Being an adult in New York City is not as luxurious as they make it seem in the different shows we watch on television. I always saw myself in Manhattan interning at a law firm, specializing in family issues and advocating for children. This summer is the first time I was challenged in trying to find an internship or job that catered to my academic field, or something I was interested in for my scholarship program. I polished up my resume, wrote some cover letters and started researching a few places to apply to. This most nerve-wracking part is waiting to hear back from the different companies and organizations. It is also quite strenuous to remember the multiple responses to the questionnaires and interview questions just in case they bring them back up again later on or in future interviews.
You also have to have thick skin to stomach the rejections you may get. Don’t worry - just because you get rejected from one or two doesn't mean you will get rejected from all of them. Remember the saying by Alexander Graham Bell, “When one door closes, another one opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." I had my heart set on interning at the Kirsten Gillibrand office, and when I didn’t get it at first I felt bad, but then I reminded myself that I applied for many more and that I just needed to be patient. Now I have quite a number of interviews - hopefully one goes well.
Last April, the unemployment rate was 6.1 percent in the New York City area. There has also been an increase in the amount of people being laid off from their jobs. This has also been my motivation when it comes to school. Education and certifications have played big factors in the probability of receiving employment in today’s job sector. My brother has been working for the Hyatt for years and he now has the trouble of having a full work week. My father is also struggling to find work. He was working for a company that said they no longer needed their workers who were traveling from Brooklyn and will solely use the people who live in Long Island. They could not afford to pay all of the workers or for the vehicles they were providing to get everyone from Brooklyn to the job site. Every time he looks for a new job, the first thing they ask him is if he is interested in furthering his education, which is not likely at his age.
Just the struggle I am having to find an internship makes me a little nervous for all of my friends who were seniors this year and are entering the workforce. I wish them all the best and hope that they all continue their education so it's much easier for them to get great jobs. So I wish everyone the best of luck, and if you are waiting for a job opportunity, I know you will find something.
