OPERATION: HAPPINESS
As young children, we're told a lot of things. It starts off as fairy tales: we'll meet Prince Charming (or at least a wisecracking owl) or create a innovative invention that will change the world. We're are led to believe - no, are expected to believe - that somehow, we'll have that moment, that point in our lives where everything will be clear and we'll transform from being mediocre us to spectacular us.
Then, the stories start to enlarge, ending with a final point that is one of the most society-accepted notions of the group: college earn you a good job and prospects. Or to simplify:
College = Jobs = Happiness
Unfortunately, there's something we haven't been told. Something that is in the Addendum of life, third paragraph, asterik at the bottom. This is not guarranteed. Sometimes, Cinderella doesn't get opportunity to try on the shoe. Maybe Ariel doesn't become a human, but really turns to seafoam. And I swear, if I had a nickel for every time a Snow White was left to forever be asleep... The fact remains that sometimes, it doesn't go to plan. There are other factors that we once didn't understand, but now know far too well. And so we're forced to stumble around, hoping that maybe we'll stumble on something correct (or at least in the ballpark).
I read an article recently that says 53% of college graduates last year are either unemployed, or employed in a position that has nothing to do with what they studied. I used to pride ymself in being always a little different, especially when it came to these sort of statistics, but I find myself horribly setting in that gaping 53%. The worst part? Theoretically, I did everything right. Straight A's in high school, scholarship, worked a full-time job to reduce debt, and graduated Magnum Cum Laude.
The result? Still in debt, working in a job that has absoultely NOTHING to do with my passion, while my soul slowly dies, one filed paper at a time. Somehow, after doing everything that I am 'supposed' to do, I still failed.
I've always liked math, but that equation didn't work. College is pushing the laws of MATH. This is far too much for me, so I decided to take this equation into my own hands.
So here it is. I'm a 22-year-old-college graduate who is trying to redefine what happiness is. Does this mean I'm giving up on my educational/career dreams? Of course not, but I do have to discover a way to function when dreams are put on hold. A lot of people struggle in college to decide what they're gonna be, but that's not the worst thing. The worst thing is knowing - truly knowing in your heart what you want to do and having no prospects on how to do it. It's a type of pain that's hard to describe; something that keeps you up at night, that takes your breath away, and makes you very, very sad.
So. As I try alternative ways to achieve what I want, I also realize that depending on the results of college and hard work is not healthy. Otherwise, you're left with a hole in your heart that you don't know how to fix, unless you reach your dream. This blog/what I want to achieve with it is the metaphorical stuffing and sutures.
CHALLENGE: Every month, I'm going to set a new Theme/Idea that is going to be the tone of the month. Trying new things, doing events that scare me, etc. If you're like me, insecurity and hesistation sometimes rules. Not anymore. Let's try some new things, meet new people, and rediscover what it means to be a person.
