Britt for Hire: Objectifying My Future

The other day out of nowhere a friend sent me a text message that read, “I'm terrified to graduate. Is that normal?” Only this message wasn't out of nowhere, because in three weeks I will cross a stage that will transport me light-years away from my college life into this strange place called the "real world." Sure, I will still cling onto the coattails of college by taking a couple of courses to finish out my degree over the summer, but like it or not, I will soon be a college graduate. I was actually happy to receive that text message, because at least I now know that I am not the only one that is apprehensive about moving into this next phase of life.

I was not nervous about this until a few weeks ago when I was editing my resume -- a carefully crafted document that I had branded with my own personality, which is a must according to my advertising professors. I took it to one of these professors to look over and her first comment was, to my disappointment, not praise for the clever design or amount of media experience listed, but about my lack of a "Career Objective" statement. She asked me what I wanted to do within the field of advertising. My response was a blank look.

If I had to draft an on-the-spot objective it would simply read, “I am open-minded towards the topic of where I would like my career to take me. Instead my objective is to gain experience and knowledge in any media field in which an opportunity lies.” Somehow, I don't think that would go over well with the objective-driven teacher that knew she wanted to be an account planner since her first year of college.

Adding to my dilemma is the fact that I live with a guy I will refer to as my significant other, who won't be graduating for another year. (While I can't commit to a career objective, I somehow have no problem committing to an eight-year relationship.) The fact that I will continue to live in a university-centered town in West Virginia  poses the major problem of what options are even available to me here.

Later in a conversation with the friend that sent me the text message, she told me about an old classmate in the same situation I am about to encounter; she graduated from the same journalism school last year and chose to stay in the area.  She is now selling cars at a local dealership. This only adds to my graduation anxiety.

For now, while I try try to pinpoint what it is I want to do with my life.  I can only hope that to at least one potential employer, “open-minded” is not a dirty word.