Ok, so now what?

Well, it happened. Somehow this non-traditional, red headed person completed a college degree. After the first go around several years ago proved to be a bit much with all the baby-pushing-outing going on, this time went reasonably well.

Was I always the oldest one in the classroom? No, sometimes the professor was older. Did I have trouble fitting in? No, I too, like the traditional college students, could drink and talk with great fluency. Could I manage to succeed in the coursework? As it turns out, I still have brains that work and I only needed two days to recover from each all-nighter pulled.

So now what? There was much deliberation over what type of job I might be able to get. I am a recent grad, however I had years of experience. I am mature, yet not ancient, and can talk my way into and out of a paperbag. There were actual skills involved and now a few letters behind my name to make people believe it. So, the first interview proved successful. I was offered a job and actually thought the job might be a challenging interest. However, it paid for shit. My husband had been waiting for 3 long years now for me to start raking in the dough, and my poor children were doing without... well, not much, but sometimes I had to buy that bad deodorant at the Dollar store that doesn't really work and the rise in your Ramen noodle stock is the direct result of our family. Oh yeah, and we haven't really paid any bills for a while (see "our credit sucks" blog in near future). Anyway, I could not take the job due to the fact I would make a negative salary after taxes and insurance were deducted. It's not that I'm all about money. I hate money, in fact. However, our stupid world still revolves around it to the extent I cannot live in my house without it, or drive my stupid car. How many times I wished I had enough money to stop living in a way in which I needed money. The twisted world...

After a few other interviews with similar outcomes, I had resigned myself to the fact I would not be getting a job paying me in 6 digits. For gracious sakes, I'm a Social Worker, what was I thinking... and then, out of nowhere (really, the Topeka Capitol Journal classifieds section) was the job of my dreams! A job in which I could make a difference. A job that was not direct care. A job at which I could utilize me skills. A job with a decent pay range!

Well, I interviewed. Then I interviewed again. Then I second-guessed myself, gave myself an ulcer, and worried non-stop for 2 weeks about not getting this, the perfect job. And how when I didn't, I would be convinced of my innate stupidity and status as unemployable and how the whole point of going back to school was for shit because I suck and no one will ever hire me and I might as well start begging the student loan people right now!

Then, I got the call. I got the job!! They like me! They think I can do it!! I'm fantastic after all!!
I have an office and even part of an administrative assistant!! WOW- a real job.

Ok, so now what?