October is here... and updates

So... one thing I didn't expect after graduating undergrad was for things to be this complicated. With this, one of the main things for me is finding a job that makes me happy and will help me become a better person.  I have had eight different jobs since 2014: I have worked at Jersey Mikes, as a psychology work study, a Public Relations work study, a tutor, a SI leader, an intern for the environmental health department, a camp counselor, freelancer for nonprofit, and Subway. (Out of all of these, the jobs I have enjoyed were being an SI leader, camp counselor, working at the env. health department (my favorite by far), and freelancing)  My experiences all are over the board - I have the most experience in communications, children, and mosquitoes - but I have very little experience in customer service, retail, office skills, etc. Which is frustrating - and add into the mix not having my drivers license can make things very tricky... Along with finding a job that allows for me to save an adequate amount of money to pursue my goals and subsist on. 

Second thing - graduate school. Last week, I was able to visit my first choice graduate school (CCSU) and meet up with a potential mentor.  She was very amazing - I felt like I was back at Catawba.  She spent 2 and half hours  talking with me - which was surprising. All of this was very exciting, including hearing about the classes I would get to take, working on a project, and possibly working with the CT agricultural station... There is a catch-22 - I need to find a topic to pursue to begin rolling the balls with grant writing, I have to have some money to put towards an application, tuition, jobs or if I can get stipends, and whether I will be accepted and do well.  I also need to look at other programs, in which I have to take the GRE - which quite honestly I don't want to do but it will have to do if I choose Southern or UConn.

All of this is pretty overwhelming at times - not going to lie.  However, I am determined to push through the job situation (including back to job search AGAIN) and if graduate school is meant to be, it will happen. I have full support system behind me and have someone else going through the same hurdles as I am with the grad school applications and figuring out what to do... so I am not alone in this.

Also - aside from the chaos that has been all consuming from grad school, life, and job searching... CT has been great! I have gotten the chance to visit some of the parks, various parts of CT (including Kent, New Milford, New Britain, Bristol, and Hartford) and have even done some of the local events that is common in Bristol - including the Mum Festival (not the parade though) and an event at Rockwell Park (that I just drew a blank on).  Still working on finding a church - but I have two in mind that I really like... hopefully once I start driving I can visit more in the local area.