One year ago today, I was just a month post-graduation with my master's degree in speech-language pathology. I'd recently finished up my last externship in pediatric home health, where I had firmly decided that I wanted to work with kids, and interviewing all over the place to figure out where I wanted to be. I was working doubles left and right at the restaurant I'd been working at for the past 3.5 years, but I was less than two months away from accepting a position in the public schools.
Now, I'm working as a pediatric SLP in a medical setting at my dream job. I feel challenged literally every single day. I love my patients and their families, and I'm growing more and more comfortable with myself as a clinician and as a professional. The majority of my caseload is early-intervention age children with autism (something I never thought I'd be doing), and I run two social skills groups per week.
One year ago today, I was a few days away from going wedding dress shopping for the first time. We'd just signed with our venue after having negotiated a great rate (note: things happen & we're spending more than anticipated...such is a wedding). We had plans to honeymoon at an all-inclusive resort somewhere in the Caribbean, like St. Lucia...or Bali, if we could just get past the $2,000 plane ticket. We were dipping our toes into the wading pool of wedding planning, and the big day felt light years away.
Now, we're 32 days (!!!) away from getting married. The vendors have been booked, the honeymoon is squared away (see you soon, Kauai), and I'm in the midst of finalizing little details like tipping, event signs, and a hair and makeup schedule. I'm going on my bachelorette party next weekend, and I'm just a couple weeks away from my final dress fitting! It's all coming together. Also, we're spending an exorbitant amount of money on salmon as an entree. So if you're a guest at the wedding...do me a solid, and go for the fish.
One year ago today, I was relishing in post-graduate school freedom. After quitting my full time sales job and starting to work toward my master's degree back in 2015, I always felt like there was something I needed to be doing. Another hour of studying for the GRE, a quick edit to my letter of intent, an exam to study for, a client report to wrap up. I knew that once I joined the professional working world again, my 9 a.m. wakeup calls and weekday trips to the beach would be a thing of the past. And they are.
Because now, the first few days of my week are consumed with work, going to the gym, and sleep. I have about 2-3 hours to myself on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, but my weekend starts at 6 p.m. Thursday evening.
I spent nearly four years working toward the life that I'm living now. Working in a restaurant, while getting yelled at by hangry, entitled business men and women, I'd think to myself, "I am so ready to close this chapter of my life." Looking back, I don't regret those thoughts. I was ready to be done long before I put in my two weeks, but there's something to be said about enjoying a season of life while you're in it.
With that said, I encourage you to take a look around. If you're struggling in school, know that you won't be forever. If you're hating the single life, relish in the extra time you have to get to know yourself (and the extra time you have to keep doing whatever the hell you want). If you're hating your job, know that you could find another one next week. Life has a way of switching up your game plan while you're not looking, so try and take it all in. Chances are, you're doing just fine.
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