Thursday, October 30, 2008

Here's to College Roommates and Chasing the Rainbow.


So, I had 17* roommates total throughout college.

SEVEN.TEEN.

The girls in the picture above were my roommates senior year (and most of them were junior year roommates too....and one of them was a sophomore year roommate.)

Gems.

And one of them is getting married this Saturday. Squee! I adore weddings - getting to see old friends, food, and, oh yeah, the whole marriage part is pretty great, too. It's just so much fun.

Tonight, we're headed to a bachelorette party. Murder mystery style. We got character descriptions and we're supposed dress up in character. And act like our characters. I'm a trendy receptionist, aspiring to be a fashion designer. A few weeks ago, Holly and I brainstormed about "trendiness." As a result, I'm going to be madly looking for some boots tonight to complete my ensemble before I head to the party. (Any recommendations for affordable, cute boot places? I hate buying stuff in a pinch, but obviously this is an important occasion. I cannot be Clara the Clerk wearing any ol' shoes.)

I took the day off work tomorrow (woohoo!) to early vote and for an advising appointment for a graphic design program at a school 45 minutes from Cleveland.

Since telling you guys a few weeks ago about my new direction, I've been intimidated and scared out of my mind.

Self-defeating thoughts overwhelm me: Who am I to think I can do this? Look at my measly lil' portfolio! What if I hate it? What if no job will ever make me happy?

I've also had people insinuate that this isn't "noble" or "world changing" enough. That I'm selling myself short. It's tough.

Tomorrow will determine a lot for me: if it's affordable, if it's feasible, if I'm a candidate, or if I'm out of my league and dreaming.

Here goes.

*Not including the husband of the roommate who got married and her husband lived with us for a month. In a teeny, tiny apartment. And he was making money for living off-base. And paying us nothing. No, I'm not bitter. JUST STOP USING MY TOWELS, ROOMMATE'S HUBBY!

19 comments:

  1. Seventeen roommates! Good heavens!

    Good luck with your appointment tomorrow. I'm sure you'll do great.

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  2. That's amazing! Don't be concerned, just jump in and sell yourself to them in the meeting and see what happens.

    Have a great tomorrow and tell us all about it!!

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  3. I'm honestly not sure how I came across your blog, but I just wanted to say...don't worry about the 'world changing job.'
    I went for that and I hate it. Oh yeah...and I suck at it, too. I wish I had majored in art!

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  4. Ashley, you *can* do this!

    Don't worry about a job making you happy. The happiness doesn't come from the job, it comes from within you. I know that sounds so cliche, but it's true! It's the same idea as "no one can make you happy." When you are happy, you will bring the best out of the job (or relationship, or what-have-you) and vice versa. Following your passion will an awesome experience for you and will lead to such great things. :)

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  5. Dude! I thought I had a lotta college roomies with 11!

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  6. That's such a cute picture! Wowzers ... I can't believe you had 17 roommates! That's madness! Sounds like a lot of fun though! I love that the party has a murder mystery theme! And that you are going to be a trendy receptionist! I can't wait to see pictures!

    Very excited for you about your appointment! You're going to do great! Smash those self-defeating thoughts -- you are going to chase your rainbow of a dream and do just wonderful! We believe in you. XOXO

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  7. As someone who is happily doing the "noble," "world-changing" non-profity-type job, I will say that it is fulfilling, but it does not always pay the bills (luckily my hubby picks up the monetary slack, and is glad to do it if it means having a happy wife). So do what you like and it will leave you with (hopefully) the budget and the energy to do activisty things in your free time.

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  8. Best of luck with your appointment tomorrow!!

    17 roomies is a lot! I've had 11, wow I didn't realize I had that many!

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  9. 17 is a lot.... ine summer i lived with 18 people!! i was 1 of only 2 girls in the house!!! it was crazy!!

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  10. SEVENTEEN! oh my you must be the most patient person in the world because just one was one too many for me when I was in college! I would try Target for boots, even though I'm sure it's too late now.

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  11. I didn't have room mates. I was able to commute to and from home to save money. LUCKY GIRL!

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  12. Have courage, Ashley. The "what the heck am I doing?" feeling takes a while to go away, but every once in a while you get a little confirmation. Listen to the people who know your happiness matters--the "selling yourself short" comments will fade, in time. Best wishes and prayers for your appt. :)

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  13. P.S. I loved that you are possessive about your towels!

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  14. I feel unsure of what my career life holds for me every day. I know that I love what I'm doing, I love it so much, but I can't depend on it forever you know? I'll most likely have a mortgage one day, and a newer car, and more bills ... and I want to rub that crystal ball and look into the future (hopefully I have a very long one) and see what it holds for me and if I'll be doing what I love ... but then I remember that it takes the fun out of the journey. You have to experience what works for you and what doesn't. Jobs will always be there, so if one doesn't work out for you, try the next!

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  15. And I thought my six roommates throughout college were a lot. Woah.

    I hope you had a lot of fun at the bachlorette party. And that everything goes well with the graphic design stuff today. I think it's awesome that you're going out and pursuing it, no matter how scary it seems. You're going to have a lot of fun!

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  16. a murder mystery party sounds awesome right before halloween and with friends, amazing.

    and yay for weddings!

    have fun!

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  17. Whoa. Did you see the Office the other night. Take everything Jim said about Pam to his bros and apply it to your life. And as for people telling you it is not world changing or innovating enough that is not their business and they obviously donot know you well enough to know that any skill you will use for the good of the world.

    Do you know what Relevant Magazine is? I love it and I am a subscriber. You should be too, you would love it. Last month they had this who section on your professionals who are using their professions to change the world. One of the groups was a group of graphic designers who help non-profits with their websites so that they could draw the attention that they needed to make their non-profits a success. They worked with hunger crisis banks in Africa and orphanages in eastern Europe and enviormental agencies -hmm- I just may send you the whole magazine!!

    WHO IN THIER RIGHT MIND could say that is not world changing???

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  18. Good luck with your appointment! Wow, 17 roommates. That is bananas.

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