It has been a while since I wrote something. After returning back to Massachusetts I was graciously offered a summer job for a TRiO Upward Bound program. I was quite happy to have things line up so nicely so that I wasn't left struggling to find a more permanent source of income just yet. At the same time I only spent 3 weeks in my old room since I had returned from Hawaii. I had to pack back up and move into a college dorm because the summer program I was working for was residential. This was to give the high school students enrolled in the program the chance to see what dorm life on a real college campus is like. The seven weeks I spent living and working with 60 or so high school students at Wheaton College was both highly rewarding and demanding. Pictured above is the dorm room I spent most of my summer in. The first few weeks were a bit difficult due to the lack of air conditioning along with a serious heat wave. There a few other issues that arose along the way, but I truly enjoyed this experience. I also really appreciated the staff members I got to know while working there.
Being in the dorm was quite strange at times because I never lived in a college dorm during my time as an undergraduate student. At first it was incredibly hard to sleep because I'm a very light sleeper and the students, well they were just students so lets just leave it at that. As I thought about my temporary home I realized that 2013 has been a year of moment. It felt very nomadic. A few calculations made me realize that I had spent almost 6 months sleeping outside of my own room. Then again when I read that last sentence I begin to wonder if such a place really exists at the moment.
Since the summer program has ended I've been playing the cover letter-hand shake-interview game, but nothing has come to fruition. Although, I have been surprised by the fact that I have had a fair number of interviews since my return. As I progress through this experience I can slowly feel the tension rising. My mind has started to churn quite quickly once again. As my reserve funds are gradually melting away I find myself caught in a thought cycle revolving around student loan payments, retirement plans, credit card debt, groceries, transportation, and everything else that comes with being an adult in society. Just have to stay grounded.
