dreams

in lieu of the recent turn of events that is: my boss finding [and landing] her dream job in the last week or so, writing a post about dreams seemed more than appropriate.

by the way, i should point out that i didn't really get a promotion [it's complicated], but i will have more responsibility and the opportunity to really show my stuff in the next few months.

when i think what is my dream, or what is my dream job more often than not these days, i've been drawing a blank.

about a year ago, this was my dream: 

• move out of my parent's house
• travel more
• find my first "real" job
• possibly go back to school for graphic design or photography

and this was my dream job:

• land this job at AI washington [where i began a lengthy interview process in november to work in admissions, and where i would also [given the job]
• after a period of about year, be able to take some classes for free from AI, to which i decided they would be in graphic design or photography]
• work there for a year+, transfer to AI san francsico, and become a professional photographer

after many months of interviewing and being blown off by an uprooted and mess of an admissions department, i didn't end up getting the job.  i could have easily been devastated, except for the fact that by that point it was already the end of january and i had begun freelancing for patch, and was really enjoying that.  of course i knew i couldn't make a living on patch [in the beginning i got paid a lot, but that was because of a year-end surplus they had, and then it went back down to nearly pennies per article], and couldn't see myself starting a patch for myself in DC [they only have a patch in georgetown and at the time i was working for the arlington patch].  it was a weird time in my life.  again, i was back on the job hunt.  i was still recovering from my father's passing, the unbearableness of the holiday season, and trying to be optimistic for the new year.  then, out of no where, i found a part-time office assistant position on craiglist for a "hedge-fund like" investment firm.  ok, ok, so i don't know anything about economics, investing, or the stock market.  but i do know a lot about administrative work from my years interning at the fairfax county chamber of commerce and also from working at the legal studies department in college.  i could do this job.  and, it was right in clarendon, which seemed even more perfect for me seeing as how i was still living in falls church [10 minutes down the road], and everyone i knew wanted to either live in clarendon or hang out there. 

anyway, i won't go into the details of this job because that's not what this post is about.  but, i will say, that after interviewing on a snow ladden day in the beginning of february, i had a job.  sure, it was part-time, but i thought it was awesome, and i was more than available to work whenever they needed me [which quickly came in handy come march when i was pulled on full-time, and then in april when i was given my first salary].

now, i'm on the verge of handling all of this nearly by myself [as previously mentioned, i will have a new/interim boss, but with the immediate leave of my current boss, i am suddenly be responsible for a lot more work].  she is leaving because she [an avid runner and lover of all things running related] just landed her dream job working as a tech rep for brooks.  and after working with her for nine months, i can tell you that not only does this girl love to run, but she has always wanted to work full-time in something, anything related to running.  and now she's found it.  and i couldn't be happier for her, really.  but, to tell you the truth, i'm also a little jealous.  after she told me this was the dream job she's been chasing for years, i thought to myself, "i need to get one of those."

ever since i started with shaker, i've been so focused on doing well here, growing within this company, helping the company grow, making my mark, that sort of thing.  i think i've sort of i've lost my dream along the way.  i no longer want to go to school for graphic design [in fact, i rarely ever think of going back to school, and at this point have no idea what i would go for if i did], and i'm not sure if i still want to move to san francisco and become a photographer.  i know that dreams are ever-changing and constantly morphing into something different, new, better... but i can't help but wonder:

>>> what is my dream? <<<

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do you have a dream?  what is it, and how are you going about making that dream become your reality?  i'd love to know!

sources: 01. | 02. | 03.