...figuratively speaking, of course. I don't actually get paid. But it's all progressive, my work here at WeWork will take me steps closer to my greater goal. Everyday, I feel like I am learning practical skills that I will employ in the working world, social skills and inter-office politics that NYU, for all it's assets, hasn't taught me thus far. I'm learning to market myself. I'm practicing my smile and developing a comprehensive mental list of my skill sets. Hopefully, all of this will culminate in a successful corporate future.
On that note, I finally decided, this past weekend, what I want to do with my life. Corporate economic consulting - so as to avoid my course of study getting me (directly) involved in federal politics. And you may be hard pressed to find a kid who will tell you that they want to be a corporate economic consultant when they grow up, but there's a certain romanticism to watching market trends. Short term, high-risk, high-return predictions, it's all more exciting than public conception and general consensus allows for.
Personally, I find graphs beautiful. And speaking from the perspective of a wholeheartedly self-aware geek, I know how that makes me sound. But to simplify an astronomical amount of complex numbers and precise figures, all of which are the product of hours upon hours of field work and research, into one simple aesthetic that can be looked at and instantly understood - that's a beautiful thing. It's poetic. And viewing economics as art helps me bridge the figurative ocean of difference between my love of art and music and my field of study in economics and arithmetic. It can all be interwoven, from the right perspective, with the right state of mind.
But back to WeWork - I'm finally starting to expand within the building. I have a sort of sub-internship starting with a social media company called TCG, a pending potential sub-internship with a graphic design studio, and I'm still looking for a company that could fill a role that is more closely suited to my major. I'm always working, and I'm always tired, and yet I feel legitimized. I don't know why Americans are obsessed with constant work and staying busy, but it appears that I'm no different. WeWork satiates a feeling of significance in my work that the NYU Computer Store does not - I have transcended retail. Even if I worked at TD Bank for 2 years, it still lacked a significant feel. WeWork symbolizes a step forward for me. It forces me out of my comfort zone on a regular basis, a necessary stretch of my will for greater growth in the future. Even if no future job opportunity, or contact, or paid internship comes of my experience here, I will have learned and grown, and as such, this is no waste of time.
Great post Rob! Keep up the good work. I'm committed to giving you an experience that you will never forget. I tend to have that effect on people, they either love me or hate me or sometimes wish I would just vanish for a few minutes. Uh, hello, I'm a life coach, that's what coaches do. Ha! I challenge you to continue to stretch. See if you can get 50 followers by the end of your internship. Emily will be joining you, I'm sure you can also educate her with your knowledge. She's a great kid as are you an maturing young man. Have a good weekend!
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