Trusting the Detours

This is a tough time for kids. Lots of college acceptance- and rejection letters arriving.  Lots of college seniors are looking for their dream job during a difficult economy.  I am so empathetic- and wish I could tell every kid out there that there are lots of different paths to their success and happiness. And I do believe things happen for a reason….

My personal college application process did not go as planned. Not by a long shot. JMU was my dream school. (I am one of 6 kids, and our parents preferred that our college search only include state schools.) I actually had everything that JMU looked for on paper- maybe my personal statement sucked- but I was devastated when I got deferred and then rejected. I was only accepted at VaA Tech and Mary Washington U. My older sister was at MWU so I went there and it was wayyyy too small of a school for me. Plus, I was a really good student in high school…..and maybe if I had majored in partying, my GPA would have been better in college. But I changed my major several times and never found a class or major that ignited any type of passion.

Many years later, I would lament to Lance that I wish I had picked a different path for college, and his response was very simple, “What would you have changed about how your life turned out?” Looking back 30 years later, he is 100% accurate. I might not have had it all figured out when I was young, but somehow my life unfolded just as it was intended, and I am very grateful.

I think I previously shared that Liliana’s job search was a not easy. A strong student athlete with great fellowship experience wasn’t even getting granted initial interviews. And the firms that did invite her to interview put her through many rounds of rigorous interviews only to be rejected. In true Lil fashion, she had a master spreadsheet of the 80 plus jobs she applied to you and feeling desperate, she also started applying to grad schools as a fall back plan.  (Yes, despite wanting to go into law. But with all the AI talk, she isn’t sure that law school be the best investment, hence why she wanted a few years of work experience before committing to law school.)

Both of our processes felt sorta unfair, but we all know that life isn’t always fair. Or doesn’t feel fair at times.  But if I can give anyone any advice, it would be to ride it out and keep your options open. And to try your best to make the proverbial lemonade when life gives you lemons!

Despite majoring in English, I had a friend who talked me into applying for a recruiter position at a large tech consulting firm. I went on to have a very successful recruiting/ HR career, where I used NONE of my English degree, but met the cutest consultant named Lance…..

And my sweet Lil, after lots of tears and frustration, accepted a job she’s really excited about in DC. Not long after, she also found out she had been accepted to a graduate program at Johns Hopkins that she can do part-time while working. (She was initially accepted into the full time program but just found out she is into the part time program!  Hence why you now see a John’s Hopkins flag flying proudly outside our house!)

As you all can probably tell, I take zero credit for Lil’s wicked smarts. But I do take credit for picking up all the facetime calls when she felt defeated. I became pretty proficient in pep talks. If there is one thing I have learned it’s that not everything goes as planned- and sometimes that is for the best! And giving your distraught child that advice doesn’t always land well- but at least I could use myself as an example! 

So if you have a high school senior or a college senior who is riding the wild wave of acceptances and rejections…..give them a hug from me, and maybe a cookie! (In our house, baked goods and a favorite dinner always help!)  It’s such a tough time…..but it will all work out!!  And it makes the good times all the more sweet. 

This week’s menu is below! I realized I offered no cookies last week- so it’s a cookie week at SS!

xo,

Heather