I don’t have to do much to make my parents proud. Don’t get me wrong. My parents have always upheld high standards. My valedictorian status is one example of how academics in school was a top priority in my family. My dad still talks about me graduating Summa Cum Laude in college. He says it’s not bold and big enough on my resume.
Out of high school, those proud moments are harder to predict. They were proud I went to Spain, learned Spanish and maximized my time there. They were proud I went to New York alone to make it. They were proud I found a place to live and a way to make a living while I find a full-time job. They are now proud I am going to networking events and meeting great, successful people. Overall, they are just super proud parents.
It’s not enough for me. I want to make them over the moon. I want to change my metaphorical clay flowerpot that my mom would love anyway because I MADE it into a true work of art. I want to make my dad remember all of his first successes out of school. Believe me, they were many. The first company he interviewed with after the service flew him out to New York, put him up in nice hotel in downtown Manhattan and fed him. He then got the job and traveled and worked around the world.
Needless to say, the economy has changed a little since then.
Honestly, I am fed up with the economy and the job market numbers. I get so frustrated because well, I graduated from college Summa Cum Laude, have extensive international and work experience, am bilingual, am friendly, have great interpersonal skills, work hard and driven. I’m a catch. So why is no one catching me yet? I guess I was expecting it to be an uphill battle, but I wasn’t expecting the snowstorm. Unpaid internships are the new entry level positions. Hiring freezes. etc. etc. etc. I just need a foot in the door but I would love to get PAID for my work. Is that such a hard thing to ask for?
The snowstorm hasn’t stopped me yet. I’m resilient. I now have my snow boots to keep trekking. It’s a challenge for sure, but I just want to make both myself and my parents proud, have a place to belong and make a real contribution to something great.