validation & hope

   I have been in school for the past 16 years of my life. Consecutively.

   I realize that I am one of the most fortunate individuals on the planet due to that fact, but that doesn’t stop me from throwing myself bi-weekly pity parties. So much school! So much homework, so many classes, so many exams, tests, and quizzes. It is entirely overwhelming and, most days, I don’t feel like it has been worth this much time, stress, and emotion.

   But things are starting to clear up.

   I am in the midst of the internship application process as I’m sure I’ve mentioned before. This chews up a lot of time because each internship has different requirements. Most involve applying on two websites which is hard to juggle. They all need a resume, most demand a personalized cover letter, some want transcripts (unofficial, thank goodness), and some even want a sample of your writing skills. Tack those onto an online application process that takes almost an hour to complete and you’ve dedicated pretty close to a night’s worth of available homework time.

   It is really, really stressful.

   I’ve successfully applied to seven internship opportunities so far with a few more on my list.

   And guess what? I was chosen for five out of the seven to come in for a face-to-face interview.

   As scary as it is to realize I’m going to have to “sell” myself to these companies, I can’t help but feel like I’ve already won something. They liked me enough to request an interview! Somehow it validates everything I’ve put myself through these past four years.

   With my sense of validation comes hope. I now realize that though I may not be at the top of my class, that I may be behind in my homework because of everything I’m involved in, that I don’t get 100%s on all my quizzes, that my assignments don’t always get that pretty A, and that I’m not commended for being a 4.0 student, I’m still sought after.

   A little shine has been buffed out of my rusted and corroded armor I’ve been clanking around in for the past year!

   I will get an internship. I will get a job. And, more importantly, I will be an educated individual who understands that hard work, dedication, perseverance, tears, loss of sleep, stress, nerves, and disappointment are all just pieces of becoming the person I aim to be.