Step 30: Go to Your College's Homecoming

I haven't yet decided if your first year out of college is the best year to go back to Homecoming or not. One of the biggest upsides is that you get to see all your school buddies again.

Coming back to school after only one year (and technically not even that), you're going to know a lot more people than you will coming back in future years. You could get a free place to sleep if your friends are cool enough to let you crash in their rooms (which mine were), you can watch your old cross country team run and still know everyone's name (or at least only have to write down two of the freshmen's names on your hand), and you can meet up for a nice dinner to catch up with everyone.

The catching up part, though, could be the downside. Everyone's going to ask you how things are going, and if you're like me and are having a bit of a rough patch (and don't feel bad if you are - it's normal for recent grads), then trying to fake the happiness and\or telling  the boring truth get's really old really fast. Your first year out it's hard to have done much with your life, so for me I felt like I wasn't meeting peoples expectations when I told them I worked part time at the Humane Society while working on my writing. Have I finished my story? Ummm... no. Yeah, I know I had two full months were I wasn't picking up dog poop, but you know how things come up....

Yeah, that part's sort of a bummer when you realize you really haven't done much since leaving the safety of college life. But you've got to focus on the fun activities of Homecoming so you can keep your mood up, and what better way than to go into the crypts of your school's church?! (Hey, I went to an all girls Catholic school - there's not much else to do at Homecoming.)

So my question to you: Did you go to Homecoming this year, and if so, what was your favorite part?
And my challenge to you: Even if you don't go to Homecoming, try to meet up with your old college friends. It's the best part about going back to school.

Step 29: Get a New Job

That crazy urge to continually have something to do (particularly, but not necessarily, something that pays) is why you don't get a break between Step 28 and Step 29. Not everyone is compelled in such a way, and to those who can sit back and enjoy unemployment, I applaud you. I was given a free pass for this first year out of college - live at home rent free and work on my writing. No job required.

But all summer I felt weird not going to class or to work everyday, and though I did get some writing done, I still felt like I was doing things wrong. You're supposed to get a job after you graduate, that's what we've all been told, hasn't it?

So I got a part time job, and I hated it. Lasted only two weeks before I put in my two weeks resignation (no matter how much you hate a job, you should always leave on good terms). Less than a week later, I've got a new job.

It's still only part time (though the hours are much better so I'll have more time to write), and I am, in fact, still working with dogs, but I feel like I'm actually making a difference this go-around. I'm working at a Humane Society, so I'm helping dogs that actually need help instead of rich dogs that just need a place to hang out for a ridiculously long time. I've only been there two days now, but I'm enjoying it a lot more than the last job.

The important thing to remember, though, is to do what you love. I do love working with animals, but I also love writing. Working at a part time job is only supposed to help me and my writing career, not hinder it. Get a couple extra bucks for the week, wake me up early so I'm not wasting the whole day away, give me material to write about. That kind of help. If I can accomplish that with this particular part-time position, that would be wonderful because as I said, I do love working with animals, especially animals who are in need.

So my question to you: Which do you like more - cats or dogs. After these two jobs, I have a feeling that I'm going to become a cat person. ;)
And my challenge to you: Now that I work at a humane society, I've got to say - come and adopt a new family member!

Step 28: Quit Your New Job

Wow, I must seem like a horrible employee, only lasting one month at Happy Dogs. But I just wasn't happy there. I thought working with dogs would be a dream job (I loved working with the wolves up at Wolf Park during a summer practicum), but it turns out you've got to be a special kind of person to work at a dog daycare, and I'm just not that kind of person.

Everyone should experience a job they hate so that they can determine exactly what kind of person they are. For example, I found out I need to be doing different things throughout the day, and not just the same thing for hours on end. I prefer jobs with some order to them. And right now in my life, I need something with fewer hours (if you've noticed, this month hasn't been full of blog posts, and my creative writing hasn't been doing so hot either, though exciting news in an upcoming blog!).

There was nothing in particular that was horrible about Happy Dogs - the people were nice, the dogs were pretty good, and in all honesty, it was the easiest money I ever made. But it just didn't feel right there. And you've got to go and do what feels right for you.

So my question to you: What's the worst and best job that you've ever had? So far for me, doggie daycare's the worst and the movie theater biz has been the best.
And my challenge to you: If you're offered a type of job you've never had before, give it a shot. It might not be your doggie daycare, but you'll never know unless you give it  a try!