I have heard people countlessly say something along the lines of, "You can't get a good job without a degree," and all other demeaning words of that ilk. I'm not saying these people are wrong, but I'm not saying they're right either. Getting a job in today's economic situation is rough; any college graduate will tell you exactly that. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to get a degree in order to find a well-paying, creative, and exciting job. In fact, I found the perfect job for myself, while I was still in college, and I didn't have to jump through hoops to get it, nor do I have a very impressive resume.

Perhaps an anecdote would help.

I had heard the calling for weeks prior to getting the job. I'd wake up at night unsure, sweaty, my heart beating with excitement. I thought it was bad gas from stress and then I'd go back to sleep. But one night, I really did get that call, and I knew exactly where to go and what to do. I guess these are all the usual jitters for a job interview, although this was no ordinary interview. At midnight, I came to an intersection, the beats of flashing yellow yield lights momentarily lighting the small corner I stood with anticipation and secrecy. A man, through the yellow haze arrived, caddy-corner to my corner, and briskly approached me. He was classic-Hollywood handsome and he smelled like eggs. I swooned and gagged at the same time. I don't believe we said a word to each other, but he had me swipe my ID through a Square Credit Card Reader attached to his phone, and then I signed my name on his glowing screen. Then, we each walked in separate directions and I knew the job was mine.

Let me just say, despite my love for this job and everything it means to the world, being the village witch certainly is not easy. Just yesterday I had a woman plead with me to let her son get into Princeton and, first of all, I was like really? I could do anything in the world to make your life better in some way and that's what you ask for? Second, I said I can make this happen, but first I need a pint of blood from your husband and a pint from the swine of the golden fields in order to make the hex work. She started screaming at me because she didn't know how she could convince her husband for a pint of blood (apparently getting the swine of the golden field's blood was a no brainer for her). She left angrily, saying she'll visit the cunning man down the road next time. Little does she know, though the cunning man supplies swine blood for all his customers, he's still gonna need her husband's blood to make the hex work. Thanks to the Internet, people these days know nothing about the black arts.

However, the benefits far outweigh all the nasty customers apparent in all client-centered businesses. I got a free dog who houses the spirit of Sitri, a great prince in Hell. And he's all mine to do my bidding and to help me learn the ways of death. A mentor and a pet all in one--what gets better than that?! I get to meet with my other two best friends (usually in thunder, lightning, or in rain) where we usually pull out a bullshit prophecy that some doofus will self-fulfill and it's all great fun. My retirement plan is great--complete reign over the second circle of Hell (deemed most fitting for me, if you know what I mean). It's literally the best job.

I get it, being the village witch isn't for everyone. Some people are more suited amongst the cunning folk, while others don't belong near the strings of fate or malevolent willfulness at all. And that's okay. But I found the best job for myself while still in college, and you can find yours too! I would start by setting up a LinkedIn profile and sacrificing a newborn lamb at midnight.