My journey



Hi everyone!

I thought I would create this blog as a way to express my feelings/help others with their post-grad journey. Graduating college and transitioning into the real world isn't easy, especially if it takes longer for some people to begin their careers than others. This blog is a way to people to connect with what I've been through, as well as realizing your own dreams and choices in life. I thought I would start off by creating a timeline about my post-grad journey and how I got to where I am today.

May 2015
I graduated from the University of Hartford (cum laude) with a degree in Communication, emphasizing in Media & Journalism in hopes of landing a career in the media & entertainment industry.

Summer 2015
The job search began. In the meantime, I returned to my camp job that I've had for 4 years so I can have some security while waiting for my unknown career to start.

September 2015
I was hired as an unpaid social media intern working remotely for an independent film production company in NYC helping them promote a kickstarter campaign. The one day they did invite me into their "office" was a legit NIGHTMARE because my "boss" was INSANE (I will write a separate post about ALL OF THAT eventually!) so I told them I would only work for them remotely. Then, they stopped giving me work about a month later with NO explanation.

 October 2015
I got another unpaid internship full-time as an intern for an Ecommerce clothing company in the Garment District in NYC. My boss was great and really respected me, and I loved the whole vibe of their office. Eventually, I had to quit after 2 months because commuting to NYC without making any money is EXPENSIVE. I took the risk of having no job lined up after that.

January-August 2016
THE DARK AGES. Multiple interviews, but nothing went anywhere because I was unemployed for 8 months. I did get an interview at ABC in NYC through a recruiter for their integrated marketing department but they didn't hire me for the job because they hired someone internally. I knew I wouldn't have a chance, but I was really upset and cried a lot. I'm still grateful for the experience though. Walking into that building felt like a dream.

 September 2016
I surrendered and sold my soul to work in retail (UGHHHH). My dad knew a mother-son duo who owned a party store in my town and they gave me the job. I worked 4 days a week, including both weekend days. =\\\ I was miserable but I wouldn't have survived that job without having daily conversations about the Real Housewives with my girl Mindy. THANK YOU, MINDY.

May 2017
I was hired at the YMCA in my town part-time for a data entry job. Since it was temporary, that meant I had to stay at the party store but I was relieved of working weekends in retail for the summer so that SAVED ME!!!

September 2017
I was stuck working only 2 days in retail because the YMCA job ended. That was only (less than) 10 hours a week. I was fucked and my parents were pissed at me (I called it partial unemployment) but then, the owner eventually had me pick up Sunday shifts.

December 2017
After working in retail for a year, another recruiter HOOKED ME UP and gave me a full-time job in NYC as an Administrative Assistant at a healthcare communications company. GOODBYE, RETAIL!!!

January 2018
I worked at the healthcare company for less than a month and on (what I didn't know) was my last day of work, the recruiter fucked me over and let me go from the job. I'll probably write another separate post for this whole fiasco as well. This involved a LOT of crying. A LOT. FMLLLL. INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE, WE GO.

February-June 2018
MORE UNEMPLOYMENT!!!! (AKA: THE DARK AGES PART 2)

July-August 2018
I gave in and went back to my camp job in the summer for 5 weeks because no matter what, they would always welcome me back in a heartbeat <3333

September 2018-Febuary 2019
UNEMPLOYED AGAIN!!!! (AKA: THE DARK AGES PART 3)
BUT.. I decided to apply to write freelance for a theater website as a regional contributor. It's unpaid but I get free tickets to shows, AND I get to write and have my articles published online under my name!

February 2019
The skies FINALLY opened up. After four long years of unpaid internships, temporary jobs, and a year in retail, I got a job in my field working for a media company that owns local newspapers. It's not in NYC, but it will be a great start and I'm so glad I finally get to start my career somewhere.

For those of you who want to give up on your dreams: DON'T. If I gave up, I wouldn't be where I am today. We all have different journeys and struggles when it comes to getting where we want to be, but once you're there it will feel REALLY GOOD.

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