Mi Birthday and Job Hunting

I turn 25 next week and I'm about 9 months away from being done with my service.  This time next year, I'll be back in the states, hopefully working a full time job in engineering, maybe in Alabama, maybe somewhere completely new.  I have absolutely no idea.  I've already started job hunting.  So far no positions for entry level civil engineers in Alabama.  A few in Texas, Maryland, and Virginia.  Quite a few up north, but I don't really wanna move up there.

Do I really even want to do engineering?  Well, let's see:  I have a degree in civil engineering, and I owe lots of money used to obtain that degree.  So yes, I think I would like to do engineering, at least for the next few years.  I should have my loans paid off before my grandchildren go to college.  I wonder if kids will still be encouraged to go to college by the time I have grandchildren.  Maybe school will be cheaper.  Not likely, but possible.

Writing resumes and cover letters...not very fun.  There's so many rules.  Never do this, always include that.  Countless websites devoted to telling you how to format, what font to use, what size, the spacing, overused phrases.  "Sell yourself!" they say.  It feels a little fake.  Basically, if you can embellish the best, you get the job.  I'm pretty sure applying for job wasn't this complicated in my parents' day.

I've been trying to figure out different ways to relate my Peace Corps "experience" to engineering.  If you have any ideas on that, I would really appreciate it!  I've tried to emphasize my flexibility and my ability to adapt to new surroundings especially for the jobs that said a lot travel is required.  Here's a line from one of my cover letters:  "The incredible amount of versatility, perseverance, and creativity required to be a successful volunteer has produced in the kind of character I feel is necessary to be an engineer in today's dynamic environment."  That's tight, right?  I would hire me with that line.  (Please let me know if that sounds too corny.  Seriously.)


So my last Jamaican birthday is coming up and it's making me realize how short of a time I have left here.  Last school year went by super fast, so I'm expecting this next school year to do the same.  There's so much that I want to get done, mainly compiling resources for the teachers to use when I'm gone.  I wanted to leave some type of reading program in place, but I don't see it continuing unless they hire a reading specialist or special ed teacher, which most likely won't happen any time soon.  I'm starting to realize how much I'm gonna miss Jamaica.  It's the only other place I've lived besides west Alabama.  It really is my second home.  I keep imagining what it's gonna be like in those final weeks, saying goodbye to everyone:  teachers, students, parents, taxi men.  And especially my host family...that will definitely be the hardest part.


But back to my birthday...25?!  Really?  How did it get here so fast?  I was 23 when I got to Jamaica.  For some reason I feel like there's a big difference between 23 and 25.  I just feel like it's all downhill after next week (no offense to people over 25, I'm sure you lead wonderful lives).  There's so much pressure.  Ideally, I would like to have a stable job, be married, and have a child by the time I'm 30.  That gives me a good 5 years.  It could still happen, right?  I've come up with the following scenario:  Some time around summer 2012, I land a good job as a civil engineer at an internationally known company.  It's in a nice city, preferably in or near the south, that's not too busy, but not too quiet either.  As I'm moving into my new apartment, a nice young man who also happens to live in the building offers to help me.  You're probably thinking that this is the guy I plan to marry.  Nope, he has a girlfriend.  Instead, he hooks me up with his cousin or brother or friend and we live happily ever after (or something like that).  See, it's simple.  I'm a simple person.  I'm not even picky about me.  He can't be stupid, of course.  I'm not a big talker but he has to be able to have a somewhat intelligent conversation.  He has to have a stable, legal job, preferably with benefits.  Don't really care about his race (although I kinda would prefer black, since I would love to raise some intelligent black kids to help advance our race a little and knock down some frustrating stereotypes.  But if he happens to be Mexican/White/Asian and I get some pretty little mixed kids, that would be fine also.  I don't discriminate.)  Has to be a believer in God and faith.  Personally, that has provided a lot of direction in my life and it would be nice to find someone on the same page.  And the last thing (at least in this post), he has to be respectful and know how to behave in public.  And that's it!  Surely there will be a man that fits those qualifications (and maybe a few more) living wherever I end up sometime in summer 2012, right?


In conclusion, if you know of an engineering job I might qualify for, or a man that meets MY qualifications, or if you would like to send me a birthday present, please feel free to contact me.  Tanks!