If I Were Not On Summer Staff

True story: I enjoyed creating my sketchbook post from last month so much that I decided to do it more often. As much as I love drawing & designing with two fingers and a trackpad, nothing beats the good ol' paper and pen :)

The theme of today's page in my sketchbook?

"If I were not on summer staff, I'd tell you what I'd be..."

It's the opening line to a little sing-songy/skit we do at the summer camp where I've worked, always followed by: "a [insert job title here] I would be." If you don't know what I'm talking about, you should probably add "camp counselor" to your own list.

While graphic designer is still number one on the agenda, there's a whole list of jobs that I think would be pretty cool to have. Not for a long-term career, or anything. More along the lines of "If I suddenly became a billionaire (ha!) and did not have to work for the rest of my life, I would probably alternate between these part time jobs just for fun." Keep reading; I think you'll see what I'm talking about.

1. Whole Foods employee

(complete with hipster glasses, obviously)

I had this genius idea (and you can't deny that it's genius) the last time I was in Whole Foods. I mean, seriously -- how much fun would it be to work here? I love Whole Foods, I love the people who shop at Whole Foods, and did I mention the 20% employee discount? Yes, please :) After working in a coffeehouse for four years, I've realized that I also like being educated -- I like understanding everything that goes into making an espresso-based drink, and I like being able to distinguish between a latte and a cappuccino. Likewise, I think I'd learn a lot at Whole Foods that I could apply to my own grocery-purchasing life. It definitely tops my "awesome odd jobs" list.

2. Post office employee

If you've kept up with this blog for any amount of time, you're well aware of my absurd love for snail mail. When I was in high school, this was my dream part-time college job... for real. I wouldn't want to be the person who actually delivers the mail -- the thought of having to stop my vehicle on the side of my road every fifteen seconds while cars speed past me is semi-terrifying. But to actually work in the post office, handling the mail, knowing that I played a significant role in a letter's journey from one destination to another? Imagining the stories behind the letters? That would be SO cool. The more I think about it, the more obsessed I become... so it's definitely going on the bucket list, even if it's just shadowing someone for a day.

3. Gymnastics coach

I had never really thought about this one until this week: there was an ad in our student newspaper for a part-time gymnastics instructor opening with Bull City Gymnastics in Durham. It said a gymnastics background wasn't necessary, but I've got ten years of experience and a couple of state championships in that department :) I found myself in the process of replying to the opening before I remembered that I currently have three part-time jobs, as well as a full-time student status, so I decided that it probably wasn't the best idea. But still. Now I want to be back in the gym and work with kids and have an excuse to live it up on the Tumbl Trak.

4. Secretary

I would also secretly like to be a secretary. After visiting my dad at work as a child (he's not a secretary, by the way), I gathered that the symbols of having a really cool job were: 1) a sweet desk, 2) a swivel chair, and 3) a dry erase board with lots of markers. I imagine that I could have all three of these things as a secretary, plus I would get to type a lot, which I love to do. I would write a lot, which I like to do, and I would proofread other's writings. And I could be really organized... and create awesome letterhead... and maybe even design company newsletters or something. I realize that all sounds rather boring to most people, but to me, it seems rather low-stress and right up my alley. Perhaps I will become a secretary when I retire someday. I think I would make an awfully cute old lady secretary :)

5. A.C. Moore employee

I almost worked here in high school. As in: I went to the store, got an application, filled it out... and then realized that I would spend double my paycheck in the store if I was there all the time.

Yep, it's a problem! I would undoubtedly have the same issue if I worked there today, so I guess it's best to stay as far away as possible unless absolutely necessary ;)

If I hadn't already worked in a coffeehouse for four years, I would definitely add that to my list as well. It's been a really neat opportunity that I wouldn't trade for anything! I'm also incredibly grateful for five summers of working at camp; some of my best memories come from my time on staff and I can't imagine my life without those experiences :)

So tell me: what jobs do YOU think would be really fun/interesting to have?

A Rivers Runs Through It

[Today's blog post title is inspired by one of my favorite article headlines I've seen thus far... shout out to my Camp Bethel loves who understand the dual-meaning!)

Ahem, we interrupt this post already in progress to bring you a little slice of amazingness from my side of the world:

If you haven't already watched the clip 9104 times, go ahead. I'll wait.
Let's be honest... you knew this was coming.
But what you don't know is how loud the screams were that pierced the dorm hallways after the final shot, confirming the fact that the events I had just witnessed on television were actually happening. You don't know that I was still screaming ten minutes later when my dad called to make sure that I was enjoying it all (don't need to tell me twice!). You don't know how I proceeded to throw on sweatpants, jump in my car, and drive to West - blaring my horn in victory until I remembered that I do live in downtown Durham and that might not be the best idea. And you most definitely don't know that in that moment, a billion other car horns joined me in the celebration :)

Casey & me

While I am definitely ready to graduate and move on to life after Duke, I'm glad that I still have these few months to savor moments just like tonight -- nights where I stand outside for hours with thousands of my classmates until my fingers turn purple, busting out in spontaneous Cameron Crazie chants at any given moment. Nights where I receive over a hundred overly-enthusiastic high fives from complete strangers and somehow end up losing my voice in the madness. Nights where people I've never met offer to take pictures for me, simply because they recognize that nights like tonight are full of memories that need to be documented and preserved forever. Nights like these are bittersweet, because all of a sudden... we're seniors, and we're no longer guaranteed another chance at nights like these.

my dear friend, Kishan

We came out in full force after the game - across West Campus and Krzyzewskiville to the back of Cameron Indoor - waiting for the bus carrying the basketball team and Coach K to return from Chapel Hill.

We lined the streets...


Aw, who am I kidding? We swarmed into the streets so the bus had to park at the entrance.


And we screamed and chanted and screamed and chanted some more until the last player got off the bus, [miraculously] made their way through the sea of Duke blue, and disappeared into Cameron.


As far as the hundred or so who chose to stick around beyond that, we eventually got fist bumps and a dozen low-quality cell phone pictures of Austin Rivers himself :)


We also got to witness the Plumlee brothers hopping into their minivan, rolling down the windows, and high-fiving fans as they made their way out onto Towerview. Trust me, the minivan just gained 300 cool points.


As the crowds surrounding K•ville began to die down and I began my insanely long & freezing walk back to the Bryan Center, I couldn't help but stop for a moment just to soak in how cool it is to be a Blue Devil. We've won the ACC Conference Tournament all three years that I've been here. We've won at least 30 games/season all three years as well (the only three consecutive years of having 30+ wins in all of Coach K's career). I was here when Coach K got his 903rd win, making him the winningest coach of all time. I've witnessed two home victory bonfires and a National Championship bonfire. I mean... we won a National Championship during my time at Duke! I've seen Greg Paulus, Gerald Henderson, Jon Scheyer, Brian Zoubek, Lance Thomas, Kyle Singler, Nolan Smith, the Plumlees, and Andre Dawkins all play in Cameron. And sometimes... it's like we Duke students don't realize the greatness we're a part of every day.
But tonight? Tonight we most definitely realized it. Because years and years from now, people are going to be talking about this game. People are still going to be replaying that shot. And people are going to wonder what it it was like to be a student at Duke during the midst of it all. The crazy thing is... I'll know. I'll know exactly what it feels like. And while that feeling can't be conveyed via a simple blog post, rest assured that it's wonderful enough to almost make one never want to graduate :)

"It's always a great day to be a Blue Devil. But today is extra special"

- Coach K

PS: Thanks so much for all of your comments on my last post! I really appreciated all of the encouragement, as well as the tips to continue on with the job search. Y'all are the greatest!