Staying True to Your Passions & Dreams

One thing that I’ve noticed with many of my friends is, despite having worked at the same company or in the same field for several years (many straight out of college), we’re still figuring out what we want to do with our lives.

I relate all too well with this struggle. In some ways, my career path is clear before me. In other ways, my life is covered up in such a heavy fog that I barely know where I am. Despite going to graduate school and getting a Master’s degree in counseling, there are so many things I want to do that it’s difficult to focus. But one thing is for sure: during this quarantine, my passion has come calling again and reminded me what I really consider important in my life.

Since elementary school, I’ve always wanted to write. I will never forget my sixth grade teacher who believed I could become a published author. But with pressures from my family to pursue a stable career, being surrounded by so many talented peers, and feeling insecure about my own skills, I never really worked hard at pursuing it. It became a hobby or something I would dabble in on the side if I had time for it.

12 Ways to Stay Positive & Motivated During Unemployment

As soon as quarantine hit, like many others I found myself without work and an income. It’s a crappy feeling not having a schedule, money, or anything to look forward to except job applications and the occasional video chats with friends. Sometimes getting up in the morning just feels pointless, and I’ve been struggling with despondency and apathy more often than not these days.

If you’re unemployed right now, you know how much it sucks. I know people who can’t pay rent while others are getting their hours cut and can barely survive on what they have. I get into conflicts with family members so much more since we’re in close proximity and I have no work to keep me busy. I’m happy for those who have benefited from this quarantine, but personally it’s been such a trying time.

However, to combat all of these negative thoughts swirling around in my brain, I’ve come up with a list of 12 ways to stay positive and motivated. If you have other handy tips, please share in the comments below!

After the Master’s Degree (Pt. 2): The Job Search

After a week or two of celebrating graduation, the reality of unemployment came roaring back in full force. I have never been very successful at finding a job right away, and my focus has been very distracted with school and family issues taking up all the space in my mind. At first, I was fine with the slow process and occasional rejection letters. I had a good interview though I didn’t get the job, but I wasn’t disheartened or too discouraged by it. More would come.

Now a month has gone by and the initial panic is starting to set in. I write endless cover letters that are starting to blend together and send resumes into the void of the Internet called Edjoin. I can’t help but compare myself to others who’ve gotten jobs right away or have tons of interviews lined up. I question my self-worth and wonder if there’s something wrong with me that keeps me from getting any offers. Once again, I am on this journey where I can only see the day of job applications ahead of me and nothing else.

In short: job searching is depressing. 

I know that my self-worth is not and should not be attached to a career path or how many interviews I’m able to score, but I can’t help it. I can’t help but compare myself to others no matter how much I tell myself not to, no matter how I try to distract myself. Despite all of the advice and help I’ve received in this process, I can’t quite figure out what I’m doing wrong. Maybe nothing. Maybe everything.

Sometimes it’s invigorating not having the future mapped out, but at times like this, it’s scary.

I would have hoped that by twenty-seven I would have had it all together, but life continues to throw me for a loop. Let’s be real: getting another expensive degree does not guarantee a job. It should, but it doesn’t. I wish we didn’t treat it as though it does.

But–and here’s the silver lining–as I have seen over and over again these past several years, timing is everything. So, I guess that means I just have to wait. And apply. And wait some more. I guess I’ll read some books or something while I’m at it.

If you have job searching tips, leave a reply below! I would love to hear your thoughts.