I'd say.  I am 23, living in my favorite city, and am in the first week at my dream job.  This makes it very easy to be so optimistic.  I love my life.

Song of the day: "Collie Man" by Slightly Stoopid


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