Daily Free-Verse # 4: Creativity

The sun parts the clouds

Waves on the shore

Another cup of coffee

Pack another for more

Inspiration.


The sketchbook is filled

A foundation for some ideas

A graveyard for others

Make shapes with clouds

Persistence can be inferred

However, not perceived

Innovation.


Sip leisurely from the fountain of youth

Hydrate your work

Fermented ideas

Turn into fine wine

Change your perspective

Or your state of mind

Creativity.

Thoughts: The post college job hunt

For everyone like me who's recently walked across the stage and received their ticket to life, you know what I mean when I say this:

It's here.

For the past 4 to 5 years of your life, you've been making your way through the halls, classrooms, books, and basement parties that college life consists of. You studied diligently, procrastinated, and slaved over 25 page papers, 600 page books, and piles, upon piles of flashcards. your memory still tingles about with that one semi-interesting fact you learned in your philosophy class, and despite taking several years of a foreign language, most of you still speak it pretty loosely. But there was always that one big goal; that one big dream that underneath the late nights, early mornings, and the hangovers that we were always working toward, and now, it's your time to show the world what the past 4 years have taught you. Sounds like a pretty easy transition, until you take a look at the numbers for recent grads coming out of college, such as you and me.

For starters, a lot of us don't exactly go into the field working in an area that we spent the last 4 years and over 100 grand studying and educating ourselves on. In fact, according to an article on The Huffington Post regarding post graduation, half of all recent grads go into the work field working a job that doesn't even require a degree. That doesn't mean that students aren't getting jobs eventually though.

Though current unemployment rates aren't terrible, it's not like students are landing positions right away. Most graduates that began their job hunt months before graduation are still on the market searching, and according to most that I've spoken with personally, it can take anywhere from 8 months to a year and a half before that expensive degree gets put to any relevant use for most. Which brings me to my next and main point: the job hunt.

If you've listened to your advisor, good for you. For most, you began your job hunt early on, and now, you're starting to figure out why that might have been the single most important piece of advice you could have ever received. If you're like me, you followed those orders to start sifting through every employment site you could find, and you've been applying for every single position you could find. At first, the challenge doesn't seem that daunting. You'd sent out a few applications a week, and hearing back from only 1 or 2 companies out of the 10 applications you'd sent out wasn't so much of a burden, but then, something came over the horizon that has since started to trouble you more and more: time.

Months have passed, and though you're interviewing and continually filling out apps, the job hunt doesn't show any signs of coming to an end. The stress levels have elevated, and you've become weary of the relentless search you'd confidently set out on months prior. This is an especially stressful time, but I'm here to say something that will add some perspective and widen the tunnel vision you've been experiencing recently: It's not all that bad.

If you think about it, post graduation job hunting isn't as bad as it seems when you consider every other fact of life you're facing as a recent graduate. For one, you don't have to spend your nights at the library, waste deep in notes and online activities as you prepare for that exam that for some reason is rumored to be incredibly daunting, despite it being an elective. You can actually get some sleep for once, and above all else, you don't have to worry about "homework" any more. You've got more free time on your hands, and in all honesty, this transition period has been sort of a relief from the past 4 years of your life. See? Not terrible. Sure, there are other drawbacks, such as the worry of student loans, for example; not to mention, if you're passionate like I am, rather than taking a breath and relaxing, you're more so filled with a sense of boredom and unproductiveness. I know that makes me seem a bit tight, but if there's one thing I have a passion for, it's writing, and being able to do something like change the world through my creativity is something that I've dreamed of while playing with legos and filling countless sketchbooks with my thoughts growing up.

My point is, you should be congratulating yourself for making it through college. Though the job hunt is still on for many of us, it's important to remember that it's just that: a job. You still have family that loves you, and you still have friends that are going to play clever pranks on you after you've had one to many at the bar. Life is still going, and once you learn how to channel the stress of job searching into positive and motivational energy, it becomes a little easier to deal with. Life may have opened a new chapter for you, but you're still the one with the pen in hand who is charged with writing it. So do yourself a favor, sit back, and reflect on all the positives of where you're at right now, and think about what the college experience has taught you about yourself and the world you live in. At this point, stress is your enemy, and, in all honesty, in order to truly defeat it, you have to continue to live your life to the fullest. And that is my driving point behind the struggles and attributes of the post-college job hunt.

--Cheers, and happy reading!

The Train Station - Part 2

As the man pondered his next move, a force of tranquility overcame him. It was like the sultry voice of thought had entered his roller coaster of thoughts and made itself comfortable in the front row. His nervousness subsided, and as he took a deep breath, he knew that this awkward moment between the two wouldn't be alleviated by merely standing stationary. He turned and casually approached the girl, and scrambled the first thought that came into his mind of what to say.

"That looks like a lot of luggage for you to be carrying around", he said as he came to a stop on the platform; a slight smile taking his lip.

"Yeah, but I think I'm managing pretty well so far" she reciprocated. "I just hope this train gets here in time" she continued.

He chuckled slightly. "That makes two of us"

"Yeah, I suppose it does. Where are you headed?" She asked.

"San Francisco" She replied, "What brings you to Union Station

"Chicago; nothing special."

"What do you mean nothing special? Chicago's the second best city in the world; right behind the big apple, of course. Come on, indulge me, why the Windy City?"

The man knew why he had been going to Chicago. His family was there, and the real story behind why he had to make the journey was something that he felt might put a damper on her already seemingly distressed day. On this, he knew that he had to keep it short and sweet.

"I'm just seeing the family, and doing a little sight seeing. I haven't been there in a few years." He replied to her.

"Sounds like they'll be looking forward to seeing you, being that it's been a while", she said.

He let out a small passive chuckle as he responded.

"Yeah, I'm sure they'll be thrilled" he said; a slight glaze overcoming his eyes. "Care to tell me why you have so much luggage? Seems like your trip is more than just a vacation."

"Yeah, I'm going out there for a while. I have a friend that I'm staying with", she replied in a slightly solemn tone

"Mind if I ask why?"

"I just needed a get away, and I figured, what better place than on the completely opposite end of the country?" she explained. "Haven't you ever just wanted to get away, from everything?"

He looked down to avoid giving her a tell that would open the gates to the river of thoughts flowing through his mind upon hearing that question. He refocused the conversation on her. 

"The greatest city in the world doesn't seem so great to you from what I'm hearing."

She focused her eyes directly on his, as her seemingly distressed complexion was fighting back a smile that was pushing its way to the front, eventually enveloping her lips for a few short seconds, followed by a light sigh of humor.

"It has its ups, but it also has its downs."

Before she could continue, the unmistakable rumble of an approaching train shook the platform beneath their feet. A train horn played three short bursts, and the familiar sound of the ringing bells filled the tunnel as the passenger train made its way into the station with the screeches and groans of the breaks bringing the train to a slow stop. The doors opened, and just like that, the rapid flow of the city above broke the silence of the platform, now filled with a plethora of passengers, most rushing to their next train, and trying to gather their baggage. It looked like an organized chaos, and as he looked back at her, he could see her boarding the train.

"What cabin are you going to?" He asked hastily.

"I'm going to second class" she replied. "Come by later if you'd like. Train rides are pretty boring."

"I might take you up on that -- what's your name?"

"Sarah; what's yours?"

"Brennan."

The Train Station - Part 1

It was a day like any other in the heart of New York City's Grand Central Station. The halls were filled with the echoes of conversation, and the occasional sound of a train making its way through to pick up the next round of riders to take them on their way. The faint smell of copper and marble filled the air with a trademark scent that brought back the illustrious history of this great land mark with each breath.

On the platform, a young dapper gentleman talked on his phone while he waited for his train to arrive. As he paced about, discussing business and other things, he looked to the end of the platform impatiently to check for the familiar site of headlights approaching. After no such success, he panned his vision over to the scheduling board. 15 minutes late. As he began to think about whether or not it should be a crime for a train to be this late, he turned and faced the turnstiles which seemed to have an ever-lasting flow of passengers entering and exiting in a hurried pace. It was at this point that something wonderful happened.

As he pondered his limited options, a woman caught his eye as she made her way down the stairs. She was a beautiful creature, with a long, brunette flow, beautiful creamy skin, and a captivating smile that was accompanied by entrancing brown eyes. To him, she was perfect, and suddenly, the delay became irrelevant to the man as he looked as if she was an angel making her way down from heaven.

She had three very full bags, and as she approached the platform, he immediately adored her as he watched her throw everything down with what he thought was the most beautiful face of frustration he had ever seen. As he saw her look up after checking her phone, he broke his gaze so she wouldn't notice him looking. She hadn't noticed him staring until she took a glance down the tunnel, much like he did, with no success. In a way he thought he was being clever, he turned himself and waited for her gaze to return to her phone; only he had under-estimated the time that this would take, as when he looked her way once again, she was staring right back at him.

Just then, a feeling with the force of a thousand hammers landed on his chest, and he could feel his heart skip a beat. They quickly broke their gaze, and soon after a powerful silence took him over, accompanied by a million thoughts that he was not sure how to handle. The moment seemed original, but awkward simultaneously. As he stared at the home screen of his phone, he pondered his next move.

Daily Free Verse # 3

A new morning

A breath of fresh air

The cool breeze

Over a troubled brow

Worries dissipate

Accessorize your breakfast

Carry on

Daily Free Verse # 2: Convertible

I wish I had a convertible

Maybe life would be easier

with more options

Top up

Top down

This fabric contraption

Like a window to the world

Millions of miles of headroom

At the push of a button

At a busy intersection

On a California Saturday

The Man who Couldn't See Himself in the Mirror

It was a Sunday in the middle of a humid Summer. Jackson hadn't been able to sleep the past few days, and he was beginning to show the effects of a constantly ever active mind. He slowly rose from his bed, a ceiling fan circulating air above, and began his morning with a look in the bathroom mirror. As his reflection looked back at him, he stood and began to wonder about many things he was going through.

For the past 5 months, life hadn't been an easy road for Jackson. His former love left him with a broken heart on new years. After a while, he worked up the courage to go on the road to finding himself, and as the months progressed, so did his understanding of everything around, and within. It was a late night like any other when he found out that the girl he had been so in love with was with another man.

It was at that instant whilst he looked into this mirror, that he realized that his world was no longer the same. That all his work and dedication had put him only into a state of disbelief; a lack of words only gave way to one question: "What now?"

He had attended college for the past 5 years, and was preparing to go into the world to pursue his dreams. He had passion unlike anyone else, and he had a mind that was always swimming with and endless flow of ideas. As he contemplated the positives, he remembered something that a relative of his told him as he was growing up:

"A heavy heart bears the weight of one of life's greatest lessons"