Life Update: what and how I’ve been doing lately
- Mikaela Graf
- Oct 14, 2023
- 4 min read
As expected in this season of life, things are constantly developing, and there are so many people to keep in the know. Throw in the fact that I'm a notoriously terrible texter (I really am trying to get better about that), and you've got yourself a situation that is hard to keep up with. So, when I started this blog a month ago, I figured it would partially serve as a tool to update friends and family who want to follow my journey post-graduation. I've been sprinkling in bits of information here in there as I've covered other topics, like job applications and interviews, but I want to take the time today to satisfy some common curiousities all in one place. The answers themselves might not be so satisfying, though.
Introduction aside, let's get the main order of business out of the way:
Do I have a job yet?
Short answer: no. Long answer: sadly, no. I've been applying to several jobs weekly for months now, but none of them have lead anywhere yet. I don't want to lie and say that this process hasn't been frustrating and disheartening at times. Application after application and rejection e-mail after rejection e-mail. It's going to make a person want to cry sometimes. I can say, though, that I, by the grace of God, am able to have some peace over it.
Would I like to put my college degree to use? Yes. Would I like to have a steady stream of income? Absolutely. I want these things, but dwelling on the negative of it all isn't productive. So, I'll continue applying to jobs and making an effort to support my résumé and portfolio, and hopefully, I'll be able to answer this question differently by the next update post.
Didn't I say something about getting a certificate and going overseas to teach English?
As far as this blog goes, I have yet to actually mention this, but it is a goal of mine to complete my TEFL certification and teach English abroad. In fact, as soon as I finish this process, finding a teaching job will be my main focus. I completed an online course in the spring, and I am now on the last step of my certification, which involves a 20-hour practicum. Since the beginning of summer, I have been looking for a program that will allow me to do some combination of classroom observation and student teaching to fulfill these hours.
This past week, I finally joined an organization where I can observe and teach online, and I will be starting all that ASAP. I might be cutting it down to the wire when it come late to my December 31st deadline, but I am glad to have finally found somewhere to get started. At this right, I might really meet my goal of being in another country by this time next year. Hopefully, I'll have better luck finding a teaching job than once had finding a communication-related one.
How have I been up to in Ohio?
While job-hunting and practicum-securing has been fun, it's not the only thing I've been using my time for. I have put effort into building somewhat of a life here, too.
Coming from a military family, I am no stranger to moving and starting afresh somewhere new, but this time has been different than the rest. Moving is never an easy process, but settling in to a new location when you don't have a job or school to start arranging your new life for you has been even harder. On top of that, it's been strange, because I moved to a place where I had no friends but a lot of family. It's been easy to foster old relationships but not so easy to form new ones. So, I had to find places to get plugged into community and meet new people.
As a Christian, the first place I wanted to find for myself was a new church family. Coming from a church I loved and heavily involved myself in for 7 years, it has not been easy to find a church that is a "right fit". It really comes down to just "let go and let God," and by doing this, I am now involved in different ways at a local church and a not-so-local-but-global-family-so-I-wish-it-was-closer church. In some ways, it feels weird, like I'm two-timing these churches, but I'm glad to get to know new people and learn beside them. It doesn't have to be a rushed decision or a definitive one and not the other situation, either, so I am comfortable and happy in these current commitments.
I've also found a community in bungee fitness. If you somehow haven't seen this on social media yet, it's basically a cardio workout where you're strapped in to a harness held up by bungee cords. This type of exercise makes things like squats, jumping, and burpees lower impact and easier on your back and joints. It's also a ton of fun, and I'm obsessed with it.
Other than that, I have taken the chance to explore some local shops and restaurants, which I'd love to do more of. It's kind of hard when you have no money, though.
Hopefully, all this was just the right amount of information to answer some questions without overwhelming you. Moving forward, I want to continue making posts like I have so far and covering specific topics that coincide with this transitional state of my life, but I'll also include more updates like this along the way. And if you didn't know much about me before, you sure do now, so let's keep getting to know each other, bestie!
For some more in-depth life updates, listen to this week's podcast at the links below:
Spotify:
Apple Podcasts:
YouTube:
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