Last October, I started the long and stressful process of finding a full time job. And after 90 job applications and 6 interviews,
I got one! I have briefly mentioned this a few times in my last few posts, but I thought I would share a little more about how it is going to be changing my life very soon.
If you didn't already know, I graduated from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania last December, and moved back home to North Carolina just in time for Christmas. I have been working part-time in the office of the dance studio I grew up in since late December. In that time, I have learned so much about fundraising, marketing, and the management of non-profit organizations as a whole. I have gained some really valuable experience, despite the fact that I was only working 5 hours each day.
One of many lazy January days
However, moving back home after college is sort of just an awkward time in life. I had finished school early, so all of my friends from college were still in Erie, 8 hours away. And all of my high school friends were all still in school around the state of North Carolina. So I found myself spending a lot of time just sitting in my old room, submitting job applications, watching Netflix, and blogging. I actually got in the really bad habit during the winter of changing out of my work clothes into pajamas when I came home, at only 3pm...
I always had roommates in college, and my group of friends did basically everything together. So, I had a little bit of a tough transition from the college lifestyle. I'm more of an introvert, and I do enjoy some time alone. But I usually prefer to be around people, so I just really missed the life I had during my school years. I knew I was no longer a student, but I didn't feel like an adult yet either. I have just felt kind of stuck for the last few months.
I usually like to be busy, and it has been weird not having much to do. In middle school and high school I would spend hours after school at ballet, as well as a good portion of the weekends. In college I usually took the full course load, and I had internships during my junior and senior years. And of course, I also started this blog during my freshman year. So after working a few hours a day, I had all of this time during the week that I just wasn't sure what to do with.
Of course I spent lots of time looking for jobs, but there were points were it got very tedious and discouraging. Especially when most of the "entry level" jobs I was interested in expect years of experience that I don't have, and even the most recent job postings have an overwhelming number of applicants. But I have just been so lucky my parents have been so great during this time! They have not only let me live at home for free, they were always so supportive of my job search. Whenever I got discouraged, they knew just what to say to make me feel better.
at the Carolina Cup in Camden, SC in April
Although I felt kind of bored and lonely at home during the work week over the last few months, I had some really fun weekends traveling around the Carolinas. Along with, my trip up north with my family for my graduation. By the time I go to Charleston next week, I will have taken 17 trips to 9 different cities since I moved back home. I will have visited Charlotte, NC 9 times, Charleston, SC twice, Raleigh, NC twice, and one visit each to: Cary and Blowing Rock in North Carolina, Clemson, Camden, and Pawley's Island in South Carolina, and my grad trip to Erie, Pennsylvania.
I have never actually mentioned my home city on the blog before, but I grew up in Greensboro, NC and have been living there since I graduated. The location of the city in North Carolina makes it really easy to make all of these trips! Going to college in Erie made me really appreciate Greensboro. It's not that much of a city, but it is the 3rd largest in the state, we have some good shopping, great local restaurants, and some fantastic weather. Not that it's any different from any other city in NC, but the weather aspect was something I took for granted until I went to college in the city that has 2 seasons: winter and almost winter. I have really appreciated being back in the climate I grew up in this year!
Blog photos taken in Midtown Charlotte in June
Anyway, you may be wondering why Charlotte was on the list in that last paragraph nine times. The main reason is because of the blogging community there. I learned to really appreciate how much blogging has brought into my life over these last few months. Not only did I have a creative outlet and something to do when I only worked part-time, I have gained some really great friendships! Whenever I was missing my college friends, it was always so great to spend some weekends with new blogging friends. So, I visited Charlotte quite a few times for some blogging meet-ups, photoshoots, and other events like the Carolina Cup and the 4th of July.
And the second reason, is because two of those trips to Charlotte were interviews for my new job! And my last trip there was to find an apartment. I am so excited to be starting my first full-time job in an administrative and marketing role. I also can't wait to be able to call the Queen City my new home! It's only about an hour and a half from Greensboro, so I will still be able to see my family often, probably much more than I was able to in college. I'll be moving this weekend, and although it has all happened very quickly, I couldn't be more excited!
If you made it to the end of this post, congrats! It is more than I have written in quite a while on the blog, but I do want to start writing a little more on a regular basis. Anyway, I'm sure I'll be posting
a lot about my move and my new life in Charlotte. I plan on starting some new blog series with interior content of my new place, possibly some recipes, and of course the outfits I wear to work! And I apologize in advance if I am not posting as much as usual within the next few weeks. It may take some time adjusting to my new schedule, but I hope to go back to posting as normal very soon!
Thanks for reading!