Dorothy vs the Classifieds

Whatever happened to the days when a college education guaranteed you a job once you graduated? The time when job offers came flying through the door and you didn't have to worry about how your student loans were going to be paid off. If anyone manages to find that time again, please send it my way.

Going through all the websites and databases that show all the jobs that you're am seemingly qualified for is fine when you first come home, but after awhile (a month to be precise) it starts to feel tedious. Then your mind starts to go to that place, that place no college graduate wants to go to: am I good enough to be hired? If I was, wouldn't I be hired by now?

When the phone stops ringing and the only emails you receive from all those companies you've applied to say either "thank you for applying we'll get back to you" or "sorry, we don't want to hire you," what is a poor farm girl suppose to think about herself? What happens when even the Wizard's recommendation isn't even enough?

The grand total of interviews I have gone on so far is two. The first one took place before I left my Emerald City. I didn't really want the job as it had absolutely nothing to do with my future career. The second one took place last week in city of apples. Yep Dorothy made her way over to New York City.

I went on the Greyhound all by myself (I really am a train kind of girl, but when you have no income you have to be practical. Ruby slippers tend to take a chunk out of a girl's checking account). I managed to make it to Port Authority and catch a cab to Tribecca. And that was the highlight of my trip.

Yes, the interview didn't go so hot. I really did feel like Dorothy when she met the Wizard. The man didn't introduce himself, played around in his chair and spoke with me for all of ten minutes. I never felt more encouraged. Thankfully I already had my bus ticket home because I knew this one wizard that wasn't going to let me into his hot air balloon.

But this begs the question, if the interview turns out better than I thought it did, do I take it? Should I take a job just because I need a job? Do people get to be picky at this day and age? I don't want to work for the Wizard, but when bills have to be paid, should I just get over it?

Dorothy

Dorothy in New Jersey

We all know about that pretty young girl with those infamous pigtails. She clicked her heels three times and said, "there's no place like home, there's place like home," and suddenly she awakens and finds out it was all a very multicolored dream. Dorothy is back home in her safe grey life. And we all clap and cry about the fact that Dorothy is safe and sound in her little world.

What the movie doesn't show is that nothing changed. Our little farm girl still has that awful neighbor that threatens the life of Toto, she still has to muck out the stalls, and Auntie Em's overbearing presence isn't leaving any time soon.

For the past four years I have lived in my own Oz, but unfortunately my time over the rainbow has come to an end. My personal Oz is called Washington, D.C. and until recently I had been going to college there. Then three weeks ago I graduated and since I didn't get any jobs offers before I left, I had to move back in with my parents. So I have moved back to, you guessed it, New Jersey.

Dorothy and I may not be in exactly the same situation (my feet are too tiny to pull off those fabulous heels) but it seems pretty close to me. I am stuck in this grey world that cocoons me and at the same time suffocates me. When I look around my room it makes me shudder to see how nothing has changed. I mean nothing at all. The ballerina wallpaper that was put up when I was five and first moved in, is still on the walls.

I wasn't born a city girl, but the past four years have certainly turned me into one. I like public transportation, museums, and the multitude of restaurants that a city offers. In my hometown you have the two M's: mall or movies.

This begs the question, or city people born or raised? Did Dorothy make a horrible mistake by waking up? I mean the girl vanquished a witch, shouldn't she have had a little more time to celebrate before going back to the pigs? Is Dorothy kidding herself when she wishes herself home? Could she ever be happy again after she has seen what it is like over the rainbow?

I guess I am just one Dorothy that woke up and saw the grey ceiling.

Dorothy of N.J.