searching and silver linings

Guys, I’m graduating in a week. What? There might be some mild freaking out going on around here.

I've been applying to jobs this week which, considering I've had the same job for the last four years, is weird for me. The worst part by far is the cover letters. I've never been good at “selling” myself and I struggle with wording truths so that they sound like other truths that aren't necessarily true in order to fit the job description. Curse my overactive sense of accurate representation. Thankfully, we aren't going to starve to death if I don’t get a job lined up for right after I graduate which takes some of the pressure off but doesn't make the process any less frustrating. Apparently the nation’s unemployment rate is at an all-time low which is fantastic but makes me wonder why it’s so hard to get a job anywhere. Also, what’s with employers listing an entry level position and asking that you have 2-3 years of experience? Has the meaning of “entry level” changed? Because, if so, I definitely didn't get that memo.

On a different note: I hold with the opinion that to write convincing characters you have to know a lot about people, their traits and heart-aches, etc. I think it’s easy to tell when writers are writing past their understanding on a certain struggle or behavior so this knowledge, whether it’s personal experience, things you know from friends/family, or research you've done online, is super important. Right now, though, I’m wishing that I had less information about certain hardships and failings because while writing characters that encounter those can be interesting and fun, it’s heart-breaking to get that understanding from people you know and love who are going through those trials.

Maybe that's something that writing offers us, though, a means to take the tragedy and hurt that happen in our lives and turn it into something that has the ability to empower and touch others. It seems like a small comfort sometimes, but, unfortunately, bad things will happen whether we choose to take the opportunity to make something beautiful with them or not. Sometimes we cope through means that help just ourselves, and other times we can cope in ways that may help others as well.