As per Sandy's request, an update:




I am still unemployed.




Ta-da!

Hello, unemployment.

Recent Events:

1) I have my Bachelor's in Science in History from Caltech. :) It sure felt good to walk across that stage and receive my diploma... though that may've been the first time I've ever shaken hands with Baltimore.
2) I have no job - Paramount Academy in Alhambra turned out to be not so great. Gonna check out Trader Joe's and Borders today.
3) I'm living in a great apartment with 5 friends for the next two months.
4) I miss my family. And my dog.
5) I miss living in Blacker around my other friends.
6) I miss the folks who moved across country... or farther. :(
7) At least I'm still seeing Sandy, Abby, Lucie et al. fairly regularly, dropping by the house to chill. It's fun.

I'm now a Caltech graduate/alumna! :)

I have to admit, it's a really good feeling. I just wish I didn't have to move too!

I just finished my 42 page thesis and sent it in to my advisor.
That was the last obstacle between me and graduation.

Now, I find myself asking, "Was that it? Is that all?"

I just feel like there should be something else more memorable. I guess graduation acts as the ritual of passage, to give some closure. Still, it's very hard to realize that I have 5 days here with friends, and then everyone scatters to the four winds. I have no idea if I'll see many of these people again. I think back to the time I had, and wish that I could've spent more time with all of them. (But then, of course, I would have flamed.) Did I enjoy most of my free time here? Absolutely. I just wish I could've been two to three places at once, and gotten to know many more people.

It's funny - I thought I'd be jubilant when I finally finished with this place, but it's ending not with a bang, but a whimper.

Wow, what a week.

1) Finally have a job! I interviewed at Paramount Academy in Alhambra Friday night, and the secretary signed me up to teach classes of 10-15 of English (4/5 grade), Math (4/5 grade), and composite Science (1-5) from 9-6 Monday through Thursday. I'll also be doing a fair bit of tutoring on the side during weekdays and Saturdays - although I admit to being very apprehensive at first, this place seems very legit and happy. Already today I had my first student, a 9th grader who needed help in Algebra. It was so nice to explain something and hear someone say, "Oh, NOW I get it!" :) That's certainly something I haven't heard in a long time. In any case, she really seemed to like me, and I'll be working with her for 4 hours every Saturday in English/Writing, World History, Geometry and 1 other topic I can't remember. Hello, 60$/Sat. Every little bit helps...

2) Speaking of little bits, I'm still considering doing stuff in my spare time for fun and/or profit. I'd like to keep painting and sewing, and those are easily things I could do in the evenings at home or in Blacker library. Selling things like that on eBay (or possibly through a gaming store here?) might be worth a try. And if it doesn't pan out, well, no harm done, and I can still pay the rent. :)

3) Began moving stuff into our new apartment on Orange Grove today. It's really nice, though getting large things up the stairs is a little tricky. Still need to move in the couch, and I should probably move my Ikea chair and lamp over in the next few days. Gosh, I really should pack up all my books - it'll take forever to do that - but I don't like the idea of living somewhere without making it feel like home. :/ The minute I take the books out of the bookshelves and the posters off my walls, 8 will feel empty and lifeless. All the same, I don't want to have mom and dad helping me move in - dad's back isn't doing so great, and I want them to be enjoying their time here instead of acting as free labor. :)

4) Trying to cope with the reality of upcoming graduation. I think that's part of why I've been so on edge: my stomach's been in knots recently, and finding a job was only part of it. I need to learn to stop worrying over the future.

Nothing like a stomach bug to throw a wrench in the works. :(

Reflecting more on recent events: I'm rapidly becoming very discouraged about job possibilities around here. It seems impossible to find anything, even for a summer/temporary position. I've sent out a number of tailored cover letters and resumes to different positions, even gotten a few interviews with places, but so far only ONE has looked positive at all. Unfortunately, that one won't really pick up till mid-July, and $20/hour for 3-10 hours a week isn't consistent enough to pay the bills. :(

At this point, I'm looking at office assistant jobs in the area... maybe something will pan out there, since none of the tutoring jobs seem to be what they're described as, or consistent enough to rely on a steady income. I'm kind of frustrated that most of these positions won't use my brain, but paying rent and putting food on the table has to come first this summer.

On the bright side, these problems make me much more secure about going to grad school. Sure, it costs money, and yes, it's another 5-6 years of schooling... but afterwards I'll be more marketable than I am now, and thank goodness. Hopefully the job market will also be better several years from now.

I wish there was a job where I could just do what I liked: tutor in math, science, history and english, play flute, sew creative garments, paint miniatures, translate languages... just be creative and show others how to do the same. -sigh- Renaissance women simply aren't in demand these days.