Towards the end of college, I thought I had a plan. The closer I got to graduation, the more I thought I had life worked out. As the previous Georgia Southern editor-in-chief for The Odyssey, I had spent two years learning the ins-and-outs of Odyssey and couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else post-grad. I wanted to move to New York and work my way to the top as an editor. I had big plans as long as “Plan A” worked out. I was really nervous about interviewing for the job, so I only told the people closest to me. I didn’t want people thinking I was getting ahead of myself—but I was also pretty sure in my head that I had it in the bag. So when I got done with the interview, and heard back that I wasn’t the most qualified for the job, I was sure my world was completely upside down.
What do you mean I didn’t get my dream job? You mean I’m graduating and I don’t have a job lined up? So I picked myself up and started applying at other places for an editing position. The resounding response was, “Well we like you, but you don’t have enough experience.” That was beyond frustrating.
I wasn’t prepared for this at all. I wasn’t prepared to move back home and live with my parents. I wasn’t prepared to work two part-time jobs while looking for a full-time job. I wasn’t even really planning on using my degree. The whole time I was in school, I just worked towards my degree because I felt like it was too late in the game to change majors, and I felt like I already had the “in” that I needed to get where I wanted to go. Plus Public Relations and Journalism are both writing-heavy and fall under Communications, so why bother switching it up?
However, a month into moving home, I’m realizing that just because my Plan A didn’t work out doesn’t mean there aren’t great things ahead. I’m choosing to believe that Plan A didn’t work out because something greater is in the making for me. Instead of trying to make a Plan B, C and D, I’m choosing to pursue the things that I really love and work on myself as a person and let the puzzle pieces come together in time.
It’s hard being a 20-something and not knowing how to answer your grandmother when she asks, “What are you doing with your life?” However, it also feels weirdly freeing to realize that I can reply, “I’m not really sure, but I have my whole life to figure it out.”
So when I get discouraged or upset because Plan A didn’t happen, I’m going to remind myself that God has a greater plan. I get a chance to really evaluate myself and figure out where I want to go. I get a chance to push myself and become the person I want to be.
“Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”
