Joié's Blog

I graduated from Carlow University in May 2020. During my time at Carlow, I always envisioned myself walking across the stage and making my family proud. However, I didn’t get a chance to live in that moment due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. From March to May, the remainder of Spring semester was virtual and so was graduation. 

Despite what was happening in the world, I was determined to find employment. I was lucky enough to experience two virtual summer internships. I participated in a Multicultural virtual engagement program that exposed me to a variety of advertising industry experts and agencies. I also interned at Erich & Kallman as an account management intern working alongside an amazing team.

It wasn’t until summer ended that I realized how lost I was. I went back to working my part-time job and simultaneously freelancing. The goal was to move out of Pittsburgh and land a job in journalism or PR 6 months after graduation. My new reality was accepting the fact that the job market was low. With all this free time on my hands, it made me realize how I used college and work as a distraction.

In college, many would say I was an overachiever. I was an honors student and a student leader. I cared about my grades and somewhere down the line I equated my worth to my academic success. I always worked to financially support myself and to stay busy.

After graduation, I couldn’t hide behind assignments, extracurricular activities, or working. I was having major anxiety trying to figure out what it was that I really wanted. For a long time, I just wanted to graduate. I spent my college career trying to step out of my comfort-zone and putting myself in positions to be a successful student. Although I tried my best to have fun while focusing on my goal, it didn’t make college less stressful. I was ready to go.

Unfortunately, graduating didn’t feel like a relief anymore. I had to accept 3 things

1. My identity as a student has come to an end
2. Landing my career would be difficult
3. The pandemic was ongoing

It is now March 2021, I’m nearly one year out of college and I still don’t have a full-time job. However, that doesn’t mean I’m unqualified or that my college accomplishments are meaningless. These are trying times, the world isn’t what it used to be and I’m not sure when it will be. 

Instead of waiting for an opportunity and being upset about multiple rejections, I challenged myself not to take it personally. I realized that being ambitious didn’t exempt me from the struggles of the pandemic. I do know that I am passionate about writing and college has strengthened my skills. 

When things get hard you have to keep going, so I chose to keep writing. Now my blog is born. To all my 2020 grads, you are more than who you were in college. I encourage you to pursue your passions and open up your own doors.