Long weekend
I've had a busy few days for a change. The college crew began rolling in on Thursday evening, and since then it's been nearly non-stop action. A pleasant change of pace, in all.
Re: last week's morbid "The gathering storm" post, the reality of this reunion weekend wound up being much less demoralizing than predicted. As always, it was intensely enjoyable to have the buds in town. In spite of the fact that they're all off earning astoundingly prestigious degrees or making remarkable contributions to society (I know you're reading this, and you know it's true), not one of them is even slightly condescending or disdainful of my current status. I never expected that they would be, but it's comforting to know that the old support system has withstood at least these past few months.
I was obliged to answer the dreaded questions a few dozen times. It occurred to me too late that I should've had a cover story prepared. A few ideas were floated (marine biologist, "imports/exports," industrial polishing), but none gained traction. Ultimately, there was really no need for a cover story. I told the truth to anyone who asked. Sometimes I'd get a pat on the shoulder and a word or two of encouragement. Mostly people just nodded politely, which is probably what they would have done if I told them I was at Columbia Law or Goldman Sachs or in training for a manned mission to Neptune.
I learned that there are even a few people from my graduating class who are just as unemployed as I am. The only difference between me and them, it seems, is that they're all wise enough to resist the urge to pour their frustrations and insecurities into an electronic journal that's accessible to the public.
Re: last week's morbid "The gathering storm" post, the reality of this reunion weekend wound up being much less demoralizing than predicted. As always, it was intensely enjoyable to have the buds in town. In spite of the fact that they're all off earning astoundingly prestigious degrees or making remarkable contributions to society (I know you're reading this, and you know it's true), not one of them is even slightly condescending or disdainful of my current status. I never expected that they would be, but it's comforting to know that the old support system has withstood at least these past few months.
I was obliged to answer the dreaded questions a few dozen times. It occurred to me too late that I should've had a cover story prepared. A few ideas were floated (marine biologist, "imports/exports," industrial polishing), but none gained traction. Ultimately, there was really no need for a cover story. I told the truth to anyone who asked. Sometimes I'd get a pat on the shoulder and a word or two of encouragement. Mostly people just nodded politely, which is probably what they would have done if I told them I was at Columbia Law or Goldman Sachs or in training for a manned mission to Neptune.
I learned that there are even a few people from my graduating class who are just as unemployed as I am. The only difference between me and them, it seems, is that they're all wise enough to resist the urge to pour their frustrations and insecurities into an electronic journal that's accessible to the public.
posted by temporarily unemployed at 02:10
4 Comments:
Mike,
Your overdramatization, though entertaining, is over the top. You just graduated college! Most people I know are either unemployed at home or working as waiters. Yalies may be the exception, but I don't think there's anything wrong, depressing, or abnormal about your situation. I don't know what the statistics say, but a gigantic percentage of people changes career paths at some point, let alone in the first few years after college. Furthermore, most Yalies I know absolutely despise their jobs right now and have full knowledge that what they're doing will have absolutely no connection to their ultimate career path. I understand that being unemployed feels shitty, but there are so many cool things that you can do that don't involve working in Connecticut or staying at home. The fact that you don't have a desk job certainly should not be a cause for complaint.
Secondly, I think you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself. The fact that you weren't in Skull and Bones has absolutely nothing to do with your job prospects. Fucking get yourself out there, man.
You're defintely right to call my writing over the top. That tends to be how my mind works (especially when I'm frustrated about something) and my writing is the natural output of a melodramatic mind. I wish there were something I could do about it, but for now it's the best I've got.
I do take issue with your characterization of recent Yale graduates. I'm not sure which Yalies you know, but the vast majority my Yale friends and acquaintances are doing precisely what they want to be doing, whether they're in grad school, law school, the workforce, or elsewhere. Maybe my insecurities are playing tricks on my perception, but it definitely seems to me that most of my former classmates are on the fast track and that I'm one of only a few who are still struggling to figure things out.
I think it's interesting that you mention Skull and Bones, and I'm curious about why you're so firm in your belief that whether or not I was in a society has no relation to my job prospects. I've got some very strong opinions about Yale's society system, and I'd be happy to share them if you're interested.
Finally, your point about there being lots of cool things that I could be doing is well taken. That's been a major part of my frustration with myself these past few months. I don't know what's holding me back from making something happen. Fear, maybe. Complacency. A lack of confidence. All of the above. Feeling sorry for myself gives me a lot to write about, but it's not going to solve any of my problems.
Thanks for your comment. I hope you were as sincere in calling my writing entertaining as you were in all of your other points.
I wasn't talking about people in grad school. But at least with people in finance or other branches of the corporate world, the vast majority of people I'm acquainted with tell me they hate their jobs. And I don't know what you mean by the "fast track," but for people with your interests (literature, publishing, journalism) it doesn't seem like there really is a "fast track," at least in the same sense as there is in investment banking or law or something along those lines. Which brings me to point #2, which is secret societies. I brought it up because of the Skull and Bones person you mentioned who works for the New Republic or one of those magazines. I don't know if you were kidding when you questioned whether your inability to get a job related to your lack of secret society membership, but it seemed to me like a huge cop-out....oh well, this person was in Skull and Bones, I have no shot against her...that just seems like total bullshit. As for doing cool stuff, you're right, it does take a lot of guts, both that you'll find something to do and that you'll survive a situation that has the potential to make you really lonely. But frankly the alternative--living at home, watching Lost--doesn't sound a whole lot better.
keep up the brilliant work, mike...and it's true that everyone our age is still trying to find their way...no matter how cool their job may seem...In the meantime, you have a kickass blog going that's a little charlie kaufmanesque in its comedic approach to feelings of failure...you're awesome...
and PLEASE do a post on your secret society theories..would love to hear all about your thoughts on them.
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