Out of the ‘Bates Bubble’ and Off to Washington Accelerated Learning Resources

Out of the ‘Bates Bubble’ and Off to Washington

Last week provided some relief for my lack of plans after college. I accepted an internship position at Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. I will be an intern in the Russia and Eurasia Program, which is a perfect fit for my background and a great way to transition into the real life after college.

My job search has been rather slow and disappointing this past month but I am continuously on the lookout for opportunities by reaching out to several contacts. With four weeks left and winding down to graduation, at least I have the next step in my life planned. I am relieved and excited for the next few months now that an internship can afford me some more time to look for a job.

Since I will be in D.C. it will be a relatively easy way for me to network and arrange for interviews. I have been geographically limited in many ways for my job search, so I am hoping to make the most of the opportunity while I am in the District. This may mean putting myself out there and stepping out of my comfort zone a little but I am going to try my best to face this struggle. I have been complaining about my lack of mobility and opportunities here in Maine, but I have also never had the opportunity to fiercely hunt for a job.

Despite the relief of knowing where I am flying to after college, I have not been spared from the uncertainty that still looms. Twelve weeks of a fantastic internship experience may lead to many opportunities in the future, but judging from the past year’s struggle, it doesn’t seem to be a particularly long time horizon. I need to be applying for jobs now in order to hear back during the summer. That means reaching out and expanding my network even further while finding the perfect closing to the four years of undergraduate college life.

It will be a tough and uncertain road ahead so I’m enjoying my Bates bubble for as long as it lasts.

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