Dishwasher Needed

Dear Reader,

Good News:  I secured my first job as a photographer. 

Bad News: I just found out the job is a volunteer position, meaning not paid. I currently have no income whatsoever.

While the pessimist (or realist as my Aunt would say) in me says otherwise, lets focus on the positive first. Through one of my teachers I got the opportunity to cover the PRSA Midwest District Conference.  This is the first time they are hosting this event and they really want me to try to capture the essence of the whole conference. This will also be the first time that I am officially covering any kind of event and while I am super excited, I would be lying if I did not admit I am a bit nervous as well. I hold very high expectations for myself which sometimes causes undue stress, but I am trying to keep in mind that this is why I have been working so hard and I now have the skill set to do a good job.

A teleconference with one of the coordinators was set for this afternoon and upon waking up I found a five page schedule detailing each hour of the three day conference as well as the shots they are expecting me to get. It may not seem like much to some, but I have never done this before and found myself a bit overwhelmed at first. After talking to the coordinator I was put at ease though as she was super friendly and able to answer any questions I had. There a lot of positives about this job; I will get some real-world experience, be able to network and establish business relationships, and finally be able to list "Event Photography" experience on my resume (almost every internship I want to apply for requires some experience covering events).

While all of this is great, we must reel ourselves back into the real world. I currently don't have a job and my bank account is definitely beginning to reflect this as I watch my statement decrease each week. Unfortunately I waited till I was done with classes to start sending out applications and now find myself competing against almost every other college student in the city looking for some summer dough. I used to  consider myself a frugal person, but lately it seems  I alternate between a week of staying on a strict budget to a week where I seem to forget what the word "budget" even means. I hate having to ask my parents for anything as they are already paying for school (which is insanely expensive), so in other words I need a job like yesterday. I dropped by one potential employer a few days ago and they said that if were to get a call it would be sometime this week. On a walk the other day I found a Chinese restaurant with a "Dishwasher Needed" sign in the window, both in Chinese and English. If I don't get a call by Friday, I will be dropping off an application there...For some reason I have visions of sweating in a hot kitchen while I get cursed at in Chinese.

Well at least it will be something to blog about....I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Wish me luck,
Gonzalo

My favorite candy that I seem to be able to only find in random gas stations. Had not seen it anywhere in Chicago till today.