I’m sitting here on my bed in New Jersey, it’s Daddy’s birthday so I came back home for the weekend. And after my first week of school, I think it has finally hit me. This Is It! This is my last semester, graduation is around the corner, and I am scared…shitless, but simultaneously so excited to be free from the burdens of academia. I made a decision not to go to graduate school (immediately), I like to call graduate school the “safety net” for most college graduates. When you still don’t know what to do with your life after four years (or three in my case), why not pay an extra 30 to 50 grand to get another degree…. which really in the scheme of things doesn’t protect you much more than a bachelor’s in our current economy. Unfortunately, networking gets you further than research papers and exams these days.
I’m more of a sky diving girl, either I am going to jump and soar… or fall straight on my ass. That’s pretty much what I plan to do. I like to think of my family as my extra parachute, but I am not too good at asking for things, so I am not sure how much use I’ll get out of it. I get yelled at all the time, “Arielle, you’re a student! Stop trying to handle everything by yourself.” Yes, easier said than done, but I have learned slowly to let some support in 
and yes it has made my life much easier.
I started thinking about what I am up against post-graduation:
1. A recession. Yes, this is nothing new. Not many places are hiring.
2. I am passionate about being a writer…in a recession.
3. The idea of moving back home/away from New York makes me go cold.