As I finish my last semester as a Graduate Hall Coordinator and begin the lengthy process of applying for various professional Residence Life positions, I have had several mini-revelations. [Please understand these to be farcical in nature, with even the most realistic elements of my journey reflecting a shade of the ridiculous.] I hope to merely entertain and shine a humorous light on the common absurdities we all encounter.
1. References are life. No, really, if you do not have a solid set of references [that you know will say nice and true things] you will not be able to afford life. That side of queso isn’t going to pay for itself…
2. Panic is useless. You will only end up applying for positions located one 13-hour flight and two camel rides away from your dream destination. Then your boss will have to call you and tell you to calm the H-E-double hockey sticks down with the application spam.
3. Sitting on your couch in sweatpants with one hand in a bag of Doritos and the the other surfing Higheredjobs.com is a totally acceptable way to spend a Saturday evening. Do your thing.
4. It’s okay to get a little weepy when you think about leaving your current position. That place and those people played a significant role in your development. Also, will the next person to inherit your office chair treat it with the respect and admiration that it deserves?
5. Finally, it’s also okay to be excited about a new adventure. Anticipating a fresh experience does not negate the value of the last one. Just be sure to give some of the credit for your capacity to succeed in new places to the people who have supported you in old ones. It takes [at least] 2 to tango and develop professionally.
I hope these small life lessons have at least served to mildly amuse and perhaps even stir up some nostalgia. But friend, it is time to close this browser and keep on keeping on with the job search. Don’t worry, the perfect adventure is waiting for you, you just have to be confident enough to reach for it. Oh, and you have to have really good references.
Bon voyage!
> BONUS <
Podcast With Quint Geis on #SAGrad, Life, and Job Searching
