tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217342832279753037.post3727571101375985846..comments2024-03-28T03:16:08.124-04:00Comments on A Certain Bent Appeal Travel Blog: Travel Stories and Tips: I Burned Out and Moved To MexicoUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217342832279753037.post-91457709067990962312012-10-23T14:49:36.754-04:002012-10-23T14:49:36.754-04:00For what it's worth, in my twenties I knew I d...For what it's worth, in my twenties I knew I didn't want to be a slave to what I see/saw as the rather meaningless and dehumanizing 9-5 slog, and because I didn't have any strong leanings either way for a career path, I kept serving in bars and restaurants after university, I bought an house, and I had a lot of free time. Such jobs don't force you to be a another brick in the wall, they don't force you to commute long distances or get up to an alarm, they don't rob you of the time necessary for keeping up your mental health, and you get to hear a lot of crazy stories. :0 <br />Now of course, other than owning your own establishment, there is not much in the way of advancement in food & hospitality and you can burn out, too, but it has kept me humble and grateful for what I have, and in touch with human behaviour to the point that I feel fully confident in dealing with just about any situation I find myself in... <br />So, fast forward to 2008 and Humber College where - upon encouragement from a sweet Humber professor who came into the bar where I worked - I thought I might venture into the seemingly exciting mess of the changing publishing world. <br />After struggling up the steepest learning curve in my memory (computers and school again - eek!), to which you and our excellent fellow students were amusing and amused witnesses, I tried to get a job - no, scratch that - I tried to get even an internship along with my fellow twenty-somethings, and could I? After two interviews in eight months, I got bitter and said a hearty FUCK YOU to the human resource and publishing professions.<br />In most cases, the only differences between me and my fellow graduates on paper was my university graduation date and my extensive experience with people. Somehow my people skills counted for nothing in publishing... now I wonder if I had played the game and fudged my grad date, I may have got more than two interviews (?), but my damn conscience still doesn't let me do that stuff...<br />So anyhoo, to get back to you and your post's lament (sorry for the long winded blurp), I felt I had to tell you - as sad a comment on the professional world of publishing as this is - not only is there very little advancement happening for you and the underlings in a business so seemingly rife with opportunities for new growth/leadership, but in my experience, there isn't much hope for thirty-somethings trying to enter it, either.<br />I think Jacob has the right idea; fuck the rest - start your own house and make your own rules.<br />xo <br /> a.g.lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11476137616041595489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217342832279753037.post-76242924630416779862012-10-18T15:37:03.548-04:002012-10-18T15:37:03.548-04:00Amazing post. You've expressed the feeling of ...Amazing post. You've expressed the feeling of futility that most "career paths" seem to instill. I so, so agree that <i>the onus is on employers to start actively placing women in non-entry level positions and creating pathways for younger women to advance.</i> And not just younger -- I'm not a millennial but I feel the same way. Congrats on your courage to make a major change.Melwykhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04885378201188978664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217342832279753037.post-39298283224085578422012-10-18T12:45:12.742-04:002012-10-18T12:45:12.742-04:00I too struggled to fashion a career in the arts in...I too struggled to fashion a career in the arts in Canada for years, and basically lived a month-to-month existence from 22 to 30. The problem, however, wasn't so much in being a woman, it was in having taken an English degree and then trying to make an ascent in the arts. I moved out of publishing a year ago into an alternate communications role and while the pay is still nothing to brag about (at all) it's at least a better track than working in the arts. Your skills from Humber can get you work in corporate communications and you could be making anywhere from 70,000-90,000. Keep an open mind to other types of careers maybe, and you'll get there. Most people spend their 20s a mess anyway, so let it go and start fresh. You're young and awesome and there is a future for you out there. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217342832279753037.post-66898514699291652912012-10-18T11:57:05.727-04:002012-10-18T11:57:05.727-04:00I feel that, B. In my professional jobs since Humb...I feel that, B. In my professional jobs since Humber, I felt like I was staring up from the bottom of a never- ending ladder... a ladder that women seemed to be coming down, instead of going up. Really discouraging. <br /><br />When I moved to the US, I had to wait three months for my work permit to process, and I crashed pretty hard. But, slowly, I realized I could breathe, and stop being so wound up, and stop trying do everything I thought I should do, and just exist. And then, I started to rebuild. I'm still rebuilding. <br /><br />It's sounds like, despite it's ups and downs, Mexico is having a healing effect. I'm glad.sundaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217342832279753037.post-19361187952281327292012-10-18T11:37:41.902-04:002012-10-18T11:37:41.902-04:00Cosign! Decemeber will make four years of PT emplo...Cosign! Decemeber will make four years of PT employment in a position I've grown as much as I can. It's hard to stay positive, yet alone energetic.NSPnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7217342832279753037.post-66814697260769173762012-10-18T07:43:39.538-04:002012-10-18T07:43:39.538-04:00Amen. When there is no path, it really feels like ...Amen. When there is no path, it really feels like the next 40 years of life will be the same thing, rinse and repeat. There is nothing inspiring there. <br />Mexico isn't the right thing for me, although I love that you are finding joy there, but I will be paying more attention to myself, to see if I can find it.karenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12282123666178830359noreply@blogger.com