First job!

For any of you who don't know, I need six more credit hours to graduate from college, that's two courses.  Although I'm thrilled about the idea of not having to classify myself as "student" anymore on forms, and I am happy to be rid of the troubles that such a title possess, I have been a bit nervous about approaching graduation.  A college graduation is the equivalent of the jump off.  It's that point when, after spending years of training, you finally get to be a qualified and, hopefully, respected adult.  I'm excited about graduation for the obvious reasons, 1) I won't have to live like a college student anymore 2) I can finally gain something from five years of school and 3) I can finally be treated like a respectable adult.  Unfortunately, all of those things come from one thing, and it's not school, it's a job.  I have many friends who have graduated over the past year, and I have to confess, a college degree never guarantees success, a job, or respectable treatment.  I have learned recently that those are things that you have to work very hard for, and I have learned that getting a job is much more difficult than my college advisor told me it would be.  

I have spent the better part of the past month writing cover letters, sending out resumes, and calling companies that seem to have forgotten that they have posted available jobs.  After three weeks of working nine to five to find a job I have had two interviews, with two different companies, and at last I have found success.  I have a job with the Florida Default Law Group!!  I will be doing pleadings and discovery, both part of the litigation process, which is something that I think I will really enjoy.  The only down side to the whole thing is that it is a temporary to permanent job meaning that I don't know how long I'll be working for them.  I'm planning to learn quickly and work exceptionally hard, but sometimes things don't work out regardless of how much effort you put in.  Although I might only have this job for a few months, it offers me two critical things - experience and a pay check.  I've been living off of student loans for five years and the idea of having a steady pay check absolutely blows my mind.  As for the experience, it is a wonderful thing.  I'm expecting to learn much about both the working world and the legal world at my new job, and I am certain that the experience that I gain here will greatly help me if this job does not become permanent.  I have orientation Monday morning at 9:30 and then I start this Wednesday.  I'm not sure what to expect, but I cannot wait to find out!!

As I said, graduation is rapidly approaching and I'm both elated and terrified.  I've learned since moving to Tampa, almost two years ago, that there's a big scary adult world out there and that I'm about to belong to it.  The good news is though that I currently have a job, and I haven't even graduated yet; now that's a head start!   Now I just have to learn how to do it, work hard, and convince the firm that I'm the person for the job.  I think that I can do that.  The best part about the position is that I'll be getting to do some writing.  Who would have thought that a writer would actually get paid to write?  I certainly never did!  Okay, well Chris and I are going out tonight to celebrate my new found adulthood so I need to be going.  Have a good night, and the next time you have a drink, think of me and say a small toast to my success...and a small prayer for all soon to be graduates, they'll appreciate it.  I'll write more next weekend.  Until then, cheers!