Road Trip Wednesday is a Blog Hop sponsored by YA Highway
This week's topic:
How did you spend the summer after graduation?
The topic is inspired by YA Highway's discussion on Kody Keplinger's A Midsummer's Nightmare
It's been a few years... but my summer after high school graduation I spent working. I actually got a job at the housing office of my future college because I went to school in my own hometown. It was kind of cool that I got to familiarize myself with the campus and how it all worked before I became a student.When I interviewed, my future boss was so excited to tell me I'd get to work 40 hours a week.
40 hours a week?! Working full-time in a freezing cold office while the summer went on without me did not exactly excite me. I've never stopped working since.
That's sort of depressing. But I have to say, I LOVED my college and I worked for them in some capacity all four years (including working as an Resident Adviser which I also really enjoyed).
That first summer, I answered the 1-800 line for the residence halls (aka dorms), and let me tell you: parents of incoming freshmen are a force to be reckoned with. They freak out, they name-call and they, sadly, say very racist things when those roommate assignments get sent out. I saw an ugly side of humanity that summer. Sometimes in the background beyond a yelling parent I would hear a student pleading with them to just let it go. I did not get paid enough to answer that phone.
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Wow--that was quite an introduction to the working world! I suppose if you start with a job where you have to handle irate parents over the phone every day, future jobs can only seem better! :)
ReplyDeleteI've always thought (and still do) that working in a college/university would be pretty fantastic. Especially working in the registrar's office or something like that. I love the whole collegiate atmosphere a little too much. :) I've actually been thinking about looking for a job at the college just down the street from here.
ReplyDeleteMy university would employ quite a few students as ambassadors. They'd be guides on tours, go to visit schools and promote the school, help out at open days. Good pay though!
ReplyDeleteWell, at least you can say those experiences will enrich your writing ;)
ReplyDeleteI always say I work more during the summer than during university! It is very hard being used to sleep in most days and the in the summer suddenly have to work 40 hours for three straight months!
I would love to work for my University, because I love my school! It's so true though about the parents. I remember how tough it was for my parents to see me go.
ReplyDeleteWow, you went to Western? *starts humming 'It's a Small World After All'* It was one of the schools I considered, but I just didn't fall in love with it on a visit like I did my school.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Colin -- what an introduction to the working world and to college life. I'm hoping to find a job at my school next semester and maybe stay there next summer. (Mine isn't anywhere near my hometown so it's tricky.)
I worked at both of my universities while studying and I loved it!
ReplyDeleteIt gives such a different perspective when you know how the insides work.
Your phone calls with parents sound quite scary though but I am sure you handled everything very well!
Hi Stephanie, I was unsuccessful at reaching you via email about doing a guest post for you, so I thought I'd try here at your cool blog. You left a comment for me Re this over at Nerdy Chicks Rule. If you are still interested, email me at kamikinard(at)juno(dot)com
ReplyDeleteAll the best!
Kami
Phone jobs are the worst. People will say anything over the phone, it's quite disturbing...
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wild experience. Hope there were enough awesome parents to balance things out. It would be fun to work on a college campus.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I love your blog, and have awarded you the 7 X 7 link award. Details are on my blog here:
http://lorarpfictionblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/huge-thanks-to-michael-abayomi-this.html
Thank goodness you didn't stick with that job your entire college career--that would be enough to make you decide to give up on humanity and become a hermit!
ReplyDeleteOh, I loved my years working in Res Life. I was an RA in the on-campus apartments (not the Res Halls, although I worked security there occasionally). The summer before my senior year I stayed at school and was an RA for the senior citizen snow birds that returned from southern states for the summer. During the summer, alcohol was allowed on campus. Senior citizens + booze on campus = fun times.
ReplyDeleteWhat an introduction to work!
ReplyDelete