The speech I didn't hear at graduation

When I was in college I had this great ideal of what life would be like post-graduation. I was sure that without all of the studying, stress and work life would be so much easier. Shortly after I graduated I learned that my vision and happy dream of what it meant to be a college grad was not being realized. And it was a lot harder than I realized. And I wondered, “Why don’t they tell you this when you graduate from college? Or better yet, when you’re in college?” So here are a few things I have learned in my short time out of school that have made a difference for me.

1.  Getting a job is not easy

I feel like I am not alone in this statement. I worked hard, had a good GPA, and more importantly, I had relevant work experience. Still, it requires more than just filling out online applications. It requires research, a ton of time and networking. You know how professors always talk about the importance of LInkedIn? Yeah, this is one instance where listening to them is extremely beneficial. Like all good things, finding a job takes hard work. I know, you always hear about those people who just “happened” into their dream job or had connections from daddy that land them a high-paying job. But more and more, these people are the exception and definitely not the rule. It takes effort and it takes work. 


2.  A lot of people are smarter than you

Like I said, I worked really hard in college. I am definitely not the smartest person, but I felt like I made up for it with persistence and hard work. I thought my resume was decent when I graduated. I had two bachelor’s degrees, graduated Magna Cum Laude and had worked nearly full-time in a job that gave me relevant experience. I had also done a few internships, and been involved in student clubs relevant to both my majors. I am NOT saying all of this because I am great, it’s really the opposite. Because despite my confidence on graduation day, I failed to realize there are a lot of incredible people out there. Their skill set is better than mine, they know more, they have more work experience. The point is, if you don’t get an interview, or don’t get offered the job you think you are “perfectly qualified” for, don’t sweat it too much. An unbelievable amount of talented people exist in the world. You probably weren’t the right fit, and you will find the place that’s best for you.

3.  Hard work will usually beat talent

Let’s face it. A lot of business professionals view our generation as narcissistic, lazy techies who spend most of their time attached to their phone and addicted to social media platforms. And sometimes, they might be right in this assessment. Prove them wrong. Don’t pay attention to the person next to you who gets paid triple your salary yet you’re not exactly sure what he / she does all day, or the person who comes in late and leaves early every day. Just because other people are doing it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Work hard, work smart and have the attitude that you can never know enough. Look forward, not sideways: Hard work always pays off.

I am lucky to have two great examples of this in both of my parents. My dad has been a small business owner for 25+ years. His philosophy is “We work until the job is done, and we do it right the first time.” My mom helped my dad with his business, and then went back to school while simultaneously raising five children and managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA. Growing up working for my dad, and the example of my mom helped me develop a decent work ethic that I will always be grateful for, and that has really helped me in the workplace.

4.  Things will always work out

If you had told me I would be working for a medical finance company when I started my senior year of college, I would have laughed. If you had told me that I would be working in the shooting sports industry three years later, I would have said you were insane. I really believe that no matter what happens, things work out for the best for those who work hard. I didn’t expect to start in the medical finance industry, but I wouldn’t trade my experience at my first company for anything. I had a great boss who taught me invaluable skills I use every day. It also provided a springboard to what I considered my dream job in college athletics, which opened the door to my current job.

5.  Be open to changing the definition of your "dream job"

I absolutely love sports. I always considered a job in college athletics a dream. When I had the opportunity to make this dream a reality, I couldn’t believe I was so lucky. I had a great experience working in college athletics, but I realized that it wasn’t the long-term career path that I wanted to take. Even today, I am not sure that my current position is my “dream job.” But I do know I am doing what I love and being challenged every day to be better. In college I often heard the phrase, “Find something you love doing and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” I’m sorry, but I disagree with this statement. I am doing what I love, but more often then not it’s work. My job challenges me. I fall short. I feel inadequate. I get tired. I work long hours. But I keep going. The feeling of accomplishment at the end of a long project, and looking at something and saying, “Hey I did that and it’s awesome,” is extremely gratifying.

So life might not get easier after college graduation, but what’s the fun in that? To steal the words from a popular movie, “It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great.”

Because of Him

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly referred to as the Mormon church. Mormon.org has launched a social media campaign for Easter. No matter what your beliefs, I believe any Christian person can benefit from reflecting upon the life of Christ and how it has impacted us for the better. The campaign is titled "Because of Him." When I think about all that Christ has done for me, I am overwhelmed. Here are a few things that are possible through my faith and relationship with Jesus Christ:

Because of Him I know I can live again.

Because of Him I have a family that I can be with forever.

Because of Him I have someone who understands my suffering, pain, trials, joy and happiness perfectly. 

Because of Him I have purpose and direction in my life.

Because of Him no obstacle or hard thing in my life is impossible.

Because of Him I can overcome.

Because of Him I have peace.

These are just a few things that cause me gratitude when I think about the Savior. Every day I am grateful for my faith that gives me the strength, courage and direction I need when everything else around me seems to crumbling. Happy Sunday!

 #BecauseofHim 

Monday Perspective

Sometimes Mondays are rough. Getting out of bed for work takes every ounce of energy, work is always way too busy and things just seem a little off. Nothing seems to go right on Monday (or at least that's the way it sometimes feels). Today I left work feeling like my Monday was actually all right which I considered a great accomplishment.

Then I talked to my mom. Today she found out that two people in our community have cancer and another one of her students from last year (a 13 year old boy) has a brain tumor. Talk about a rough Monday. Suddenly everything that I thought was slightly difficult now seems unimportant .

So today I am glad that the hardest thing for me was getting out of bed to go to work and juggling a busy schedule. Bring on the mundane. Because that means that all of the important things in my life are okay... And that gives me something to be grateful for, even on a Monday.

Heart Issues

I have been having heart issues for the past month or so. Apparently for some reason my heart beat is irregular so my heart is not pumping as much blood as it should. It's not a big deal by a Cardiologist's standard. A few different medications and it should all be fixed. From my standpoint, it causes constant chest pain and makes me incredibly tired all the time. After a few weeks I think  the issue should be fixed and I should feel better, but I don't.

I am sorry to say I have had more than one day where I think my life is hard and wonder why I can't jus be 100% healthy. I am always glad when I have the opportunity to remember that MANY people have it far worse than I do. Awhile back I read an incredible book called, Before My Heart Stops by Paul Cardall. He had seven open heart surgeries and countless operations. He waited over a year for a heart transplant in terrible health and also endured the loss of his brother (who was only 32 years old).

Suddenly my life sounds pretty great. Here's one of my favorite quotes from his book:
“Our lives are full of these moments when the thick fog of adversity surrounds us. Yet we somehow adapt. We plow ahead and move forward with our lives as best we can. We choose how we are going to handle such a crisis. Within each of us is the ability to transform our wounds into wisdom." 

I love this. Every day is a choice to be grateful for what I have and appreciate the great things in my life. There is always something to be thankful for; I believe gratitude can save us in our moments of despair. In the wise words of my brother, "I know for sure the hard things in life are just there to make us better." 


 

Why English Teachers Rock

Have you ever met someone that makes you feel like a rock star? Every time you talk to them you feel like you can conquer the world because they have so much confidence in your abilities. Anytime you talk to them you leave the conversation feeling like a better person. Family is great for this type of thing; my parents are always encouraging and supporting me. However, I think there is something to be said for people outside the family circle who take a special interest in a person's life.
I was thinking about this the other day when I realized that I am where I am in my career due to my college education, and my chosen field of study was largely determined because two teachers made me feel like I was exceptional at something.
It started in middle school when my seventh grade English teacher had us write descriptive essays. She was always encouraging my writing, giving me additional help and praising me for a job well done. I decided I loved English because I always left class feeling like I was successful.
This was personified when I got to high school and had a fantastic sophomore and AP English teacher. She encouraged me to enter contests, submit my work to magazines, and apply for awards I was sure were out of my reach. When I went to her with a ridiculous idea of starting a school newspaper, she was nothing but supportive. The confidence she showed in me made me believe that I really could succeed. I thought about English as a career choice instead of just a subject, and had an incredible college experience because of my chosen major.
I still consider my high school English teacher as one of my biggest fans, which is a pretty incredible thing. Sometimes I wonder how different the world we be if we took the time to show an interest in just one person. Help them feel valued. Show them they are important. Tell them their contribution matters. I think about how much better my life is from knowing these two teachers, and I hope I can pay it forward to someone else somewhere down the road.

The things you hear at the airport

Right now I am sitting in the airport at my gate waiting to board a flight. In typical fashion, everyone (myself included) is congregated near power outlets so they can use their laptops, iPads, cell phones and any other technology. Naturally there are also a lot of people on their cell phones. I am overhearing the most interesting conversation right now. It’s not like I meant to listen it, he’s just talking kind of loud and there are a limited number of seats by my gate. The first thing he says to catch my attention, “Man in the past five or six years, I have just learned that there are way more important things in life than money. Like the things that really matter to me have nothing to do with the size of my house.” He then went on to say that his money was probably better spent on his kids and that if he wanted to throw a big party, he could just rent a place once or twice a year. The conversation ended shortly after that and he left to board his flight.

It seems obvious and probably cliche. Most people would say they value their family, faith and more “intangible” things above everything else. But is that reflective in our day-to-day living? I love having the newest phone, a nice computer and I definitely have a weakness for clothes and shoes. Career choice and occupation are status symbols, and many people feel validated or not good enough because of their job. What if we all openly displayed this same attitude? That people were more important than things? How would my life be better?  For once, I am glad someone was talking a little too loud in a public place.

Valentine's Day

The other night I had a friend text me and ask me for help. When I asked her what she needed, she said she was writing something for work: A single person’s perspective on Valentine’s Day. My first instinct was to throw up in my mouth. I was born on February 11 and have grown up with people referring to me as a “Valentine’s baby.” This along with the fact that to me, Valentines day became lame after I stopped getting candy in school, has made me despise the holiday. However, I recently have come to some realizations that have made V-day so not awful anymore. And it didn’t start by my relationship status changing.

Realization #1: Love extends beyond boyfriend/ girlfriend or husband wife relationship.

This sounds corny and super obvious, but it’s true. A few nights ago I was talking to a friend and he said that he always sends his mom flowers on Valentine’s Day. Maybe I live under a rock, but I know of very few guys in their twenties (or guys in general for that matter) that send things to their moms on Valentines’ Day. This reminded me that when I was young, I came home from school to find a purple rose (my favorite color) from my dad on Valentine’s Day. I can remember several years where he would send me a flower at school or have something waiting for me when I got home. My dad is the ultimate example of knowing how to treat all the girls in his life right. So think about your family or your close friends. Maybe one of them could use a card or treat to let them know how much you care about them.

Realization #2: Life is better when you’re happy.

Another obvious truth, I know. However, I also know way too many people (and I hate to say it’s mostly girls) who are extremely unhappy when this time of year rolls around. They become cynical, talk about how much they hate men, how stupid men are, and how all men seem to date the wrong type of girl. This is usually followed by an excessive intake of chocolate, ice cream, candy, cookies, or anything else high in calories that they feel like will help them drown out the sorrow of their sad, single existence. All the while watching ridiculously cheesy chick flicks and wishing their life was like a Nicholas Sparks book. 

Every girl can probably admit to at least some of this behavior; sometimes it happens. But lately I have noticed how obnoxious it is when people are negative about anything: how it just kind of sucks the life out of you. Dwelling on something that you can’t change at the moment is so miserable! And though a lot of people might not believe this, I think I can choose my attitude about anything and everything. And I think it’s great to be happy, on Valentine’s Day or any day of the year; because I have a family and friends who love me despite my weird and quirky behaviors… and that’s a pretty great thing.