So, a while ago, I had a thought while I was going pee at work... I know, a potential overshare, but just hear me out... I was looking at my legs, and I was a little offended by the sheer white-ness of them. Now, every other summer, this has never really been an issue, because I've taught swim lessons, been a nanny, or, in general, was able to spend more time in the sun. Next Tuesday will mark my 1-year anniversary of officially working for the man. Herein, I will examine the pros and cons of being a college student, and working for the man...
Round 1: Scheduling:
– When you're in college, your schedule changes at the end of every quarter/semester, and chances are, you get a week off between them. This is great... sometimes. If you register too late, your chances of any time sleeping-in are pretty much gone, and you'll likely get stuck with a class at 7:30, which is half an hour to an hour earlier than most people start working. BUT, chances are, you only have classes m-th and get a 3 day weekend, which is great for tanning! But then there's homework...
– When you're a full-time employee, generally, work begins somewhere between 8 and 9. When I worked in Hollywood, I started at 10. I work 8 full hours, and leave when I should. I'm not married to my job, and I don't take my work home with me. There's no homework, but I also don't get 3 day weekends or the option to choose my schedule. But, if I take time off, it's approved, and I get paid for it.
Round 1 Winner: College Student
Round 2: Getting Paid
– Well, this should be a clear cut decision... When you're in college, it's pretty difficult to work full time and go to school full time. Don't tell me it can't be done, because I did it for 8 months. And don't tell me it's easy, because I did it for 8 months. BUT, at the same time, you're working to pay your living expenses, but you're also taking out student loans to pay for your education. So you're spending more money than you're making in the long run...
– Ha! There's a chance you could not make enough money to live at the means you'd like. Such might be the case for Frank and I right now, but mostly because I am the primary bread-winner and have student loans and a car payment that are continually weighing on my bank account. But, there are many more times where I go to the grocery store and don't count the cost of food down the very last penny, because if I spend a little more than I planned, it's not that big of a deal.
Round 2 Winner: Working for the Man.
Round 3: Days Off
– When you're a college student and don't feel like going to class, you just don't go. You might do the "right thing" and email your instructor and feign an illness or emergency, but you lay in bed and relax, go tan, run errands, have lunch with friends, whatever. But, you're paying valuable money for an invaluable education that's "supposed" to get you a great job with an earnings potential to pay your student loans off in a timely manner (Supposed is in quotations because, let's face it, right now, there are no jobs. For anyone. It's cut-throat for some of the most qualified college graduates.)
– Meh, I don't feel good this morning. I get up and go to work, but perform at half my ability, because, well, I don't feel good... I'm really sick, I call (or text, in my case) my boss and let them know I won't be coming in today, but if they really need something from me, they can call or text me and I will do my best to take care of it. And, if I have sick hours accumulated, I'm getting paid for recuperating. Or, I have a thing planned, and I need the day off, I take a vacation day. I've never been the type to call in sick to play hookey. If I'm out sick, it's probably because I spent the night with my face in the toilet, or I've got a fever.
Round 3 Winner: Working For The Man
Now, let's face it, a "real" job/working for the man isn't for everyone ( and I don't quite qork for the man because there are only 15-20 full time employees in my office on any given work day, and well, the owner is nearly 90 and he comes in every day...) Some people might still tell me I don't have a "real" job, since I get to play on a computer all day and make Arsty-Fartsy crap. And well, while that might be true, I also have bosses, and a strict schedule, and deadlines, and last minute stressful situations, and a salary. It doesn't matter how early I come in or how late I stay, I get paid the same amount. The 15th and last day of every month, my check is always the same.
I didn't feel prepared for high school after middle school, I didn't feel prepared for college after high school, and really, I didn't quite feel prepared for a full-time job working for the man after college. 18 months ago, you could have asked me what scared me most in life, and my answer would have been, in this order: earthquakes, thunder & lightning, and whatever it is that comes after college. Well, now, for me, whatever it was that came after college was a full time job utilizing the skills I paid a shit-ton of money to learn. So it's pretty worth it to me.
But, I can't say I don't miss swimming till my fingers are prune-y, getting a great tan, partying on a Thursday night because I don't have to wake up and go to anything on Friday, staying up late because i have limited responsibility... But what's great about things like this now are that I can afford to go spray tan because I don't have time to get a real tan, I'm too old to party on Thursday and make it to work on Friday, so that's usually date night, and I have a real schedule that makes me feel like an adult.
You're supposed to grow up. Some people take a little longer than others (points at self!) But, realistically, you're expected to act like an adult, moreover, a grown-up. Not too long ago that word made me shudder. A swim student once asked me, when I was probably 21 or 22, if I was a grown-up. I told her no. I was an adult. But not a grown-up.
Now, I'm afraid, I'm kind of a grown-up. And it still scares the shit out of me!
Absolutely,
The Lady.
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