Bryson T--My Life on the D-List (ha ha)
 

So not that anyone cares, but can I just have a moment to complain about this D-list life that I am now living?

I am a college graduate. It took me 6 years to get my bachelor's, but I was very indecisive. I began with early childhood education as my major and then switched to business management. After a semester of accounting classes, I decided business was not for me. It was then that I decided communication was what my heart really desired. I loved everything about that major; I loved journalism and reporting, broadcasting, graphic design, and even public relations. Advertising wasn't so much fun for me because my brain doesn't work that way, but I waded through those classes and finally graduated 6 weeks ago.

I felt very proud of myself because no one in my family had ever graduated college; heck, most of them didn't even finish high school, so needless to say, this was quite an accomplishment for me. Through college I worked my way up the food chain and became a general manager for a large catering company in Salt Lake where, ironically, I made pretty good money and almost decided to drop out of college. But no no....I stayed firm in my college decision and kept going. After transferring to a different university, I started to work for a magazine and quickly became an editor. Editing is my passion, although I am sure there will be errors in this post, it is something that I truly love. I designed layouts and completely restructured a magazine that had been around for over 20 years. I really thought I was ON MY WAY in life, you know? I had my degree and now it was time to take over the world, right?

Well--that has not been the case. It's a horrible time to graduate with a degree in communication. Newspapers and magazines aren't hiring, in fact, with all the online news, most print organizations are going completely out of business. So I've been applying for every job that I am possibly qualified for, only to be turned down or never called back. I've been out of work for 6 weeks and finally, 2 days ago, I walked into a restaurant called Hoppers, and applied to be a hostess. This is surely life on the D-list to the 10th power.

I just got home from my first night of work and I feel extremely pissed off at the world, haha. I'm 24 years old, I have all this work experience and a degree and I do not want to be trained by a 16 yr old kid thats in high school. It's so soul stripping, really. But what really irritates me, is how seriously Hoppers takes the position as a hostess. I am going through like...some hardcore training. I am supposed to work in the morning and I am deathly afraid to go back, lol. Give me a 200 page magazine and I will have it ready for you in 3 days, but give me a restaurant full of angry, hungry people, and I will just freeze up. This is terrible. I feel so....hmm, grateful that I have any income at all, but also very disappointed and discouraged that I am the lowest individual on the food chain at Hoppers. Like, what the hell am I supposed to do with my life? What I am making there is like, pocket change, you know?

I actually have enough education credits to qualify me to teach kindergarten and I applied this week for a teaching position, but I won't hear back from them until Monday. Still, teaching kindergarten isn't a ton of money either, but damn--I have expensive tastes, lol. I can't even go to the mall with my best friend because it's too much for me to walk past bebe and Banana Republic and NOT go inside, because if I do, I will starve for the rest of the week because I WILL spend my grocery money, lol. I went to Urban Outfitters with an old friend on Saturday and found the cutest dress and sandals that I desperately needed....but I couldn't afford it. I CANNOT LIVE ON THE D-LIST! This kind of life is not for me. I need help. I think I am really going into cardiac arrest, guys. I haven't slept for 2 days straight because when I try to sleep, my heart starts to race and I really think it 's because of financial stress, haha. No--not funny, very serious.

Is there any hope for me? Somebody please tell me that this is only temporary and that I will someday have a real job because me and Hoppers cannot build a long term relationship. I can't do it. My heart can't take it, lol.

On a brighter note, Fleetwood Mac played 3 times tonight while I was at work, haha. "Little Lies", "Seven Wonders", and "As Long as You Follow"--apparently this was some 80s playlist or something, but it was pretty cool. I also heard Tom Petty about a thousand times, which is cool, because Tom Petty and I are going to get married if something happens to Lindsey Buckingham.

Anyway guys-- is there hope in these economically challenged times for me to find a real paying career??? Well, at least if I become famous someday I can dramatize this whole period in my life, much like Stevie has done, and make people feel even more sorry for me. AHHHH! Damn the D-List life!

Hi Bryson,

Reading this post was great, if a little eerie...I say eerie because the life you're describing is typical of almost everyone who graduates. Trust me, I feel your pain in being trained by someone like you describe. I've done the years of waiting tables and when I get this damn phD done I hope to GOD I don't have to go back to that until my first academic job appears. I feel for you, I really do. One rule I always have for waiting work: DO NOT serve anyone who:

a) clicks their fingers with their arm in their air to summon you
b) whistles in the same manner
c) says "oi" to get your attention

God, I hated that. I almost got fired for refusing to go over to a table who kept whistling and raising their arm. As I said to my boss "I could never answer to a whistle. Whistles are for dogs, cats and other small animals but not for waiters and definitely not for me." Using that quote cracked her up and she didn't fire me. Phew! Bonus points if you can name where it's from...

The other thing is, your experience is so, so similar to avery good friend of mine who works as an assistant editor on a magazine in Scotland. She did her degree, then another year of studying publishing and had to wait for a good while in crappy jobs before getting the one she has now. Turns out she's been there 3 years now and, while she's not entirely happy in the job, she's clinging onto it for dear life because. as you say, there's not much happening in print journalism at the moment.

That said, it's only been 6 weeks for you. I don't mean that to sound patronising because I'm sure as Hell it's felt like 6 loooooong weeks but thinkgs will look up. At the very least you'll end up with a better "stop-gap" job than waiting tables. I'm sure you've thought of this already but have you considered temp agencies? They're an absolute Godsend for people like us who are waiting for our careers to start and I know from experience that they LOVE people with clerical/admin/computer skills, which I'm sure you'll have picked up from your degree and other work experience. Then again, some temp agencies are struggling as it is but at least it's worth a try.

The thing is to not settle for a job waiting tables as a stop-gap if you really hate it. Keep looking, even if it's for another temporary job. I'm sure you will/are already though!

Good luck!!

Bryson, I would have to respectfully disagree with Dodfather here. In this economy
it's good to just have a job. Not that you have to stay there though. I say hang in
there, but keep looking for something better. Based on your YouTube videos, I
think someone with your bubbly personality and the experience that you have will find something soon.

This is exactly what I meant. Of course I would advise keeping the job she has! I've never quit a job without having something to move on to. I meant don't stop looking for something better now that you have a job.

I got 'cha.
COOL BEANS

Sorry, I just re-read my post. I didn't mean to sound angry or anything...what was with the exclamation mark? Man, I blame it on a Sunday morning...Apologies!

I second Dodfather's idea of temp agencies. They're a great way to find a job that might be more in line with your interests, and temp placements have been known to turn permanent! If nothing else, you'll gain even more skills and experiences to add to your resume.

Here's on agency that allows you to apply and search for jobs online, but there are many others out there: http://www.manpower.com/

Good luck!

cool, never heard of that site before!
Bryson..some others are:
http://www.monster.com/, Careerbuilder.com, http://www.snagajob.com/, and http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/

Hoo boy. I know exactly you feel. I graduated in '02 with a degree in public relations and English and no one was hiring even then. I decided to go to grad school in communication, and then when I finished with my master's, I found that I had too much education and too little experience. I've worked in education and the nonprofit sector since then.

Have you looked into getting an internship at a company or organization you're really interested in? Or perhaps do some volunteer work? Unfortunately, simply having a degree isn't enough anymore, especially in those "fuzzy fields" like communication. :) Try to get as much diversified experience as you can, and it will eventually pay off.

Less complaining. In these dark times... be thankful for what you have. Are you starving? Are you homeless? Do you have clothes on your back? Do you have a car? America is still land of opportunity & wealth & nice things. That's not to say I'm not empathizing with your situation. ;) I can also add you should be doing your absolute best, no matter what kind of job you have. Don't let complacency set in. Keep your head up, keep looking for that job you desire... and something will come along. As they say, things are always darkest right before the dawn.

The rest of your post gives good advice, but her complaining didn't seem gratuitous to me. Bryson said she's the first in her family to make it through college--coming from that background, it makes sense that college would seem like a golden gateway to a well paying, career building job. Hell, that's the way it's billed. People complain when they're disillusioned, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Oh I would agree... but it's much easier to pick yourself when you force yourself to stop complaining. I'm not discounting her accomplishments. ;)

:) That I can agree with.

Aye, i sounded a wee bit harsh there but didn't mean any foul. Hey, I do the same thing myself... when I find myself complaining and whining about how bitterly unfair I think my life has been, then I take a look around and sort of feel like an ass. I'm very blessed, and fortunate. ;)

Well thanks for your responses, guys. I've definitely been searching for any and all opportunities in the communication field, as well as anything that pays, haha.

I don't really feel like I am complaining though. I mean, to a certain extent, we all have our complaints in life, right? When I was in school, homework and tests were ruining my life and I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. But then, before I began college, working full time would sometimes be overwhelming and I'd complain, naturally. We all do it, but I really am grateful for whatever job I have. I just find myself getting discouraged. I know there are others going through things far worse than this. A friend of mine is a single parent and she was out of work for almost a year. So compared to that, I really have no room to cry. And I'm not crying...I'm just trying to make it through each day and hopefully things will get better. They have to, right?

But thanks again for your comments and input; it's greatly appreciated! Luv to all!

Yes, you seem like a very... positive person. I'm sure that you're going to cross paths with a better opportunity very soon. The fortune cookie predicts it! ;)