As I grew up in a typical middle-class family, I am fortunate to say I have always lived a privileged life. My parents have always been there to support me. I have always achieved my goals, from making the high school cheerleading team to getting the part-time jobs I wanted and getting accepted into my dream college.
I don't want to sound like a snobby bitch, but life always came easy. I worked hard and achieved what I worked for. I am forever grateful for that.
Then, this past year, things changed. After making the decision to graduate college a year early, I was tossed into the so-called real world. I do admit, I was excited to see what was in store for me. As far as I was concerned, I was going to land a killer job and be happy. Why would things be any difficult than they had been in the past?
I was fortunate enough to receive a job offer shortly after I began searching. I did what I believed was best and accepted it. I was looking forward to this new chapter.
Well, I was in for a rude awakening. The job turned out to be nothing like I was told it would be during the interview. I was fooled. I was on a 9-to-5, miserable track. I waited it out for a few months because I am not one to quit. I truly prayed it would make a turn for the best.
It didn't. For the first time in my life, after the excitement of college and my high hopes for the future, I was let down. I was unhappy. It showed in my relationships with my friends and family. Even though I was worried to do so, I quit.
The disappointment I received from my family and friends was tough, as much as they tried to hide it and accept my decision. I could hear the mumbles. "Oh, she just graduated, and she quit her job to waitress. What a shame."
Someone shot me the comment "You're such a Millennial," as if I couldn't handle hard work. The way I saw things, I was too young to sit at a desk all day and be dissatisfied with my career path.
For the first time, I had no clue where to go next. I had no plan and no instructions. It really started to bum me out. I went from being unhappy at my job to still being unhappy, as I was constantly searching for one with little luck.
It was hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I was struggling when everything had always come so easy to me. I started serving tables to make some money, assuming a job would fall into place soon.
A few months passed, and after being six months out of college, I was worried. I've never been one who doesn't succeed. I was disappointed in myself. I felt lost, stressed and just plain pissed off.
But I am so thankful this happened to me. Once I decided to revamp my resume, look at other career options and, most importantly, change my attitude, things started looking better than ever.
Accepting the hurdles I was facing on the path to my future was key. It was necessary to accept the fact that I will not always get what I want, nor will everything always fall into place.
I couldn't be happier to say my first job sucked ass and that I hit a roadblock. This happens. It makes you normal. Sometimes, you need a little wake up call.
I'm glad I was able to experience this as a young adult coming out of college. The learning process continued, even after I graduated. But this time, it was not under the guidance of a professor. You are your own teacher after college.
As I'm about to start my new job, I know I've developed a new strength and the courage to deal with the crap life throws at me. Not getting what I wanted turned out to be exactly what I needed. After all, Cinderella didn't become a princess overnight.
