Welcome to the Real World: Why I'm Not Afraid to Take the Plunge

No more pencils, no more books! No more teachers' dirty looks! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I'm graduating. As of today, only one week of classes and a few unwritten essays separate me from my grand entrance into The Real World. Do I really think it'll be a grand entrance though? Not at all. With the current state of the job market and the oh-so-practical nature of my academic pursuits (French and Italian Studies), I'll have to elbow my way into the workforce and then hang on for dear life. I don't expect to land a glamorous, six-figure job right off the bat (but a girl can dream, right?). And I do expect a lot of hard work to come my way. But after five years as a dedicated university student, what's so new about hard work?

Don't get me wrong: I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as a student at Queen's University and the University of Toronto. I just welcome the challenge that the job market presents. Sure, the interviews will probably be intimidating, and the inevitable rejections will be disheartening. That's life though, but determination, optimism and perseverance will hopefully help to turn the tide in my favour. I keep reminding myself that Rome wasn't built in a day, but the end product was worth the wait. Rather, I kind of like the idea of having to work really hard for what I want and building my ideal life piece by piece. Something tells me it'll be more satisfying that way.

Friends of mine have already entered into The Real World and are surviving quite well. They're working - some barely getting by while others are buying cars and taking vacations, but they're happy. They tell me that after the hectic life of a student, the life of a young professional is relaxing. They've developed new hobbies and find time to spend on things that round out their lives. They manage to eat better, feel less stressed, and can devote more time to their friendships and relationships. Not bad!

Enough of my thoughts - what are my actual plans? As luck would have it, last summer's internship has turned into this summer's (modestly) paying job. In June I'll be saying "Arrivederci!" to Canada and "Ciao!" to Tuscany, where I'll be working for a tour company and easing my way into The Real World one cappuccino at a time.