Ever since the moment docwong opened her mouth in my Housing Design and Sustainable Community class in January 2004 I knew I wanted to be an urban planner. At no other point in my undergraduate studies was classroom material clearly in line with my personal interests and concerns. Obviously, I wanted to be involved in the public sector, I just didn't know how. In that moment, I realized that how and where a city builds its buildings and housing, juxtaposing them with environment and society, affects commerce, economy, education and a number of other political factors. In January I finally applied to graduate school. A lot of factors went into my decision to apply this year. Certainly, if I did not apply this year, it would happen at some inevitable point in the future, but the cosmos aligned. I was/am out of work, I knew I wanted to return to school and realign my personal and professional priorities, and due to a newly regained sense of confidence I was mentally prepared to undertake the process.
I applied to six graduate programs. Five Urban Planning programs received my application materials and one Public Administration program. It was arduous; I'm relieved to be done applying, but now I'm partaking in the hard part-- waiting for decisions. I am suffering on the metaphorical bench; I cannot wait to get in the game.
What do I do to populate the time? Well, to be honest, I deal with my favorite bureaucratic department, that which operates to serve the unemployed: UI. Part of their job is to monitor my weekly progress and ensure that I've applied for 3 jobs. Yes, I know three isn't that many jobs to apply for, but with approximately 6 Washington counties suffering unemployment rates in the double digits, and a statewide unemployment rate hovering around 7%, finding three jobs I'm qualified for is incredibly difficult. I've applied to be a medical coder, a neighborhood watch person, a parking attendant, and more than 50 other positions I might like to do. So I wait around to hear back from these positions. And, mostly, I don't.
So I've taken to enjoying a lot of coffee, walks, novels, perfecting recipes for crackers (rosemary, pepper, cheddar, water, etc.), knitting, running, ellipticaling, and reacquainting myself with reality television. Am I miserable? Not at all, I'm actually quite happy. For now, I deem opening my mail box torment, consider job listings a necessary evil, and view my day to day an excellent opportunity to relish my surroundings. I'm making the things I love a part of my every day life, and I love it. I am documenting it here:
weseeweare.wordpress.com.
