primscha

Got a verbal offer for a job last Friday and I’m waiting for background check to process. I asked for a salary boost and they obliged this week. They also said my trip to my grandparents will most likely be approved.

I get a potential bonus up to 4k. 401k, health insurance, dental, vision, PTO, and holidays.

I won’t be making much to live by myself unless I really budget. But I’m making far more than I expected as a jr level designer. I’m on the higher end, especially in the area. Can’t help but think I got lucky. Nonetheless, I’m hoping this serves to be a good stepping stone.

I feel happy but anxious. This is what I’ve been building towards for years, but it happens in the blink of an eye. Feels strange. This of course opens up lovely family dynamics, like my mom asking for money ✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧ so fun. I mean ofc I’ll help out with the house, but I want to draw a line since I need to financially support myself. In regards to why she would want me to give her money for the house, when my dad pays for it… She’s being weird. She’ll get weirder.

Anyway. Yup. Strange but good times? Struggling to process how good this can and will be for me. Sigh, and one of the first things I have to get is a car. 💀

I turned down a job offer due to its lack of transparency and structure. I feel regret and relief. Someone told me I could’ve just taken the job and see how it would take off (as a very new startup), but I was eyeing their unguaranteed, unpredictable hours (no social outreach, online contact info, questionable timeliness, etc.) in conflict with my transportation logistics and said no. Plus…I’ve seen disorganized leadership before, and I detected it throughout the whole process.

They kept saying it might’ve been worth a try, though. And it’s like great, sure, stir up more of my regret and what ifs. I definitely declined it without any hesitation whatsoever.

Other than that, had another interview. It was weird and oddly short. Not confident.

Aaand…I pet my dog. A lot. He’s fluffy.

Graphic design. 🫠 Er, a worse market for sure. I have experience w internships and volunteering, but not at a full time job.

Still figuring out the niche I wanna head into. I prefer user psychology and design strategy tbh, but I feel like I’m spinning my wheels on that.

Well, 2 months and no job, but ik it’s rookie numbers. I know someone who got a job in 4 years. He’s doing well now but sheesh.

I’ve started working on my own designs again. Polishing my portfolio while figuring out how to reach out to folks for pro bono work haha. Unsure of what to show them. And I applied to Starbucks.

Other than that, reconnected with my cousins and cleared up silly family drama. Even though the economy is awful, it’s good to know there’s still family.

Thanks, I appreciate it. Oddly enough I’m waiting on the results for a another job now. Hope things are looking up for you too!

I learned that I’m a runner-up for a jr graphic design job, which is both discouraging and encouraging. I’m wrestling with this feeling of frustration by being second but also appreciative. I was commended and told if they had a second position available, they would’ve greatly considered me further. And yes, perhaps there were bureaucratic words littered in, but it did seem genuine, and that being put in second place was most likely a close call. I feel fairly optimistic about my relationship with them despite the circumstances.

Overall though, I’m just continuing the job hunting grind and planning some projects I’ve put off since university. Still going strong!

I graduated, so I’ve been decompressing and occasionally looking at jobs when I see something on an app. Hoping my screwed up college time perception from gets fixed soon—I hate knowing what’s on my schedule but not knowing what today is. It’s so discombobulating.

Got another interview coming up. Feel mixed on returning to family, but it’s not like my college town was gonna be my forever home… It hurts to close a chapter. I’m worried I’ll return to old bad habits when I live with fam. Trying to remind myself that I’m different now.

I got my first full time job interview tomorrow! I’ve been applying to jobs slowly, but I currently have an advantage in my design cohort because my portfolio site is basically done.

I also somehow connected with folks in my college town that are from the old guard of design. He told me to relax and that I’ll be fine, haha (☍◡⁰) and then gave me his designer friend’s contact— his friend has connections throughout the community.

I’m conflicted about graduating. But also, I want my hobby time back. Excited, scared, and confused!

Today I put some cocoa powder in my cup and then chucked it into the sink instead of adding milk. I’m sleep deprived.

Couple nights ago I baked red velvet cheesecake cupcakes with friends instead of attending class. No regrets. Been focusing on self care because of how burnt out I’ve been since last year.

I’ve noticed a lot of college students are doing two jobs now on top of full time school. Kids are also struggling more in tutoring sessions because they lack the understanding in basic concepts, like exponents… And of course there’s more use in AI, so TAs complain about how no one is really putting effort into their assignments anymore.

Happy New Year. Just resting. Hope everyone gets to rest.

The book sounds interesting! How do you like it so far? Ik that we bred sheep to basically rely on us, but that’s about all I know.

Life is indescribably insufferable right now. Shit keeps hitting the fan. For example, a cat I was just getting to know from my bf’s family died. He booped my nose with his nose and I was like, yay, he likes me. ;-;

In other news, school. I paid my price in sanity this semester. I don’t recommend having 2 part time jobs plus internship while doing a full time liberal arts degree if you can help it. I hope to regain some of my sanity in roughly a week from now.

I’ll be spending Christmas alone or working. But I think I might need to hermit after everything… e Even then there’s just always something that has to be done. Life is a lot. Just glad that I basically have one semester left after this.

Just thought of something to look forward to. I get to pet my fam dog soon.

Stressed, exhausted, ready for vacation/more hw time. A company reached out to recruit me, but there are rumors about the skill assessment being very difficult, and frankly I’m ass at math and math word problems. It also might not be 100% multiple choice, so chances of me passing are even slimmer.

So I’m accepting that I’ll probably fail and continue with my current gruesome plan on finishing my design portfolio… which hasn’t been making progress because of all the jobs and full time school I do.

I don’t think I’ll celebrate Christmas with anyone this year. It’s always been my favorite holiday, but currently it’s a painful reminder of how messy and confusing my relationships are right now. I don’t think my bf is going to visit me even though he said he would— bad economy, after all. Just really sucks when we’ve talked about it a lot…and it was what I saw as the light at the end of this hellish tunnel of a semester. Oh well.

I don’t know what I’m looking forward to right now.

Ugh. I want a break from life.

In a few weeks I’ll be petting my dog, hugging my boyfriend, and tolerating family. I’ve hit a low lower than burnout this semester— oops. But roughly a month left… So hopefully this all resolves and I can breathe a bit during winter break. Senior year. Yippee.

I’m procrastinating from assignments bc I feel mentally stretched thin. But idk, I reconnected with my bf after a long period of silence and automatically felt a lot of my stress fall away. (-◡-◍) But still, I gotta do my hw and my remaining internship hours for work before Sunday o.o

In the meantime I’m slowly job hunting, looking either for internships that transition into full time or just flat out full time. I graduate in the spring, but considering my circumstances I kinda need to look now lol. It’s just a pain because I’m prioritizing this job search and prep over classes, but the only reason I have these opportunities in the first place is because I’m in school… So it’s a weird balance lol. Definitely trying not to feed into straight A habits right now because they’re eating into my time for jobs. That sounds like a flex but it’s more an anxious habit.

Also did a HireVue interview for the first time? And idk how to feel about them. Also waiting for a referral from my friend to go through for a company before I apply. Am scared that I need to practice my skills more, organize more of my work… I probably do, but one step at a time.

Sleepy. I took steps to get in contact with my ol’ director of my program so she can help me with my portfolio. In the meantime, juggling a few jobs and classes isn’t fun. It’s not like the jobs are hard; the most intense one is probably my internship, with the other jobs being paid time to do homework.

The main issue is just the lack of time to actually decompress, rest, and socialize. Oftentimes I find myself really tired. Something I’ve noticed (for years now) is that I lack a lot of energy compared to my peers, and unfortunately caffeine makes me sleepy. So I can only rely on food, sleep, and exercise. Haven’t been doing great in any of those categories. I feel guilty eating. ._. Anyways. On the plus side, my apartment has free lattes and cocoa, which tastes nice. And the club room is surprisingly empty most of the time, so I’m comfy working in there.

Thank you

Will start my semester after this weekend. Not ready. But at the same time, it’s senior year, so… I’m happy it’s almost over. At midnight, I start my graveyard shift. On Monday, will be doing onboarding for two jobs.

Now I’m just trying to figure out what to do today… Maybe walk around campus and enjoy the quiet.

Ah, family— mainly my parents. Had a revelation that they’ve been financially abusive throughout my life and that’ll continue after college. I’m at the point though where I could list other traumatic happenings throughout life that this just feels like life slapping me in the face for “funsies.” They’ve been abusive/neglectful in many other ways so it feels… “normal,” at this point.

After a week of being back in my college town, I feel psychologically safer and I feel like I’m managing my short term issues while planning ahead more, so… I think I am in a better space. My concern in the far future is whether to even stay with them and save up money for a year— if the house doesn’t foreclose by then. Basically.

Feeling more sane now that I’m out of the environment causing me stress, but aware of the one year timeline I have before getting put into the same environment.

There’s a lot to do. Prob need therapy— no, I know I do lol. At least I know that friends are supportive and might be willing to help me stay out of the environment, even though I haven’t told them much because these issues are still something I’m processing. I just realize that if I shut people out of my life, as rough as it is right now, the end results of losing community and support is worse.

Just can’t let my depression thoughts get to me— it’s paralyzing. But like I said, being out of the environment has definitely improved my mental health, and I feel like I have a bit more control again over my life.