Annie Kaiser ’11, a new Lawrence alum and previous Campus Correspondent for Her Campus™ Lawrence was kind enough to share her experiences post-graduation with us. Her candid account of her first summer on the job hunt was a startling introduction to reality but her Lawrence degree was what set her apart.
It was noon, and I was still in my pajamas. It was a Sunday in August, and there I was, sitting in my nighties at the front room table of my house, in plain sight of all the frolicking families at the park across the street. I didn’t even care.
Now let’s put this situation into perspective. In college, waking up around noon after an epic night of Long Islands and dancing at The Bar is almost congratulated. We all have the roomies that we gossip to in our pajamas and the string of friends that we will recount our night with when we go to brunch.
But it was August, and – like college – my crazy nights of partying were over. Instead of going out, I was working at Summerfest, catering to old people who were going out. How did I get here!? I remember clearing away the plates of expensive food for the V.I.P patrons of a local bank, asking myself why I invested so much money on a degree the left me with an unending loan, and seemingly everlasting unemployment.
I was used to the accolades and varsity sports, the parties and friends that fulfilled me throughout my time at Lawrence. Now my life felt like a bad song on repeat: wake up at noon, fix my resume, apply for a job, and go to work. Nothing was changing.
However, one Sunday, it finally did. My mom came home from church, finding me in the same predicament as usual. She said to me, “this week you are going to get a job, I have a feeling.” And whether it was her mother’s intuition, or the litanies of prayers that she probably said for me that summer, she was right. Later that week I got a call from a family friend who was looking to expand his small business and wanted a recent graduate to help him do so. The next week, I got a response from a Fortune 500 company who I sent my resume into (twice) for an interview. And the next week, I was contacted about an opening by a Lawrence alumnus in advertising who I did an informational interview with months before.
My point here is not to tout how good my life is or even suggest that my struggle is over; as a matter of fact, it has just begun. Rather, I mean to say that the frustration I felt last summer was normal, necessary, maybe even to be expected. That’s because life after college is fundamentally different from life in college. It’s something I was told, but falsely felt that I was immune to. Lawrence offered me a constant menagerie of opportunities and praise and wonder that I now realize is not guaranteed after the motivational speeches and the graduation ceremony are over. Although this led to an uncomfortable reality this summer, it also gave me time to realize that the experience at Lawrence gave me specific tools to learn, adapt, and ultimately deal with the uncertainty that differentiates successful people from the rest.
I realize (and hope) that my struggle is not representative of everyone. We choose different ways to move forward after Lawrence, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. But what I want it to remind you is to enjoy the unique time that is college – go to a recital, talk with your prof, and most definitely knock on a door of a person you don’t know. Always realize that confronting problems in Calculus II or managing your club are the precursors to future challenges – dare I say opportunities – that you will be ready to conquer for the rest of your life.
Best of luck on all of your future endeavors Annie!