Job interview, job interview, and...Oh crap! One more semester
I went on a couple of office interviews since last update. The first one was over fall break in Charleston. The interview went well as far as I can tell. It consisted of a lot of testing and interviewing. The position I interviewed for was a customer support role training clients how to use accounting software. In that light, the test questions that would have seemed awkward were understandable. The first couple of tests consisted of basic problem solving questions (calculate a bulk discount percentage, pick out the two sayings that have similar/opposite meanings, etc.). The next test was an essay format. I had to answer questions like:
1. How many museums are in the U.S.?
2. Explain in detail how to brush your teeth?
3. Why do clocks run clockwise?
The first one was a basic estimation question. I never thought I'd say this, but thank you, Dr. Delo. The next one was about how well I can communicate instructions. The last one I had no idea. I didn't realize the obvious answer that no matter which way clocks run, that direction would be clockwise. Really, clocks rotate clockwise because that's the direction sun dials rotate, which I think is a pretty arbitrary fact to know for the sake of getting a job.
Over all, I think the interview went well, but what matters is how well I did in comparison to the other candidates. The worst part of the trip was that my dad insisted on coming with me. I wanted to make the trip solo simply because I think I've gotten to the point where I need to do things on my own. I know it must be tough when I'm the only white sheep among my siblings, and I'm sure he has that paranoia to be with me to make sure everything goes all right, so I won't end up in a position like Brother and Sister. The thing is, we coincidentally had family who would be in the area on those dates, so I couldn't guiltlessly refuse his company. Actually, I couldn't do that anyway, but his wanting to visit his sister and brother-in-law made saying "no" too hard.
The other interview was with Enterprise. I'm not crazy about that position just because it's actually located one town over from where Dad lives. Dad thinks it's great because I could live at home and "save up some money." Really, I can live at home until I die. That's a morbid way of putting it, but first I'm living at home to save up for a new car, then I might as well, save up for a house, then I might as well save up for retirement, then I might as well forget about buying my own house, take the deed to Dad's house, and retire early with no memories from the youth I squandered.
I can't move back home. That's not an option. I'm in my mid-twenties, you know? Was he living at home at my age? Besides, it's not like I'm looking to move to the other side of the country, I just want the peace of mind of being able to fully support myself.
Unfortunately, it looks like I may have to wait one more semester at least. Has God ever given you the conviction to do something you were terrified of doing? Initially, I was ecstatic about the [censored] position with the government because it meant I didn't necessarily have to get CPA certified. Lately, I've been getting the impression that I have to take that test. I can't describe it, but there's this feeling in the pit of my stomach telling me to do it, despite the fact that I'm terrified of taking that test. The thing is, it's inevitable.
I have to keep my GPA over 3.0 to graduate this semester. Right now, if I graduate, it'll be by my fingernails because I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth. If I don't finish this semester, then I'll have to come back next semester to take one class just to get my GPA up, and if I'm going to take one more class, I should use that excess time productively and take the CPA exam. I've got a premonition that if I agree right now to sit for the exam, God will let me graduate. Of course, I will have already agreed to prolong my education (if only informally) one more semester. Otherwise, I may falter in one of my courses and have to do it anyway.
Robbie: That's ridiculous!
Me: What?!?! Who are you?
Robbie: 'Robbie.' You know, we have met before, if only briefly.
Me: I think I remember. Your my anxiety, the guy who keeps me out of trouble. I don't think I ever followed up that entry where you were introduced.
Robbie: That's no surprise; I didn't allow it. There was no real way to follow it up. Quite frankly, that entry came off as an embarassing attempt to invoke originality in one of your otherwise bland entries.
Me: Well, I don't actually remember that entry, so I guess I can't argue. Well, if that entry is such a blemish, let's not drudge it up. What did you mean by "That's ridiculous!"
Robbie: You have to finish school, Rob. You have to. For crying out loud, you're almost 25. It sickens me to think how many people we know have finished their education and moved on, and you're still left behind. I'm ashamed, and if I'm ashamed, then your ashamed.
Me: Now that you mention it, that is one of those facts I try to ignore.
Robbie: If you're supposed to sit for the CPA exam, God will just have to change His plans. It was time for you to start working a while ago. You need to start paying your way. You can start working January, then do nothing but work and study for a year so you can pass the exam. I want you to save your face.
Rupert: Hold on one second!
Me/Robbie: Rupert?!/Oh, great.
Rupert: I'm here for damage control. You've been driving Rob, not to mention everyone else in Rob's head insane for the past year.
Me: Wow! When the voices in my head start going insane, I've really got problems.
Rupert: Your're out of control, Robbie. You're grating on everyone.
Robbie: Gee, thanks. You know, I am also a part of Rob. Bashing me also hurts Rob's confidence and esteem.
Rupert: Yeah, well some things have to be said. Robin's depressed because your fear keeps her from enjoying our friendships. Bob's only happy when Rob's working out, so he can shut you out. Worst of all, you're distracting me. I used to be in control. I ran a clean, efficient, disciplined head-quarters. Your fretting over everying-school, careers, relationships- is distracting me. I can't do my thing to get us through this. If you had shut up last fall, I could have done my job well enough so that Rob's GPA would be high enough to graduate right now, regardless.
Secondly, the past is the past. All we can do is press towards tomorrow. What is before us right now is the CPA exam. Yeah, we may have to postpone starting a career a few more months, but that's a minor detail.
Robbie: Minor! Minor!?! Anya's in Grenada for the Peace Corps, Lisa's auditing for PWC, Ania's doing taxes for E&Y, Heather's in Harvard law school for crying out loud...
Rupert: So. We can't be bothered about the past, and we can't compare ourselves to others, whatever their position may be. God's saying to focus on the CPA exam. That's what we're going to do. We have no reason not to. We have the resources to do it. All we...I mean I have to do is buckle down and study for it.
Robbie: And what about the misery of doing nothing next semester?
Rupert: First off, we won't be doing nothing. We'll be working hard preparing for a very challenging test. Secondly, you can't say we'll be miserable. Yes, there will be times of loneliness, but we thought that would be the case when we transferred back to our college at home. Those four semesters were amongst our happiest times in school. They weren't lonely. Being alone doesn't entail loneliness.
Robbie: And if we go through all that and fail the exam? You know we...I mean you couldn't even stand to study for the exam the first time we were supposed to take it.
Rupert: Yeah, because I was burnt out on finishing our undergraduate degree, among other trials. We also dropped Accounting 2101 the first time we took it, now we almost have a Master's Degree in it. Being a Christian can be hard when we can't follow the course we plotted for ourselves, but that's not really a bad thing. God knows what's down the road for us, He knows the purpose he has for us, and He knows what we need to do right now so we can serve his purposes when the time comes. This is one of those trials right now we must be refined by. There's a reason behind it, and it's likely for our blessing. Completing this task won't be a regret. We're not going to look back and regret doing this. I'm the voice of reason in this head. When God says to do something, just do it. If we're obedient, God will provide the rest. End of discussion
1. How many museums are in the U.S.?
2. Explain in detail how to brush your teeth?
3. Why do clocks run clockwise?
The first one was a basic estimation question. I never thought I'd say this, but thank you, Dr. Delo. The next one was about how well I can communicate instructions. The last one I had no idea. I didn't realize the obvious answer that no matter which way clocks run, that direction would be clockwise. Really, clocks rotate clockwise because that's the direction sun dials rotate, which I think is a pretty arbitrary fact to know for the sake of getting a job.
Over all, I think the interview went well, but what matters is how well I did in comparison to the other candidates. The worst part of the trip was that my dad insisted on coming with me. I wanted to make the trip solo simply because I think I've gotten to the point where I need to do things on my own. I know it must be tough when I'm the only white sheep among my siblings, and I'm sure he has that paranoia to be with me to make sure everything goes all right, so I won't end up in a position like Brother and Sister. The thing is, we coincidentally had family who would be in the area on those dates, so I couldn't guiltlessly refuse his company. Actually, I couldn't do that anyway, but his wanting to visit his sister and brother-in-law made saying "no" too hard.
The other interview was with Enterprise. I'm not crazy about that position just because it's actually located one town over from where Dad lives. Dad thinks it's great because I could live at home and "save up some money." Really, I can live at home until I die. That's a morbid way of putting it, but first I'm living at home to save up for a new car, then I might as well, save up for a house, then I might as well save up for retirement, then I might as well forget about buying my own house, take the deed to Dad's house, and retire early with no memories from the youth I squandered.
I can't move back home. That's not an option. I'm in my mid-twenties, you know? Was he living at home at my age? Besides, it's not like I'm looking to move to the other side of the country, I just want the peace of mind of being able to fully support myself.
Unfortunately, it looks like I may have to wait one more semester at least. Has God ever given you the conviction to do something you were terrified of doing? Initially, I was ecstatic about the [censored] position with the government because it meant I didn't necessarily have to get CPA certified. Lately, I've been getting the impression that I have to take that test. I can't describe it, but there's this feeling in the pit of my stomach telling me to do it, despite the fact that I'm terrified of taking that test. The thing is, it's inevitable.
I have to keep my GPA over 3.0 to graduate this semester. Right now, if I graduate, it'll be by my fingernails because I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth. If I don't finish this semester, then I'll have to come back next semester to take one class just to get my GPA up, and if I'm going to take one more class, I should use that excess time productively and take the CPA exam. I've got a premonition that if I agree right now to sit for the exam, God will let me graduate. Of course, I will have already agreed to prolong my education (if only informally) one more semester. Otherwise, I may falter in one of my courses and have to do it anyway.
Robbie: That's ridiculous!
Me: What?!?! Who are you?
Robbie: 'Robbie.' You know, we have met before, if only briefly.
Me: I think I remember. Your my anxiety, the guy who keeps me out of trouble. I don't think I ever followed up that entry where you were introduced.
Robbie: That's no surprise; I didn't allow it. There was no real way to follow it up. Quite frankly, that entry came off as an embarassing attempt to invoke originality in one of your otherwise bland entries.
Me: Well, I don't actually remember that entry, so I guess I can't argue. Well, if that entry is such a blemish, let's not drudge it up. What did you mean by "That's ridiculous!"
Robbie: You have to finish school, Rob. You have to. For crying out loud, you're almost 25. It sickens me to think how many people we know have finished their education and moved on, and you're still left behind. I'm ashamed, and if I'm ashamed, then your ashamed.
Me: Now that you mention it, that is one of those facts I try to ignore.
Robbie: If you're supposed to sit for the CPA exam, God will just have to change His plans. It was time for you to start working a while ago. You need to start paying your way. You can start working January, then do nothing but work and study for a year so you can pass the exam. I want you to save your face.
Rupert: Hold on one second!
Me/Robbie: Rupert?!/Oh, great.
Rupert: I'm here for damage control. You've been driving Rob, not to mention everyone else in Rob's head insane for the past year.
Me: Wow! When the voices in my head start going insane, I've really got problems.
Rupert: Your're out of control, Robbie. You're grating on everyone.
Robbie: Gee, thanks. You know, I am also a part of Rob. Bashing me also hurts Rob's confidence and esteem.
Rupert: Yeah, well some things have to be said. Robin's depressed because your fear keeps her from enjoying our friendships. Bob's only happy when Rob's working out, so he can shut you out. Worst of all, you're distracting me. I used to be in control. I ran a clean, efficient, disciplined head-quarters. Your fretting over everying-school, careers, relationships- is distracting me. I can't do my thing to get us through this. If you had shut up last fall, I could have done my job well enough so that Rob's GPA would be high enough to graduate right now, regardless.
Secondly, the past is the past. All we can do is press towards tomorrow. What is before us right now is the CPA exam. Yeah, we may have to postpone starting a career a few more months, but that's a minor detail.
Robbie: Minor! Minor!?! Anya's in Grenada for the Peace Corps, Lisa's auditing for PWC, Ania's doing taxes for E&Y, Heather's in Harvard law school for crying out loud...
Rupert: So. We can't be bothered about the past, and we can't compare ourselves to others, whatever their position may be. God's saying to focus on the CPA exam. That's what we're going to do. We have no reason not to. We have the resources to do it. All we...I mean I have to do is buckle down and study for it.
Robbie: And what about the misery of doing nothing next semester?
Rupert: First off, we won't be doing nothing. We'll be working hard preparing for a very challenging test. Secondly, you can't say we'll be miserable. Yes, there will be times of loneliness, but we thought that would be the case when we transferred back to our college at home. Those four semesters were amongst our happiest times in school. They weren't lonely. Being alone doesn't entail loneliness.
Robbie: And if we go through all that and fail the exam? You know we...I mean you couldn't even stand to study for the exam the first time we were supposed to take it.
Rupert: Yeah, because I was burnt out on finishing our undergraduate degree, among other trials. We also dropped Accounting 2101 the first time we took it, now we almost have a Master's Degree in it. Being a Christian can be hard when we can't follow the course we plotted for ourselves, but that's not really a bad thing. God knows what's down the road for us, He knows the purpose he has for us, and He knows what we need to do right now so we can serve his purposes when the time comes. This is one of those trials right now we must be refined by. There's a reason behind it, and it's likely for our blessing. Completing this task won't be a regret. We're not going to look back and regret doing this. I'm the voice of reason in this head. When God says to do something, just do it. If we're obedient, God will provide the rest. End of discussion