Each week, Amy examines a small group of students in order to understand the individual Dartmouth experience as part of a whole. This week, Amy sits down with a friend to discuss worries about the working world.
This week, I'm really starting to spaz out about not yet having a job for next year. I always thought going to Dartmouth and being a student of good standing was enough to get me hired, without having to do anything but smile widely and put my hand out for my paycheck.
I'm not sure when I realized that this is even more of an entitled fantasy than the one in which I continue to eat everything I want without exercising, and end up looking like Blake Lively. But I can tell you, the reality check was pretty brutal.
So what caused the revelation? Well, last night, I was watching "Confessions of a Shopaholic," and, although the first thing I thought was that Hugh Dancy is, in fact, the love of my life, the second thing that crossed my mind was that the annoyingly clothing-obsessed, self-indulgent, fiscally-irresponsible nut job of a main character was in fact a caricature of someone who I could see myself slowly becoming -- though my hair will never be that good.
This is maybe one of the worst pieces of news I've received via my own synapses since the time my brain chewed me out when I tried to match kelly, olive and forest greens. So what can I do? It's time to look to people who have their acts together.
One such person is my friend Joanna Rosenberg '09, who actually works a real-live job while taking classes here. A novelty.
Joanna has been working as a waitress at Molly's for two years.
"I knew I wanted to get a job in Hanover, but I didn't really want to work on campus -- in the library or whatever. I wanted an active job," she said. "I had always wanted to try waitressing, and thought Molly's was a good idea, since it's pretty laid-back."
I asked Joanna about her co-workers, and she said that the majority of them are unaffiliated with Dartmouth.
"Even though Dartmouth is central to life in Hanover, there's still definitely a separation between life at Dartmouth and life in Hanover," she explained. "It's interesting to see people whose lives are based out of Hanover."
Not only does Joanna waitress at Molly's, she also does some work for the consulting firm where she interned last summer.
"It's super small and does work for non-profits," Joanna said.
So, while I'm having a hard time balancing work and play while only taking three measly classes (and writing for this illustrious publication of course!), Joanna manages to clock in 10 hours a week for Anthony Knerr and Associates as well as two shifts at Molly's. I marveled at Joanna's time management.
"I worked it out with the manager so I have a set schedule," Joanna explained.
That's Thursdays and Sundays for those who want Joanna to bring them a famous Molly's margarita.
"I know that I won't be able to meet with people or do work then, so I plan ahead," she said. "It just requires more time management than I generally would need."
I tell Joanna about my insecurities about entering the workforce, and ask her how equipped she feels.
"I mean, I feel like a lot of people [at Dartmouth] have had real world experiences, but I do feel like having an experience working in an office will help me," she said. "As for waiting tables, I feel like I'd be comfortable being a waitress somewhere else."
She plays it down, but I think Joanna's experience at Molly's is more of an asset than she realizes. After all, I'm perfectly comfortable working at a non-profit, writing on a deadline (alright, sometimes a little past) and editing in a newspaper office, but if you gave me a bunch of plates and a few table numbers, I'd be completely lost.
Still, Joanna's diplomatic.
"It's not quite the same as working in an office," she conceded.
I have one final burning question: How are Dartmouth students as customers?
"Everyone's really friendly!" Joanna said. "Dartmouth students -- and everyone in Hanover, really -- generally tip really well."
