Invictus

I'm nearing the end of my first week as an intern at Pricewaterhouse Coopers in San Jose, California. It's somewhat of a surreal feeling, looking back at how much led up to this event in my life. How's it been so far, you ask? Well, so far I wouldn't change a thing. It's been a life-changing experience already. I've had a couple of realizations or thoughts over the course of the week that I thought I'd share.

First, why is it that once we become professionals (or pretend like we're professionals, in my case as an intern) we go from using backpacks to book bags/brief cases? Walking down the hall this morning behind two of my peers I couldn't help but surpress a laugh watching them lean to the side (coincidentally away from each other) to balance out the weight of the computer cases they each carried. Aside from the added strain on our backs, we're now having to learn how to look like we're interested in what a person's saying while at the same time leaning away in apparent disinterest, or on the other hand leaning too close for comfort!

Next, on a more serious note: I've realized how well my education has corresponded with the work that will be expected of me as a profesional. Throughout training the format has been a short lecture followed by hands-on work. Today, after a week of this, I was struck with the realization that the case studies I was doing were exactly like those I've done for the past two years in school. I was grateful for the applicability of my training thus far, but even more than that I was taken aback and somewhat shocked at the situation. I am studying to be an accountant, specializing in tax accounting, and that is exactly what I've been hired to do this summer, and potentially for the rest of my life. They weren't kidding- no one was. Not the professors with the tests and assignments, nor the recruiters with the job descriptions. I've chosen this path and it's the path down which I'm traveling. No one can read my mind, they only know what I tell them. I've told them accounting, so that's what I'm training to become.

{Very briefly, we can expand this thought to life. Am I traveling down the path in life (rather than only specifically career- although the two are more related than not, when it comes to geographic location choices and choosing what people you spend your time with, etc.) that I want to travel down? Am I fulfilling my life goals and dreams? Although it's true that someone else could potentially choose this for me, it's not true that they will know what I really want or what's really going on in my mind. Only I know. I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul (Invictus, William Ernest Henley).}

Last, working for the past four days is preparing me to be a better wife and stay-at-home mother. Here's how: I had no idea how hard it is to work 8 hours a day and come home and be fun to be around, not to mention share those precious few hours after work with other people and resist keeping them all to myself. It's completely different than being in school, even being in school full time studying all day everyday. The difference is that in school the time is mine- mine to do with what I want, whenever I want. Now, at the firm, the time is not mine. I am on their clock, spending their money with the work I do and the work I don't do. Time is money. And, I'm only working 8 hours a day! In today's world, successful businesspeople all work more than 40 hour work weeks. It's virtually unheard of to work any less. How does that happen? I feel like I get home at 6 and I'm pressed for time to accomplish everything in my personal life that I want to do. How does one do it all?? Self, family, spouse, church, community?

Having the opportunity to work full time for the first time in my life has opened my eyes. I know that because of this experience I'll have a better appreciation for the time my husband spends working, as well as for the times when he comes home and just wants to "chill" after a long day at the office. It's also made me realize that I definitely do not want to spend the majority (or even any more time after this summer) of my career as an employee paid hourly.