Better Luck Next Time

I had an interview for an internship at a publishing house a few weeks ago. I found out recently that I did not get the position, which has me relatively upset: even though I have another position lined up for the summer, I wanted this one more – it’s more directly related to my area of interest.
However, I was offered the opportunity to take a similar position during the fall semester, but because of my schedule I was unable to take it. If I understand correctly though, I am on the “list” as a spring intern, so hopefully that will work out well.
It’s interesting because my levels of confidence have been proven wrong. Everywhere I was sure that I would hear from in a postive fashion have turned me down, but I seem to be getting call backs to the places I have lesser interest in.
Whatever works.

I can do what?!

I had a registration appointment for my first semester as a college senior about a week and a half ago. Everything was progressing as a normal appointment would when my advisor suddenly asks me “So, are you planning on attending medical school? Or how about law school?” Considering I am double majoring in English literature and English writing, I found this strange. How could I possibly go into either of those fields without a background in either political science/history or some form of science?
Apparently this isn’t all that uncommon though. Which I find strange. Very strange. How could I possibly be qualified to enter medical school as an English major? I withdrew from my biology class in the fall because I was not doing well. I’ve taken astronomy and intro psych as my sciences thus far – neither would carry me in the world of surgery, pills, etc. I was talking with my roommate about this and we determined the only thing I could do that would be useful would be write prescriptions that the pharmacist could read.

Opportunities are Everywhere

All I could think about when I was walking up to get my diploma was that I hope that I don’t fall. I was wearing heels and the spaces between the stairs looked like a disaster waiting to happen. As I approached the stairway, an elder gentleman passed me a postcard and said “Congratulations! Now you are one of us.” “One of us?” I thought. I didn’t even glance down to look at what he handed me. I was too focused on the shoes and those stairs. But once I got back to my seat, I examined the small postcard. It was an Alumni button and card inviting me to join my University’s alumni association. I had to admit that that was the last thing that I had on my mind. The postcard ended up somewhere in my desk at home and I thought nothing more about it.
The next following months were spent with my eyes glued to a computer stalking new job opportunities. If it had nothing to do with a job I was not interested. So you can guess my reaction every time the Alumni association sent me an email, a letter or anything about joining. I just was not interested. Then suddenly another organization in which I belonged decided that it would be in our best interests if our fledgling organization could get recognized by the University’s Alumni Association. I laughed to myself, reflecting all the times I dodged the opportunity. The first step was for us all to individually join the Alumni Association. After that was accomplished, we devised a presentation describing the positives of forging a relationship with them. We promised new membership, cultural diversity and volunteerism. We realized that being recognized by them could offer us extra funding which in turn would aid us in our community endeavors.
The Alumni Association was quite taken with us and loved our energy. In addition, the members of the Alumni Association were distinguished men and women, varying in age and expertise. They gave great career advance and offered excellent networks. After that meeting, I felt so stupid. Why hadn’t I joined earlier? I obviously did not realize the great opportunities that arise out of being apart of an alumni association.

Nothing Wrong With a Little Side Project

My last two weekends have been spent at the “good ol’” library compiling information for a little side project I am working on. As a graduate with a “what kind of job can I get with this” type major, I have accepted that that my day job can simply be that, a day job. And my weekends can be dedicated to the art that I love. After spending countless months searching for jobs, interviewing and silently cursing the workforce, I have accepted the truth. There is no definite or correct path that I must take. Sometimes you have to change your reality. You have to get PROACTIVE. If there is no venue for your voice to be heard, you have to create that venue.

Putting in the Time

I have been working as a TV-programming trainee for about two months now and I enjoy it very much. TV programming was not my first official choice but it was an opportunity to get my foot in the door, so I jumped at the chance. Every morning I enter Master Control, collect and fact-check end code sheets that specify the number of segments for each scheduled show. After I have successfully completed that task, I fax each sheet to all our affiliate stations, so that they can have a hard-copy for their records. End code sheets are constantly coming in during the day, so I am constantly collecting, checking and faxing them. My official capacity at the station is making sure all programs are physically and technically fit before airing. Realizing that I want my managers to see how dedicated I am, I have taken on many other side tasks. I check all beta tapes that are scheduled to air for closed captioning. I check log dumps. I pull all daily paid programming tapes as well as alphabetize commercial slots, making sure that all products are evenly spaced. I have been helping out wherever I am needed. I have expanded my job duties beyond the programming department and now I am present in the library, master control and traffic departments. I hope that I do not seem too eager. I just want my employers to recognize my drive and see that I am willing to work and put in the extra effort.

What’s in a Name?

Unlike myself, my sister always had direction. At the tender age of thirteen, my sister had already work-shadowed a very popular radio personality. That’s eighth grade people. However, my sister later discovered that it would be more beneficial to the rest of the world for her to also be seen as opposed to just heard, she, being one of the vainest people that I know. And I say that with the utmost of love. But I must agree, her personality is infectious and she has always had face for TV.
She attended the highly prestigious New York University, where she majored in Broadcast Journalism and Communications. She then went on to grad-school and excelled in Media Arts. After an extensive stint in higher education, my sister was ready and poised to take the world by storm. She immediately looked to New York and the many media opportunities that it offered. Through her networks that she acquired during her interning days, she fortunately got a position at a leading music channel. However, the job was not exactly what she went to school for. But it was a foot in the door. And this music channel was not any ordinary music channel. People killed to work there. You could be in Timbuktu, mention this channel and everyone would know exactly what you are taking about. And my sister believed that if she wanted to be the best she had to work with the best.
But after four years of working for the channel of her dreams, she is very far from happy. She had to admit that she simply accepted her first job because she wanted to be associated with the name. It is a daily grind in a completely stressful and thankless environment. She gave up offers to work for other organizations that actually dealt with what she wanted to do, reason being that nobody ever heard of them. Was this wise? I am certain that with her current job on her resume, it will be more than easy for her to land another position someplace else. But she feels as if she has wasted her time doing something hardly related to her field of study. Years where she could have honed her craft, were spent lingering in limbo. And she did it all for a name. So the moral of this story is: never rule out the little guy. They may lead you to your dream job faster than you think.

A Revelation

I am definitely on a mission for self-discovery. I have realized, like many others who read my entries, that I am still trying to find out what career would truly make me happy. It is one thing to say that you want to write, but write what, where and for whom? I still need to discover that. I thought television was where I belonged. So I started a training program at a very popular television station. However, the more I learn about television the more I question my desired place in it.
I shared my frustrations with a close mentor of mine and he instructed me to write down all the things that I consider to be important. Then, I was to figure out a way to incorporate these things into the career in which I desire. At first, I had to think about what I was supposed to be jotting down. Was my mentor referring to mundane things like location, salary, benefits and mobility? Or was it something greater than that. Of course those things matter but they are not on the top of my list. Finally I began to write. I wrote down words like: family, culture and social change. What did these words mean and did they answer my question. Then I realized what my goal was. I want to bring the West Indian-American community to the forefront. As a second-generation West Indian there is nothing closer to my heart than my culture. I live and breathe it everyday. This double-consciousness in which I and many others possess in which we are ethnic and American at the same time, inspires me to always challenge the norm and find ways to be recognized. My experiences in school, work and life as a whole have strengthened my creative talents and I wish to convey another facet of life. The West-Indian community is an untapped source of knowledge in regards to creative expression. I have grown up on great writers like Jamaica Kincaid and Ivan Van Sertima and they have inspired me beyond measure. I am now looking into publishing companies. I want to learn the process of book publication and the steps an author must take. In regards to television, I am still very much interested in continuing in that field as well. Despite the onslaught of reality shows, a great deal can be learned about people and culture through a television screen.

If Only I Wanted to be a Pharmacist

Sometimes I wish that I had wanted to become a pharmacist instead of a writer. Being Rita the neighborhood druggist is a lot easier then being the next Carrie Bradshaw. In most colleges, there are specific programs set up that set you on the right path to becoming a pharmacist. You put in your time and Boom! You’re a pharmacist. But when you want to be a writer or something artistic like that there is no such program. There are no classes, no residency you can complete that guarantees you will become the greatest talent to grace the white page since Ernest Hemmingway. I hate that. Everything in the Arts and Entertainment field is all up to chance and God-gifted talent. You have to be on the streets night and day, waiting, thirsting for that opportunity, for that next idea that no one has thought of and that will put you over the top. Put you above all the young bloodthirsty hopefuls that want it just as much as you do. You basically have to pimp yourself.
Don’t get me wrong; the things learned in college are immeasurable. When at university, the classes you take give you background, historical and current. The college experience alone teaches you many aspects of the human experience that is fundamental in transcribing emotion and reality into any type of artistic expression. I just wish there was some type of structure, some mentoring program in college that teaches aspiring entertainers how to achieve that goal. Of course, you have your drama schools and things like that but it’s never a guarantee. But that is the price you pay for wanting to own the world. So don’t give up on your dreams!

Part-time LifeSavers

Thank God for graduation parties! If I had not had one I could not have financially survived this past summer. But like all good things, my graduation money had come to a devastating end. By October I thought I would have found a permanent position. But I had not. So I had no choice but to find a part-time job. I really didn’t want to. But I knew that I had better chances of finding a part-time job than mysteriously being left money by an estranged and very distant relative. I had just gotten a new car and I was no longer on my parent’s insurance. So that meant I had to pay up. I still had my phone bill to worry about, along with my new best friend, “loan payments”. I needed money and fast.
Where was I to go? And what kind of part-time job was right for a college graduate? Well, wherever it was it had to be somewhat close to my house and it had to have flexible hours so that I could still look for a full-time job and go on interviews in the mornings. But before I could list all the attributes my new part-time job was to have, my new part-time job found me.
I was shopping for business suits with my mother, when suddenly my Mom picked up a paper which read, “We’re Hiring!” “Look Dev” she shouts with excitement. At that moment the sales associate looked at me and said “Do you need a job? Go right upstairs to Human Resources. They would be delighted to have you.” I took a look at my surroundings and thought to myself, “No way!” I hated retail and I am extremely bad at customer service. On top of that, it was the mall that all my friends from elementary to high school came to. I did not want to be seen. I would feel like a failure, like I had never left high school. A college graduate with a high-school job. I politely told the sales associate that my mother and I were in a hurry and would have to decide later. My mother looked peeved.
My mother continued to yell at me the entire car ride home. I was never going to accomplish anything if I didn’t work, she ranted. I wanted to but not there. She reminded me of all the responsibilities I had and that I was in no position to be picky. She was disappointed in me and I could sense that. I tossed and turned that night knowing that it was time for me to step up to the plate and actually be an adult.
The next day, I got dressed up in my business casual best and marched my little butt to that department store. I filled out an application and had an immediate interview with Human Resources. I was hired on the spot and was scheduled for training for the following Monday.
I have worked at my part-time job for almost two months now and I do not know how I survived without it. I can pay my bills and was even left with just enough money to pay for Christmas gifts. I have met great people and I actually have a knack for helping others. My mother is real proud of me and applauds my small accomplishments. Yet, she reminds me not to get too comfortable.

Career Disservices?

Like many soon-to-be graduates and devout job-seekers, I sought assistance from my University’s Career Services. Upon arrival I was greeted by an agitated receptionist who appeared to have better things to do than to hear my inquiries. It was either that or she had regretfully forgotten to get her daily dose of caffeine. Whatever the case, she was not enthused. Yet, I remained calm. I had no appointment but walk-ins were welcomed or so the sign outside stated. Fortunately, one of the advisors had a canceled appointment and agreed to see me. At this point, I thought things were looking up.
After five minutes of mindlessly watching campus TV, I was led to the advisor’s office. He was warm and inviting. Right away he asked me if I had drawn up a resume. I had. I took it out of its clear folder and he quickly grabbed it from my hands and began to proofread it. I guess it was procedure, even though I do not ask for it to be proofread. He made some suggestions which I found quite helpful. Then he brought out a paper that had recommended job searching sights on it. He briefly showed me each one and how to successfully explore them. After that demonstration, he asked me if I had any questions and that if I needed anything else I could call Career Services anytime Monday-Friday during business hours. And that was it.

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