In the endless search for direction in life, my latest venture has led me to try to find something I previously reserved only for summers and the future. I am looking for a job. I need a job that pays well, has flexible hours and allows me to do homework while I work. It is sad but true that the ideal trade for the college student is the one that grants him or her the most amount of time to do other things while on duty. It is not professionalism or a suit and tie that I desire; I just want to do something that doesn’t bore me.
The perfect profession would be the one in which I got paid, but never had to do any work; alas, this is real life and sinecures are only for the lucky. Speaking of luck, does anyone know just how much a pair of Lucky Brand Jeans costs nowadays? The point is, that idiom “money doesn’t grow on trees” has never really made sense to me until now. My bank account is dwindling faster the fan base of Brother Micah, but talking won’t help this time; the only thing left to do is act.
I put in a scrambled application to Take It Away Sandwich Shop last year, and they have yet to respond — I am keeping my options open. Arch’s Frozen Yogurt’s front window said the store was hiring, but they had suspiciously run out of applications when I “inquired within.” I hear the libraries are fully staffed, so I guess the only alternatives I have left are to start turning tricks on Jefferson Park Avenue or selling mota on JPA extended.
Just as I was about to give up the hunt, I thought about working at one of my favorite places to go on Grounds. It is a close, conveniently located workplace with a friendly and energetic atmosphere that is just screaming for my assistance. The haven I speak of is Memorial Gymnasium. Not only would I feel comfortable working there, but I would gain valuable experience to be used later in tandem with the art history degree with which I wish to graduate from this University.
While Mem Gym, or any gym for that matter, would be a great place to work, it has no connection to any of my future plans — but as I have stated before and cannot stress enough, my explanation for wanting to work is nothing more than the necessity of money in everyday life. If sustenance and entertainment were not of prime importance to me, money wouldn’t be either.
Unfortunately, I have not put in said application to Mem Gym so I doubt they’ll be contacting me any time soon. I keep telling myself that I have been procrastinating with finishing the application because it requires that I look up my references’ information, but I think I know the real reason. I believe my unwillingness to actually submit a legitimate application relates to my fear of rejection. I am worried that if I show a genuine interest in finding work, an employer may not reciprocate that interest.
I think the scariest thing about getting (or having) a job is finding the time to actually do the job. I feel so incredibly busy right now that I can’t even imagine how I am going to fit in another 10-hour chunk of time into my already crammed week. As I continue to look for the ideal job and fantasize about having an infinity symbol next to my bank account number, I will remind myself that there is more to life than money. Happiness and fulfillment should be our ultimate goals. But hey, on the upside, Arch’s just called to inform me that it now has a new batch of applications.
Ian’s column runs biweekly Thursdays. He can be reached at i.smith@cavalierdaily.com.
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