Oh, sad and OMINOUS…

I Redboxed The Perks of Being a Wallflower and proceeded to cry my eyes out the entire length of the movie. Not only is it one of the most saddest and reality-driven stories, it happens to be up there on my favorite books list [said list is not actually in hard copy. Just a running grocery list of titles in my head]. My only big problem with the movie was how Emma Watson kept kind of slipping back into her native British tongue. I forgive her though. I mean, it’s Hermione. And she is adorable.

The story takes place during high school. In high school, when it sucks, you at least have college to look forward to. Your freedom and a new start are waiting for you on the other side of the graduation ceremony. In college, you get your awaited freedom and find out people like you enjoy doing those weird hobbies you do. Yay. Even when finals and being broke gets you down, hey you’re in college baby. You’re living the dream. And you know that soon you’ll be making the big bucks at some corporate job that promotes you every 6-8 months [or so certain articles say on Forbes.com].

Then you graduate college.

If you’re like me, you didn’t have a job lined up because well, you weren’t entirely sure what you wanted to do. Six months down the line you’re waking up at noon, barely able to recognize the fun-loving college student you were. Your mom demands you get a job. So you do. At the mall. Dear god.

A simple this is just a seasonal job I’ll be making the big bucks by New Year’s comes and goes and 6 months later you’re still there. At the mall. Auntie Anne’s pretzels don’t taste like anything but bitter resentment. Who told you college would land you a sweet job? A high school guidance counselor? Better hope she doesn’t come into the store when you’re at cash register. She’s not getting the discount. Then finally FINALLY you get an office job. No more retail. You can sit most of the work day. This is the start to your pay-off. 8 months of working your ass off. 2 months of a waiting period for them to decide to move you to the Marketing Department. Over a year of essentially being ignored and put down. A position elimination and today you receive your first round of unemployment money.

A big question arises. What is the adult equivalent of waiting for college? When things start to suck as an adult, there really is no waiting for college. It’s more so just waiting for your luck to turn around. Waiting for what you hoped those hours of studying would pay-off into. I’m not saying I want anything handed to me. Oh no. I realize that nothing can be yours unless you go get it.

What if I don’t want anything I’m supposed to want?