Hello Freedom

The unemployment rate rose to above 10% this week, making it comparable to the job conditions of the great depression, and Obama just signed a bill to extend unemployment benefits. Not exactly a good sign. It's a tough time to be a recent college grad. I know most of my fellow unemployed 22 year olds out there are thinking to themselves, "Fuck, why the hell did I even go to college." Well here's a tiny little silver lining to the current situation (I mean, it's small, but you take what you can get in this economy) - you're actually, really, probably for the only time in your life - free. Yeah, I know it's more of a forced freedom, most of us would rather be working a 9-5 than sitting at home, doing whatever the hell we're doing.

But, think about it - you can do WHATEVER you want. Yeah, most of us lack the funding for the infinite possibilities, but start small. Do what you've always wanted, find out what you love. I know it's been a short time since I walked across that stage and got handed my fake diploma, but how I think has changed exponentially. On June 12th, 2009, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, I would have honestly done anything. Somewhere along the past five months, thanks to my unlimited free time, I discovered where my passion was. And as nerdy as it may sound, it was in finance. I also realized that despite my college education, I was nowhere near where I needed to be to pursue the career that I wanted. So I took charge and now I'm studying for one of the hardest things I've ever experienced in my life. But I know that once it's done, I will have taken a huge step towards being prepared to do what I love. And I honestly believe that if I had not had this time to figure out who I was, I would be in a dead end job that I hated.

The economy will get better, eventually, because it's a cycle, and what goes down really does come back up, with time. What do you do now while you're waiting? Go find yourself. Go do things you'll never have the chance to do again. Learn a new language, pack up all your things and travel, empty out your bank account and buy a one way plane ticket, start a non-profit, learn a musical instrument, anything. You have no responsibilities and no obligations - except to yourself. I know it's a small silver lining, but it reminds me to look forward to the sunshine after the storm.