Blatant Truth: The Pursuit of Happiness

by Meghan Jackson

Here’s my deep inspirational post for the week.

When you graduate college, it’s one of the most exciting times of your life. You’re a bright 20-something fresh out of school with a fancy, expensive degree and ready to work, full of ideas of what your future is going to look like.

(See, I really did graduate).

But  job searching is a salty thing, I’ve found thus far. It can get frustrating reading job post after “entry level” job post requiring 5+ years of experience that you don’t have. One day that person you met one time at a bar in line for the bathroom who told you about their cousin who works with someone who has a friend, is responding to your email and there’s a glimmer of hope and the next day you think about changing your entire career path. It can get discouraging. You can say the whole job search has definitely slapped me in the face a few times.

However, I’ve recently decided to slap it back. I made a somewhat risky and exciting decision for myself and have given my 2 weeks. Yep, I’m leaving my 8-5 job for an unpaid internship.

Though this may seem reckless and irresponsible and not being accepting of the real world, to me it’s the complete opposite. I felt stagnant in the position I was in and went in search of something I’m passionate about. I found an opportunity that I see potential in and chose to leave a job that wasn’t making me happy.

And while I’m lucky enough to have parents who are supportive of my decision (aka still letting me live at home until further notice), even if I didn’t, I’ve thought this through enough so that I could do it on my own. (I have been working full time for the past year and all). I’ve calculated just how long I can survive the day my parents do decide to kick my happy ass out, if I didn’t make another dollar from today. Granted, I will have to stop going to Target and blowing $47.00 on a random weeknight buying washi tape and God knows what else, but I CAN DO IT. I already feel relieved.

Maybe unusual, but I am very happy with my decision. I’ll start working part time somewhere and go back to dedicating effort towards something I care about, not just making money waiting for something to happen. The unknown is scary, but mostly exciting.

I, by no means, have everything figured out (read this blog… I’m a mess). But I am working towards building a career and a life I love and to me that’s what’s important. Someone once told me “It takes a lot of work to be in the right place at the right time.” I could not find that statement more true. So here’s to working towards just that.

Happy weekend friends.
xo.