For those wondering about the title of this chapter, “Coin in a Cake,” it all started with a literal coin in a cake at the beginning of 2024. Vasilopita, a Greek New Year’s cake, has a hidden coin baked into it. Tradition says that if you find the coin in your slice when the cake is cut at midnight on January 1st, you’re blessed with good luck for the rest of the year. Somehow, I just knew my slice would have the coin. Maybe it was a sign, a quiet reassurance that I had a lot riding on this year, and a little extra luck wouldn’t hurt.
When I sat down to write my New Year’s resolutions, I was filled with optimism, yet grounded in realism. I set clear goals, but the one mistake I made was completely disregarding life after summer. After a whirlwind adventure through Thailand and Vietnam, I returned to rainy England with no job, no money, and- what felt like- no future prospects. It was the biggest reality check of my life.
Nothing truly prepares you for the harsh reality of job hunting, even though we’re warned about it countless times. People love to say “welcome to the real world” when you hit a new challenge, but with two internships and a master’s degree under my belt, I guess I thought my path would be different- easier, perhaps. Spoiler alert: I was wrong.
My routine became a cycle of waking up, applying, applying, applying, followed by rejection, rejection, rejection. No matter how many times it happens, rejection stings. Applications are tedious, but assessments feel like towering hurdles, and just when you think you’ve cleared one, another appears that seems even more impossible. But here’s the thing- this journey was never meant to be easy. So many of us are navigating this post-graduation phase, and we’re all learning how to steer our way through it.
When things get tough and the stress kicks in, I remind myself of that coin in the cake—whether literal or metaphorical. There are still three months left of 2024, and there’s enough luck left to make it through. So, I’ve decided to shift my focus. I’m picking up a new hobby – my third attempt at learning how to code, writing a blog, and staying updated with new technology. There’s more to life than just job hunting (even though it’s hard to believe that when your bank account says otherwise). But remember, just like that coin, the right opportunity will come, and anyone would be lucky to have you. 🙂
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