Caution: Adulthood is here

Here, we are again. So soon too! Very exciting. There are so many thoughts jumbled up inside my head, and just not enough time to adequately explain all of them. My previous post did not do well with sorting out the facts of my life, but instead just grazed the surface. I really should explain more so that anyone who reads this knows the foundation I’m standing on currently.

To begin, this is the happiest I’ve felt in a very long time. Too long I think. The past three months have been a whirlwind of excitement. I’m an genuine adult, I pay bills and go food shopping (which is oddly cathartic, who knew?), I have an apartment which I attempt to clean regularly but I question whether or not the day is actually twenty-four hours long. I made a momentous decision to join the AmeriCorps*VISTA program. I work for a nonprofit company, in my case Catholic Charities Maine, as a full time employee, but I receive very little pay. Not going to lie about this part, but the money sucks. Not to worry though, my time here really enhanced my personal finance skills as well as gave me a new appreciation for the impoverished. It’s hard, it really is. I realize now that I am lucky to have the education I do which allowed me to adapt more easily and learn new things (such as extreme budgeting, to clarify no, that is not some overrated reality television show). But this isn’t about the money, although that is the topic that seems to pop up over and over. I work in an office in the Volunteer Services department. I love it. I love the service aspect of my job. Jane Addams’s Twenty Years at Hull House truly remains an inspiration to me, and I firmly believe in service after education. Do something useful and practical with your education, don’t waste it away. That may be my own spin on William James’ philosophy of pragmatism, but I believe that all individuals who go through the higher education system should spend some time after their graduation serving others through programs like AmeriCorps or Food Corps. Put that education to good use, not just some personal benefit.

Next thing on my list is my big move. Part of the stipulation of accepting this particular AmeriCorps*VISTA position was moving. Lucky for me, I moved to a place I wanted to anyway. The gorgeous state of Maine. I live in Portland, one of the biggest cities in the state, which is situated right on the shiny Casco Bay. I live with close friends, which makes things much better. But the city itself is absolutely wonderful. There is so much to do, so many places to explore. It has a character not seen down in New York. The arts are all around, in plain view and hidden. I’m hoping to become even more active in my community through some personal volunteerism, outside of the work I do. I’ve looked into several different opportunities and I eagerly await a response to my inquiries. I’ve thoroughly explore all over, I’ve become very familiar with the local book shops and comic book stores. So far, no good tattoo parlors though, so I’m still looking. Although a part of me misses home and Elmira, nothing compares to the exhilarating sense of freedom and this wonderful city.

I should have mentioned this earlier, I suppose, but I graduated from Elmira College this past June. It was very bittersweet, my now ex-boyfriend broke up with me around that time. It was sorrowful to say good bye to so many friends, but also very exciting. Newer and greater adventures lie ahead of me. Although I miss the good times we shared in the purple bubble, it was time for me to leave. I need something new, a different place, different people. This doesn’t mean I’ll forget about those friends and memories, surely not. Instead, I’m only adding to the memories with wonderful stories and interesting people. I love my job, I love being single, I love my apartment and the place I’m at in the world right now.