I'm a big girl now!... Sorta

Oh, the life of a college graduate. You apply all over, anxiously wait for replys, land a great job, and you live happily ever after.

Not.

Being a college graduate is not at all what you think it's going to be. But of course, high school and college also weren't what I was told it was going to be, especially since most of my advice came from tv and movies. Y'know, where they have a straightforward degree like law or business or whatever, and they get a plush job within weeks of being done with college. Yeah, that's a good one..

LUCKILY, I have a few friends that are older than me and that graduated before me. Some went straight to graduate school for something very specific and did get a job after that, but most took time off. Which is what I'm doing. And most are still not doing exactly what they want to be doing.

It really sucks in this day and age, because now everyone and their mom goes to college. And now it's more acceptable even to go to college for things that people don't deem necesary - like art, music, and theater. When our parents went to college, it was so much more straightforward, and people did what was practical. Also, not everyone of them was going to college, so having just your bachelor's degree was like the coolest thing ever! So, they got jobs right out of college because there weren't as many people qualified.

But we are raised by our parents and given everythigng they wished they had but didn't. And then they tell us we can do anything we want and support us in anything we want. So we go to school for what we really love. There was nothing else I wanted to spend 4 years doing besides music. Nothing at all. I didn't even consider anything else because I knew I wouldn't be happy, and my parents were ok with it.

But then I go through and decide that I don't want to be a music ed major, but I just want to be performance. Yikes. The parents  weren't so sure about that, but they went along with it. But they understood that it was importan to me to really just focus on singing and performing, and they supported me.

So here I am, a college graduate of about 3 months, and it's most definitely not like the movies, especially since I'm a music major. and especially since I opted out of the possibility of teaching in a public school.

But I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm living with my good friends and surrounded by good friends here in town and  am working hard at 3 jobs, thankfully one of which actually involves singing.

One of my jobs is at the restaurant, and since I have only been working 2 weeks I got my first paycheck yesterday. Was it outstanding? No. But I went across the street and opened my first checking acount away from my parents. And I ordered checks. And next week I'll be paying my rent on my own.

By no means am I where I want to be, and no, working at a restaurant is not my dream job. I am excited that I'm training as a server this week, yes, because I'll make tips and can make some decent money, but I don't want to be doing it the rest of my life like some of the people I work with. However, because I am a music major and want to perform, it kind of comes with the territory. It seems that anyone's dream of being a performer involves waiting tables at some point. Most people I know would absolutely hate that life. They want their degree and then they are getting a "real" job, whatever that means. And they probably will make salary, and that is wonderful.

But for me, it's different. They may love what they do, which is great, because they can actually make money right out of college! But for me, what I love just takes me on a different path in life and I'm ok with that. I have to be. After all, I've always loved a challenge, and this being financially on your own thing is sort of a challenge. But I'm taking it head on.

So no, I don't have a "big girl" job. I hope to one day. But right now I'm so happy to be doing what I'm doing, because I know it's just another step towards my goal. It may take me longer to get there, but I'll do it. And with these jobs, I'll save for graduate school, and my wedding, and still even then I'll probably be waiting tables or doing who knows what else? But it will be all of MY hard work that got me there. And as long as I have people in my life that love me, that's all that matters.

So I'm going to be excited about my checking account, and excited when my checks come with my name on them. Because to me, that's being a "big girl", even if I don't have the job to go with it. And I couldn't be happier.