Aug27
How do I define my time in Atlanta? And no, I don’t mean the last five years spent in Georgia. The first four years or so were spent blissfully tucked away in the friendly confines of Athens, GA. Life away at college is magical, marked by class, the weekends, and football games—and not necessarily in that order. However, for the past year (or 14 months, to be exact), things weren’t so nice, neatly packaged, and placed under a Christmas tree for all to come and enjoy. Rather, there have been some tough times, especially as of late. As I stare month 3 of unemployment dead in the eyes, and as all signs point to a new future somewhere else, I have come to wonder—how will I look back at this time in Atlanta - these 14 months, a minute on a clock that only measures time in hours? Five years from now, what one event, what one moment in history, what one millisecond of sheer flight, will stand out above the rest and truly serve as the defining point of this whole experience? The list of candidates is extensive: -June 9, 2008: The day I was offered the job. It was 10:30 am on a Monday, and I was standing in my room near the window when I received the good news. -Late June: The week I officially moved from Athens to Atlanta -July 7, 2008: My first day of work. Too much information delivered during Orientation. Sitting at my cubicle and meeting the other trainees who sat in the same area. Not having a computer for a week and working from my boss’ cubicle while she was out on maternity leave. Eating lunch with the other trainees every day for the first few months. -mid-July: Going to Shakespeare Tavern, and cracking jokes the whole time about how weak the performance was. -mid-July: Getting my new car, a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid -Late August: Beer Fest with friends from UGA, and a ridiculous night on the town. -Labor Day Weekend: Taking in Liz, my friend who was evacuating from Hurricane Gustav in New Orleans. Visiting the aquarium and hiking Stone Mountain -Throughout September and October: Kickball once a week in an organized kickball league -Early October: Going to a beer fest with friends from work…too much hilarity to put here -October 29, 2008: My birthday. But even more importantly, Trick or Treat on Turner Street. I dressed up as the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz and played games with kids as they walked by. -mid-November: Performing in a work-sponsored improv show. Who knew I had comedic/acting talent? -Throughout January and February: Dodgeball once a week in an organized dodgeball league, with co-workers -mid-January: Learning that I would not be hired on past June, because of the recession -February 14, 2009: Team House…Enough said. -Late-February: a fun day at the High Museum of Art -March 1, 2009: Snow in Atlanta! -April 30, 2009: My Senior VP confirmed that I would not be hired on after June 12…panic officially sets in -Late May: a night of standup comedy at the Fox Theatre with co-worker friends -June 12, 2009: My last day at work. Took pictures, said goodbyes, turned in my badge, and walked out the door for the last time. -July 4, 2009: Visiting my friend Janelle at her father’s lake house. Tubing, eating, and fireworks with old and new friends. -Throughout July and August 2009: Resumes, cover letters, interviews (both by phone and in-person), follow ups, networking events, referrals, informational interviews, rejections, turning offers down, waiting, working for free, and now moving. These are just a few of the events that have defined my time in Atlanta. Of course, there are the timeless and ever-present moments: new friends, fun projects at Turner, constant research and analysis for work, daily trips to the drink machine to get a soda, going to the Turner Gym after work, the cold nights where I didn’t want to get out of my car and walk to my apartment, slowly but surely learning how to cook, random outings and get-togethers on the weekends. So at the end of it all, what was the defining experience? What is the watershed moment that my mind will turn to first? I look forward to having the answer five years from now.

How do I define my time in Atlanta?

And no, I don’t mean the last five years spent in Georgia. The first four years or so were spent blissfully tucked away in the friendly confines of Athens, GA. Life away at college is magical, marked by class, the weekends, and football games—and not necessarily in that order.

However, for the past year (or 14 months, to be exact), things weren’t so nice, neatly packaged, and placed under a Christmas tree for all to come and enjoy. Rather, there have been some tough times, especially as of late. As I stare month 3 of unemployment dead in the eyes, and as all signs point to a new future somewhere else, I have come to wonder—how will I look back at this time in Atlanta - these 14 months, a minute on a clock that only measures time in hours? Five years from now, what one event, what one moment in history, what one millisecond of sheer flight, will stand out above the rest and truly serve as the defining point of this whole experience?

The list of candidates is extensive:

-June 9, 2008: The day I was offered the job. It was 10:30 am on a Monday, and I was standing in my room near the window when I received the good news.
-Late June: The week I officially moved from Athens to Atlanta
-July 7, 2008: My first day of work. Too much information delivered during Orientation. Sitting at my cubicle and meeting the other trainees who sat in the same area. Not having a computer for a week and working from my boss’ cubicle while she was out on maternity leave. Eating lunch with the other trainees every day for the first few months.
-mid-July: Going to Shakespeare Tavern, and cracking jokes the whole time about how weak the performance was.
-mid-July: Getting my new car, a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
-Late August: Beer Fest with friends from UGA, and a ridiculous night on the town.
-Labor Day Weekend: Taking in Liz, my friend who was evacuating from Hurricane Gustav in New Orleans. Visiting the aquarium and hiking Stone Mountain
-Throughout September and October: Kickball once a week in an organized kickball league
-Early October: Going to a beer fest with friends from work…too much hilarity to put here
-October 29, 2008: My birthday. But even more importantly, Trick or Treat on Turner Street. I dressed up as the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz and played games with kids as they walked by.
-mid-November: Performing in a work-sponsored improv show. Who knew I had comedic/acting talent?
-Throughout January and February: Dodgeball once a week in an organized dodgeball league, with co-workers
-mid-January: Learning that I would not be hired on past June, because of the recession
-February 14, 2009: Team House…Enough said.
-Late-February: a fun day at the High Museum of Art
-March 1, 2009: Snow in Atlanta!
-April 30, 2009: My Senior VP confirmed that I would not be hired on after June 12…panic officially sets in
-Late May: a night of standup comedy at the Fox Theatre with co-worker friends
-June 12, 2009: My last day at work. Took pictures, said goodbyes, turned in my badge, and walked out the door for the last time.
-July 4, 2009: Visiting my friend Janelle at her father’s lake house. Tubing, eating, and fireworks with old and new friends.
-Throughout July and August 2009: Resumes, cover letters, interviews (both by phone and in-person), follow ups, networking events, referrals, informational interviews, rejections, turning offers down, waiting, working for free, and now moving.

These are just a few of the events that have defined my time in Atlanta. Of course, there are the timeless and ever-present moments: new friends, fun projects at Turner, constant research and analysis for work, daily trips to the drink machine to get a soda, going to the Turner Gym after work, the cold nights where I didn’t want to get out of my car and walk to my apartment, slowly but surely learning how to cook, random outings and get-togethers on the weekends.

So at the end of it all, what was the defining experience? What is the watershed moment that my mind will turn to first?

I look forward to having the answer five years from now.