enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

keep on.

Paperscrap
The (paid) PR internship that I have been at since January will be ending on April 2nd. Right now, the plan is to continue working part time at Paper Source and wait to see what comes next. I waiver between excitement and nerves. Mostly nerves when I read headlines that the US economy might explode. Mostly excitement when I think about how much time I will have to letterpress & and build my little business.

I never thought I would be the float-around-after-college type. I expected to get a big job. With health insurance and (paid) vacation time. Something with a relatively clear ladder. Something with stepping-stones.

But here I am.

And recession or not, the goal (for businesses and consumers) should always be to stay creative.

(paper in image is from a journal by Jill Bliss.)

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14 responses to “keep on.”

  1. Brianna Avatar
    Brianna

    I totally understand where you’re coming from, Elise. I had such a clear, strong plan for post-grad and now it’s all out the window and I’m not anywhere near where I feel I should be. Keeping the creativity strong is becoming a struggle as well.

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  2. leah eggers Avatar
    leah eggers

    I’m graduating in May so I’ve started the big job hunt…it is so scary out there right now! So I’m with you on the nerves. But I feel like all I can do is keep trying and trust that everything will work out. Good luck with the waiting!

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  3. Terry Avatar
    Terry

    Elise, it’s OK to kinda wander after graduation. After I graduated I worked 3 – 4 part time jobs (substitute teaching, delivering newspapers in my car, waitressing or bartendering, & teaching art classes at a park district)for about 3years. I bounced around from job to job for another 4 years until I finally found a full time job I stuck with for 16 years teaching Special Ed students. In all those years I worked different jobs I had the most amazing life experiences, up & downs, that I wouldn’t change in a million years. Enjoy, and experience all you can while you are young. It only gets a whole lot better.

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  4. courtney Avatar
    courtney

    hiya elise – i actually partway expected to be the floating-after-college type but life had other plans for me. i ended up in a job that i love, which is great, but it’s prevented (er – i hate using that word – ‘delayed’ is more fitting) me from having that chance to do my own thing.
    i’m sure that this time will be one for your to learn and grow and fine-tune your talents. i have no doubt that something good and right will come along for you when it’s the right time – bad economy or otherwise. 😉
    i think you’re right to be excited. just keep on keepin’ on, and i’m sure you’ll be juuust fine.

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  5. Kim Avatar
    Kim

    I don’t comment much, but I totally understand. When I graduated, I had plenty of PR internship experience but nothing outside of it – but I totally expected to land a job immediately. Preferably something that paid extremely well and had awesome benefits (I wasn’t aiming high or anything.)
    Instead, I worked at Dillard’s for a while. The I found a job in catering/event sales for about a year and a half before I got a job in corporate PR. Who would have thought that working in catering sales would help land a PR job? Not me. But, I needed money… and it totally did help me get into a job that I wanted long-term. And the moral of my story (which I remind myself all the time)… everything happens for a reason.
    Best of luck… whatever crazy and exciting way life takes you.

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  6. Mollie Neff Avatar
    Mollie Neff

    I can understand where your coming from… It’s a bit nerve-racking I must say.
    But can I also say that I’m pumped about the online workshop? Woop woop! 🙂
    ~Mollie Neff

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  7. thursday Avatar
    thursday

    I’ve got that journal (and it’s still blank).
    I’m not working right now at all – certainly not in my field. Who knows if/when I’ll get back to it… as there aren’t really archaeology jobs in my current city!

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  8. Signe Avatar
    Signe

    Dear Elise, I know where youre coming from, ´cause i´m in the exact same place right now. The worries & the excitement, the expectations & the possibilities – all mixed up together. Not knowing whether the road in front of you will be bumpy or smooth. When all the thoughts seems a bit owerwhelming I try to remember that we are always RIGHT where we are suppose to be. Nothing more, noting less – that for me makes it simple.
    All in all just wanted to let you know you´re not alone.

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  9. mandy Avatar
    mandy

    I have this journal too!

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  10. summer Avatar
    summer

    oh how exciting!
    don’t be nervous- everything is going to be amazing.

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  11. Michelle Avatar
    Michelle

    I never imagined I’d be the float around type person either. I hope you get that chance to build your own business!

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  12. Amy Tangerine Avatar
    Amy Tangerine

    you have the right attitude. enjoy this time!!! and build that little amazing biz of yours!

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  13. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Everything does work out – and at your age its the time to take risks. It’ll come to you. It took me three years of working post college, then another 3 years in graduate school studying law, then an additional 2 years of living abroad only to realize I wanted to be a mom and a crafty person. 🙂 All that time wasted? No way – it was an adventure! Whatever you choose, make sure its something you love. Truly love.

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  14. Mo Avatar
    Mo

    I have a few Jill Bliss items–love her work.
    I can relate to the drifting too. I can’t even remember how many internships (6?) I have had or how many careers I’ve thought about pursuing (4?) Besides, having one straight path is boring. 😉
    I just found your blog (via EAD) and think you have a great eye. Something special’s bound to come your way.
    PS: My FI is from Sacramento and is also in med school, so your profile caught my eye. I’ll be reading from now on. =)

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