Two more sidenotes. The first is that I apologize for the ugly-looking blog. I spent hours this holiday weekend trying to load a fun template, but couldn't seem to do it right. If anyone has any tips or wants to help me out, I'd appreciate it.
The second note is about celebrity quarterlife crises. More and more are admitting to it. Zach Braff, Mandy Moore, and now even J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, admits that she was suicidal when she was in her twenties. At least we know we're not alone, I guess.
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And now on to internships. For most of us, it's probably too late to consider being an intern. Most interns are unpaid, and money is necessary for bill-paying. But, if you're still in school, going back to school, or have enough saved to be able to afford to be an intern, it's a definite must.
I interned in "Hollywood" during my time in Los Angeles for a film production company. Since this company was located on the Warner Bros. lot, it was pretty much awesome. I walked past the set of "ER" every day, saw actors and actresses milling around their trailers, and saw parking spots with names like "F. Prinze Jr." labelled on them. I got to read absolutely awful (and some decent!) scripts, sat in on a meeting with a writer for a sci-fi/action movie, got to drive a producer's car around the crazy Los Angeles freeway system, and apparently had Will Smith say hello to me (but I never looked up from my magazine!).
Circumstances and life in general got in the way of me getting a job from this internship, but it was an amazing opportunity none the less. Friends of mine have interned for publishers, weather departments of news shows, and city architects. Interning is a wonderful opportunity to "try out" a career field, to get some experience, and to enhance your resume.
If you're like me and it's too late for you to apply for an unpaid internship, try the next best thing: volunteering. If you're interested in carpentry, architecture, or landscape design, find your local Habitat for Humanity. If you're interested in media, PBS always needs volunteers for their telethons. If you enjoy writing, send in an article to a small publication or nonprofit organization. For all of these activities, you'll get the same benefits as an internship, plus the added benefit of knowing that you helped a community, organization, or individual out using your particular skills.
What are some other volunteer activities that could act as your "grown-up internship"?
Showing posts with label volunteer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label volunteer. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Depression is a depressing topic
I don't know about the rest of the quarterlifers out there, but I had always been described with words like cheerful, joyful, bubbly, and, my favorite, annoyingly happy.
Of course, this was all before graduating from college. My graduation was marked by more tragedy than most are - I went to my ceremony one day, and a high school classmate's funeral the next. That, more than anything, drove into my mind that this was real life, and I had to do everything in my power to make sure that I made the most of it.
This "real life" has proven harder than any exam I had to take or paper I had to write. There's no clear syllabus of what's coming next, or no guide as to what options are best for certain majors. Not prepared for the miriad of choices, I, the "annoyingly cheerful" one, suffered from bouts of depression. Which is hard to admit until you're lying on the floor in your parents' bedroom, sobbing that you have no skills and no direction in life. Every door seems closed, yet at the same time, too many seem open.
While reading the book "Quarterlife Crisis," I was encouraged/horrified to read that many quarterlifers suffer from depression during this time. Lack of funds, choices, and/or purpose can all lead to this.
I found the book "Quarterlife Crisis," ironically, too depressing to keep reading, but if you're interested in learning more about this new crisis, you should certainly check it out.
Too often lately I have been depending on circumstances to make me happy. If this continues, I realized, I won't be happy no matter the circumstance. I need to be content no matter my current job, social status, bank account statement, or housing arrangement.
When I spoke to some close friends about these depressing feelings, more than one suggested that I volunteer somewhere. "What?" I thought. "This is supposed to be about me, not about helping someone else. I'm the one that needs help."
Yet they had a point. Depression is a very self-centered feeling/disease. And volunteering is a great way to combat that. Not only do you help others, but you feel better about yourself, too. And not all volunteer positions are in soup kitchens or nursing homes. I did a Google search for volunteer options in my area, and found a non profit organization that was looking for a writer. I got some great experience, added to my portfolio, and broadened my horizons a bit, all while helping out others.
If you don't have time to commit to another organization or group, see if you can help out people you already know. Maybe a friend needs help with a move. Or perhaps your mom wants to organize all those old pictures. Your neighbor doesn't quite understand the difference between a mouse and a computer. I'm sure, if you look for it, you can find all sorts of people who are already in your life that could use your assistance in some matter. Don't be pushy, but be helpful. You'll help them with a task, and perhaps strengthen or build a relationship while you're helping.
If that's too much to think about right now, then just watch this amazing video by improv everywhere. It will make you laugh.
http://improveverywhere.com/2008/03/09/food-court-musical/#more-221
Of course, this was all before graduating from college. My graduation was marked by more tragedy than most are - I went to my ceremony one day, and a high school classmate's funeral the next. That, more than anything, drove into my mind that this was real life, and I had to do everything in my power to make sure that I made the most of it.
This "real life" has proven harder than any exam I had to take or paper I had to write. There's no clear syllabus of what's coming next, or no guide as to what options are best for certain majors. Not prepared for the miriad of choices, I, the "annoyingly cheerful" one, suffered from bouts of depression. Which is hard to admit until you're lying on the floor in your parents' bedroom, sobbing that you have no skills and no direction in life. Every door seems closed, yet at the same time, too many seem open.
While reading the book "Quarterlife Crisis," I was encouraged/horrified to read that many quarterlifers suffer from depression during this time. Lack of funds, choices, and/or purpose can all lead to this.
I found the book "Quarterlife Crisis," ironically, too depressing to keep reading, but if you're interested in learning more about this new crisis, you should certainly check it out.
Too often lately I have been depending on circumstances to make me happy. If this continues, I realized, I won't be happy no matter the circumstance. I need to be content no matter my current job, social status, bank account statement, or housing arrangement.
When I spoke to some close friends about these depressing feelings, more than one suggested that I volunteer somewhere. "What?" I thought. "This is supposed to be about me, not about helping someone else. I'm the one that needs help."
Yet they had a point. Depression is a very self-centered feeling/disease. And volunteering is a great way to combat that. Not only do you help others, but you feel better about yourself, too. And not all volunteer positions are in soup kitchens or nursing homes. I did a Google search for volunteer options in my area, and found a non profit organization that was looking for a writer. I got some great experience, added to my portfolio, and broadened my horizons a bit, all while helping out others.
If you don't have time to commit to another organization or group, see if you can help out people you already know. Maybe a friend needs help with a move. Or perhaps your mom wants to organize all those old pictures. Your neighbor doesn't quite understand the difference between a mouse and a computer. I'm sure, if you look for it, you can find all sorts of people who are already in your life that could use your assistance in some matter. Don't be pushy, but be helpful. You'll help them with a task, and perhaps strengthen or build a relationship while you're helping.
If that's too much to think about right now, then just watch this amazing video by improv everywhere. It will make you laugh.
http://improveverywhere.com/2008/03/09/food-court-musical/#more-221
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