the notion of the real world....

“ ‘Welcome to the real world’, she said to me condescendingly”
~John Mayer~

Funny. A bit sarcastic, just as I am. So true.

Lately I’ve been feeling the pull of the “real world” on my regular routine. Not only do I have 6 classes to balance with various clubs and jobs, but now added is the job search. It’s not only the job search because I actually think that is kind of entertaining. What begins to be a bit stressful is what needs to be figured out even sooner than the job. And that is….my living situation post-graduation. Sure, I could go back and live with my parents in Lake Geneva; they welcome me with open arms, but I’d like to grow beyond that.

I am graduating, and hoping to someday work in the advertising field. “Someday” being the operative word. I am only 21 years old and will remain that age until September. I don’t think that I need to, nor am I ready to settle down in a “real” job/career yet. On the other hand, I have a hard time going through 4 years of college just to graduate and say “I’m a beverage cart girl at my local country club” or “I’m a flight attendant for Midwest.” Both of these are viable options—sure, I could go back to the job I have had the last two summers because it’s great money and a lot of fun, but not so prestigious. Or I could go and be a flight attendant like my mother did because it would be GREAT to have the travel benefits.

The next question comes in of location. Let’s assume, I am going to grow up and get a “real” job. Where do I do it. I have some great contacts in the Milwaukee area and could find a job much more easily here, than anywhere else in the United States (or beyond, I suppose). It is true that I wouldn’t mind to end up in the Midwest someday, possibly to raise a family, but I’m obviously not ready for that quite yet. With friends scattered across the U.S. I have options to live places like Boston, Phoenix, San Diego, Chicago and so on…..

What to do, what to do????