The Post-College Job Hunt

Now that I’ve finally graduated college, I’ve come to the next logical step in life: finding a post-college-worthy job. Given the sad state of the economy, my hopes aren’t exactly high. But a few days searching endlessly through Craigslist have been both enlightening and a harsh reality check.

I absolutely want to find a great job, but I will not be content spending eight or more hours a day within the confines of a cubicle. I live in a beautiful, incredible place with mountains to climb, trails to hike and beaches to gorge upon. I might be naive in my job search, but I know what I want.

The truth is that I’m 23 and living in paradise; I’m not ready to give up on my beach-laden dreams. I’m too happy with my laid-back, active lifestyle to sacrifice my happiness for a shitty job because that’s what society expects me to do.

As far as careers go, my primary goal is to be happy. I would like to work for a company or organization that supports a good cause, and I would love to get out early enough to go surf – even if it means dragging my ass into work at six in the morning. I’m not even looking for a job with the most prestigious company or with the highest pay. The job I’m looking for is one that supports who I am, what I want, and the woman I’m destined to become.

I don’t know if my goals are unrealistic or impossible. I only have one life to live, and I plan to take advantage of the fact that I’m young, free, and have enough money to get by for the moment. Hawaii is an extremely, stupid expensive place to live – but if I could make it work throughout my college days then I can assuredly make it work after them. After all, money can’t buy happiness; especially if earning it means feeling like a miserable hamster on an endless wheel.