I am officially looking for jobs in the Twin Cities.
The original plan was to start school at the university here in January, which meant re-taking that awful Chemistry II class in Nebraska for the next five weeks (one of those intense Monday through Friday, three labs a week, homework daily, a test each week type of class), so I wasn’t going to be able to work until late August.
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| Yep, this is how I look for jobs. (4th of July on the Stone Arch bridge) |
Due to the lovely issue of money and trying to be smart about finances…plans have changed. The summer class is about twice as expensive as it would be to take during the year PLUS summer financial aid is scarce and I would have to pay out of pocket over a grand for one awful class. Without a job.
I would also have to pay out-of-state tuition here since I won’t qualify as a resident until next June. It also turns out that once you start at a school as an out-of-state student…that is what you are classified as for the rest of your schooling at that institution. Great.
This here 26 year old gal will have to wait even LONGER to get her bachelor’s degree. I know I have an associate’s degree, and I am grateful for that, but in this educated nation, that doesn’t seem like a lot.
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| Daddio, me and Grandma Rose |
Feeling like a bit of a failure when I told my mom about my new plans, she told me she was 32 when she got her first degree! She got her degree while working full-time and having three kids to boot!
She also went back to school (with four kids this time in her fourties) after she got laid off from a job she liked whole a lot, to become a nurse…a job that she was quite frankly put on this earth to do. No joke.
She works in an area where many patients pass away and she just makes those patients and their family members feel comfortable and loved. She receives letters and phone calls from families who are so grateful that SHE was the nurse there. I am so happy that she is happy with what she is doing. She told me it doesn’t even feel like work some nights!
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| Don’t mind Rachey’s crazy face. She likes to ruin perfectly adorable pictures. |
I do love my plans and I definitely hate it when they have to change…but this could be okay. I can learn from my wonderful mother that things happen for a reason. And even if things happen for no reason, I could still learn from my mom to keep on keeping on!
I haven’t had any real experience in the health/wellness/fitness arena, so this is my chance to focus on that! I have some ideas and new plans that I’m excited about, so things are looking up!
{Breakfast} Peanut butter toast (of course!) with sunflower nuts and cinnamon sugar if I need an extra kick in the morning.
{Snacky Meals} I am a tiny bit obsessed with Wholly Guacamole and Beanitos.
{Dinners} I’m having fun making dinners for not only me but for Dave as well! Meals just taste better when you get to eat them with loved ones!
{Drinks} I got creative one night (probably when Dave was working and I couldn’t sleep) and decided to make some funky icecubes with frozen fruit and flavored water. They make keeping hydrated fun AND satisfy my fizzy craving so I’ve been drinking less diet dew! (shocking, I know)
{Dessert} Another mishap I had recently was making a skillet cookie. I was SO excited to make it! I found a recipe on Martha Stewart since the one I had pinned a year ago (on my I Heart Cookies board) no longer had an accessible recipe, but of course I had to change a few things. The changes resulted in a very salty, crunchy texture that I was NOT expecting.
After taking a bite, Dave agreed that they were very salty, crumbly and had too many nuts, BUT he would still be eating them. Why? Because although they weren’t what we expected..they still tasted good! The whole batch was finished within a few days because we accepted it for what it was (and used tea or milk to dunk the brittle cookie in). Get excited because I will be experimenting yet again and I’m almost certain this skillet cookie will be good enough to share!
And the last fail…yesterday I was supposed to attend one of Lee’s yoga classes. I was so excited/nervous! I scheduled it as one of my workouts on my Monday Moves, asked all of my Facebook peeps what I should wear and was ready to leave a full hour before the class started. I don’t know about you, but when I’m in danger of being TOO EARLY to something, I tend to end up running late by doing last minute things. This particular time I sat down to search for jobs. Dangit. I left later than I thought PLUS the 8 minute drive time ended up taking 30 minutes due to traffic and my gps that took me in circles.
I was SO frustrated and felt SO BAD that Lee saved me a spot and I didn’t make it! I decided to go for a walk and ended up being able to use the newly downloaded Nike plus app on my phone. I also got to know my neighborhood and the path nearby a little better. Also, no birds attacked me so I would call that a successful walk! I guess I just need to learn to keep on keeping on! Even when annoying things like getting lost in your own city happen!
Something else that weirds me out about my change in life plans is that now it really feels like I have moved permanently. I’ve lived in Nebraska all my life…and now I’m six hours away from all things familiar!
Knowing that I was going back to Nebraska for 5 weeks this summer made me feel like I had that time to say goodbye to everyone.
I kept telling people, “it’s okay, I will be back this summer.” I was overwhelmed with homesickness when I realized I wouldn’t get this chance. This is why I talked to my mom and dad for an hour each on Monday. I’m not a big phone person and would usually just wait to talk to my parents at birthdays and holidays, but I’m realizing this has to change!
Well, I better get to my job hunt, huh? Happy Wednesday!
Have you moved far away from your hometown? How do you keep in touch with family and friends?
How have you learned to “keep on keeping on?”
Linking up to the lovely Jenn at Peas and Crayons!
Good luck with the job hunt!
I can’t say I’m really that far “away” from home, but for me, keeping in touch with people was greatly helped by social media, on top of the usual texting, phone calls, etc.
Here’s the bit that sounds depressing – and I’m not sure it’s true for everyone – but it was in my case: In the end, I also had to learn to accept that people who want to stay in touch, will, but that won’t be everyone. I tried SO hard to keep up all of my HS friendships (most of them stayed in my hometown vs moving 1.5 hours), but in the end, they weren’t all meant to be. The biggest thing for me was learning that was okay, and that I’d make some new friends, and keep some old ones.
Also: Do you make your own sweet potato fries? I’m OBSESSED.
Thanks girl! I have noticed that even living in the same city as high school friends. Some are meant to be and others grow apart!
I actually buy them frozen! The brand name is Alexia and my favorite is the chipolte fries!!
Good luck with the job hunt!
I can’t say I’m really that far “away” from home, but for me, keeping in touch with people was greatly helped by social media, on top of the usual texting, phone calls, etc.
Here’s the bit that sounds depressing – and I’m not sure it’s true for everyone – but it was in my case: In the end, I also had to learn to accept that people who want to stay in touch, will, but that won’t be everyone. I tried SO hard to keep up all of my HS friendships (most of them stayed in my hometown vs moving 1.5 hours), but in the end, they weren’t all meant to be. The biggest thing for me was learning that was okay, and that I’d make some new friends, and keep some old ones.
Also: Do you make your own sweet potato fries? I’m OBSESSED.
Good luck with the job hunt!!!
I moved 4 hours from my HS home town right after I graduated and then each move was further and further away – grad school was over 12 hours!!!
It is a lot easier to keep in touch with people now than it was way back then – FB is a huge thing for me in keeping up with friends from growing up.
I hope all goes well as you search for a job and when you start back with your classes!
Thanks Kim! Wow I’m not sure how I would feel about being 12 hours away from my family! Yes facebook does help with friends, but I need to remember to call the parents! 😉
Good luck with the job hunt!!!
I moved 4 hours from my HS home town right after I graduated and then each move was further and further away – grad school was over 12 hours!!!
It is a lot easier to keep in touch with people now than it was way back then – FB is a huge thing for me in keeping up with friends from growing up.
I hope all goes well as you search for a job and when you start back with your classes!
I know that it’s not what you had planned, but maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. I took Chem II over the summer in the same context (RIGHT after taking Chem I in the summer session beforehand) and I was SO burnt out by the end of the summer. I do not wish that kind of stress on anyone! This summer I’m taking Biochemistry which is turning out to be just as bad even though I’m not taking the lab. Look on the bright side!
Oh goodness science classes over the summer sound TERRIBLE! Good luck with the biochemistry though! I think the lab is the thing that I’m least excited about repeating…bleh!
I know that it’s not what you had planned, but maybe it’s a blessing in disguise. I took Chem II over the summer in the same context (RIGHT after taking Chem I in the summer session beforehand) and I was SO burnt out by the end of the summer. I do not wish that kind of stress on anyone! This summer I’m taking Biochemistry which is turning out to be just as bad even though I’m not taking the lab. Look on the bright side!
I truly believe with all my heart that everything happens for a reason. We may not understand it now but we will eventually. This will give you time to focus on those ideas/plans you mentioned. Wanna give me a sneak peak of what that is? If you ever feel like talking/venting to a fellow blends I’m here! Feel free to message me on fb! 🙂
Aw thanks Lauren! I really do appreciate the support!
I truly believe with all my heart that everything happens for a reason. We may not understand it now but we will eventually. This will give you time to focus on those ideas/plans you mentioned. Wanna give me a sneak peak of what that is? If you ever feel like talking/venting to a fellow blends I’m here! Feel free to message me on fb! 🙂
I love plans and I hate when they change too. I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing, and I don’t know when I’ll get my degree. I got my bachelors’ degree at 22, but I won’t get my masters until I’m at least 32 (unless I break to have kids, then it will be more like 42), so I definitely hear you. And I feel your pain about finances. I waited so long to start my masters’ degree because I couldn’t afford to pay rent, pay off my loans, and take classes and I didn’t want to take out MORE loans on top of what I already have to pay back. I’m mostly done paying off my original loans, so full-time could be a possibility, but not for a while yet. I’ll just keep living the dream of working full-time and taking 1 class at a time when I can. 🙂
Isn’t it crazy thinking about still going to school after 30?? My mom did it though and survived so at least I know it’s possible! I think it is important to think about the amount of debt we are in. I know people think of college loans as okay because they are for education…but at a certain point…debt is debt right?
No … At some point debt is debilitating. 🙂
I love plans and I hate when they change too. I’m not sure what I’m going to be doing, and I don’t know when I’ll get my degree. I got my bachelors’ degree at 22, but I won’t get my masters until I’m at least 32 (unless I break to have kids, then it will be more like 42), so I definitely hear you. And I feel your pain about finances. I waited so long to start my masters’ degree because I couldn’t afford to pay rent, pay off my loans, and take classes and I didn’t want to take out MORE loans on top of what I already have to pay back. I’m mostly done paying off my original loans, so full-time could be a possibility, but not for a while yet. I’ll just keep living the dream of working full-time and taking 1 class at a time when I can. 🙂
Thanks girl! I have noticed that even living in the same city as high school friends. Some are meant to be and others grow apart!
I actually buy them frozen! The brand name is Alexia and my favorite is the chipolte fries!!
Thanks Kim! Wow I’m not sure how I would feel about being 12 hours away from my family! Yes facebook does help with friends, but I need to remember to call the parents! 😉
Oh goodness science classes over the summer sound TERRIBLE! Good luck with the biochemistry though! I think the lab is the thing that I’m least excited about repeating…bleh!
Aw thanks Lauren! I really do appreciate the support!
Isn’t it crazy thinking about still going to school after 30?? My mom did it though and survived so at least I know it’s possible! I think it is important to think about the amount of debt we are in. I know people think of college loans as okay because they are for education…but at a certain point…debt is debt right?
No … At some point debt is debilitating. 🙂
I technically haven’t moved very far from home even though I moved out of state – it was only 10 miles north and over the border from IL into WI. The twin cities would actually be a top choice if I did move far because my sister lives up there and I have lots of extended family within a 2 hour drive. I have not finished school either. I just don’t have the money and I work full time to support myself so when I have taken classes it is only a few at a time. Part of the problem is that I don’t have a specific career in mind. I don’t want to take out huge loans if I don’t have any direction. I recently started looking at a different school to finish my associate’s at least.
It’s definitely a tough spot to be in…getting into debt versus not having a degree. In some cases it’s a toss up! Hopefully you are happy with what you are doing! 🙂
I technically haven’t moved very far from home even though I moved out of state – it was only 10 miles north and over the border from IL into WI. The twin cities would actually be a top choice if I did move far because my sister lives up there and I have lots of extended family within a 2 hour drive. I have not finished school either. I just don’t have the money and I work full time to support myself so when I have taken classes it is only a few at a time. Part of the problem is that I don’t have a specific career in mind. I don’t want to take out huge loans if I don’t have any direction. I recently started looking at a different school to finish my associate’s at least.
It’s definitely a tough spot to be in…getting into debt versus not having a degree. In some cases it’s a toss up! Hopefully you are happy with what you are doing! 🙂
I know how you feel! I went to college 6 hours away from home. It does get easier!! I now only live 4 hours from home and love the “quick” drive back. I live about an hour away from you and can tell you Minneapolis/St Paul is a fabulous area! I’m usually there every other weekend. (I live in a super tiny town and need to get away) The best advise to keep on keeping on is to keep busy. Find farmers markets, try out different gyms,restaurants etc. That way when your family/friends come to visit you’ll have loads of places to take them to! If it makes you feel any better, i’m almost 28 and am still thinking about going back to school just so I can get a different job!
That is great advice Shannon! I know when I find a job and start meeting more people it will get better…and it’s not all that bad now! I should definitely check out the farmer’s market! I’ve heard it’s great in Minneapolis!
You know, it really is never too late to go back to school. The only reason I feel bad about my schooling situation is when I start to compare myself to others. I say go for it! You are still super young!!
I know how you feel! I went to college 6 hours away from home. It does get easier!! I now only live 4 hours from home and love the “quick” drive back. I live about an hour away from you and can tell you Minneapolis/St Paul is a fabulous area! I’m usually there every other weekend. (I live in a super tiny town and need to get away) The best advise to keep on keeping on is to keep busy. Find farmers markets, try out different gyms,restaurants etc. That way when your family/friends come to visit you’ll have loads of places to take them to! If it makes you feel any better, i’m almost 28 and am still thinking about going back to school just so I can get a different job!
That is great advice Shannon! I know when I find a job and start meeting more people it will get better…and it’s not all that bad now! I should definitely check out the farmer’s market! I’ve heard it’s great in Minneapolis!
You know, it really is never too late to go back to school. The only reason I feel bad about my schooling situation is when I start to compare myself to others. I say go for it! You are still super young!!