Student Life at Puget Sound

Graduate life is a very interesting thing indeed. For me, break was a much needed time to catch up on the sleep I missed during the last few months of school; two hours per night is not enough to survive for very long. But it is enough to make it through a thesis and other piles of work (all of which I passed, thank you very much). Other than sleep, there was a lot of filling out job applications, playing with my niece and nephew, getting overly frustrated while playing Super Mario with my mom, and an untold amount of crafting and knitting.

But now I’m supposed to be a real life person and that is a hard thing to do when:

A.) You are in close proximity to your friends

B.) Your friends are still in college

C.) You still haven’t pinpointed what careers float your boat

D.) You don’t have a job yet

E.) Your job hunt grinds to a halt due to the Snowpocalypse 2012 (also known as six inches of snow and too much freezing rain)

Luckily for me, I have faith in liberal arts education. I have faith in the skills that I have, and I’m working on it as hard as I can. I’m applying for jobs that interest me. I’ve had a few interviews and I’m hoping that something will shake out. I’m learning to be extremely organized and attempting to become more aggressive. And I am appreciating the time I have to work through other projects. I suppose post-college limbo isn’t really so bad. And at some point, I have faith I will emerge into some kind of real-life that I can really enjoy.

Well guys, we’re reaching the end of the semester. In approximately 1 final, 4 papers, and the final draft of my thesis, I’ll be graduating! I’m in crunch time now. So crunchy, in fact, that I’ve begun resorting to study aids such as Rainymood and Written? Kitten! as well as copious amounts of tea and coffee to help me get things accomplished. I’m still on the hunt for a post-graduation job, but attempting to get all my work done, while holding a job, trying to have a social life/enjoy my last day of college, and job hunt at the same time has proved to be incredibly overwhelming. And while my Thanksgiving break was superb and much needed, it still didn’t relieve all of my stress. My poor mother has received more than one over-dramatic and teary phone call from me in the past few weeks, because not getting enough sleep and having more work than ever is never a good combination; it basically turns me into a land mine, where the smallest, most unimportant thing will set me into hysterics.

In other news, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much I’ve enjoyed receiving my education at Puget Sound. It really is a lovely place. I’ve been wandering around taking pictures in the rain, and I’d love to wander around and take some in the chilly sunshine that is gracing us today, I’m living in the library. I am a library-dwelling creature now, and this desk is my new home. Because of this, I must get back to the piles of work I have. Wish me luck!

As a born and bred, blood and soil Montana girl, the Pacific Northwest never fails to surprise and impress me with its beauty. You’d think, growing up in a place where Glacier, Yellowstone, and the Bob Marshall Wilderness are basically in my back yard, I’d be able to get used to the beauty of the Northwest. Alas, this is not the case. The misty rain-drenched forests and the foggy green landscapes of Washington and Oregon are something completely and continually new to me, and something I don’t think I’ll ever find anything but fascinating. There is nowhere like the northwest, and even when it rains for 2 weeks straight, I think at least it isn’t snowing, and I go right back to loving this place.

After a great summer of roller-derby, working at Sonic, and hanging out with my family (especially my niece and nephew), school is finally back in full swing (and I’m finally getting used to carrying a Puget Sound course-load again). So, naturally, because this is my last semester at Puget Sound, it is also a semester of firsts.

This is my first semester:

• back from studying abroad in Vienna for a semester.
• as a genuine senior.
• being 21.
• searching for a proper post-graduation job.
• writing a thesis.
• living off campus. (Check out the picture of my wonderous room!)
• with a car to drive.

This last semester is presenting me with such a weird mix of nostalgia for the past, seize-the-moment sentiments for the present, and pure unadulterated panic for the future.

So I’m going to try and be a faithful poster between the thesis, all the other work, my radio show on KUPS, BGLAD meetings, volunteering with a local Girl Scout troop, trying to get some time on my roller-skates, my desire to enjoy my last few months of college, and the job hunt, and I’m going to try and keep you updated on how this juggling act goes!