Disclaimer: The views expressed by our interviewees are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of GradSimple. We only edit these responses for clarity. All opinions remain those of the interviewee.
- Year Of Graduation: 2022
- College/University: Western Washington University
- Major: Journalism
What do you do for a living? Can you share what a typical day at work looks like? Do you enjoy what you do?
Currently, I’m between jobs, but previously I worked for the United States Postal Service as a Rural Carrier Associate and at Haggen, a local grocery store, as a Courtesy Clerk. My job at Haggen was part-time; my typical day consisted of performing hourly sweeps, bagging and returning groceries, returning carts, loading groceries into cars, cleaning bathrooms, getting rid of the trash, and providing general customer service. My average shift normally lasted 4 hours. It had its ups and downs, and I liked it in the beginning, but I got really frustrated at myself for not being able to find work relevant to my major, which is what ended up driving me to become a Rural Carrier Associate with the Post Office.
This job was a lot of work, and at times overwhelming. The day started with me sorting and scanning parcels so they would be ready for delivery, which took about 4 hours. Then the rest of my shift was delivering them in the Post Office’s vehicle. Working at the Post Office had its ups and downs, and in all honesty, I think I preferred my old job, but hindsight’s 20/20. I ultimately parted ways with my position in late January of this year. It’s been a rocky journey with far too many rough days, but I’m still here, and deep down, I still believe in myself.
Can you tell me about your experience finding a job after graduation? Are you happy with where your journey has led you so far?
Three months after I graduated, I started working at the grocery store. I liked it at first, but at some point, I got frustrated at where I was in my life, thinking that I needed to be moving forward. For the next two and a half years, I kept applying but couldn’t find any new jobs until I went with the Post Office in December.
Currently, I’ve been trying to find new work for the past 5 or 6 months, but I haven’t landed anything yet. I hope that changes soon. I’m not sure if happy is the right word, but I’m still on my journey. I have today, and today is good. Maybe that’s enough.
Why did you choose your undergrad major? Do you feel your time spent in college was valuable? Why or why not?
I wanted to go into graphic design, and I wanted to be an artist of some kind. In High School, I didn’t know what I wanted for a career, but I was sold on becoming a graphic designer. However, I couldn’t get into my college’s graphic design program, so I went into visual journalism, where I learned a lot of skills and did things I wouldn’t have done otherwise.
I think I spent my time there well. I focused on my studies and stayed out of debt, and I even graduated 3 months early! Granted, like I said, I’m in between jobs at the moment, so I’m not quite where I want to be just yet, but I’d say the time I spent there was valuable.
What does purpose mean to you? Do you think you’re living a purpose-driven life?
To me, purpose means being active and present in your own life. Because, ultimately, life is always changing and unpredictable. We’re molded by our experiences, and what once gave you purpose can suddenly no longer feel right. When they change, change with it. When something breaks, try to heal, do what you have to, but keep trying even when you wish you could just stop existing. I’ve been through some radical changes in my life, but I’m still on my journey. I’m still trying. I’m putting in the effort. I still do my exercises, I still sketch, and I still write.
What’s your biggest struggle right now? What led to it, and how are you moving forward?
My current biggest struggle is my anxiety. Truthfully, I’ve always been something of a worrywart, but three years ago I had a painful falling out with my best friend at the time, which flared up my pre-existing anxieties. Then I was largely unsuccessful with finding work in my field, which did significant damage to my self-esteem. The general state of the world has been difficult too, such as the rise of fascism, the imminent climate catastrophe, and an increasingly tight job market. This has all compounded those fears of dread and self-doubt.
I try to ground myself, stay focused, and stay positive. I try not to worry about what-ifs too much, be present in my own life, use positive self-talk, and meditate to try and keep these anxieties at bay.
What do you want to spend more time working on, either personally or professionally? What’s stopping you?
I want to spend more time writing. For my entire life, I’ve had stories swirl in my head, yet only recently have I even attempted to write them. It’s a new, exciting, and weird experience, but I know I don’t set aside enough time for it. I need to change that. I want to write a rough draft for a story I’ve been working on by the end of the year, but it’s still in bits and pieces. What’s stopping me right now is that I haven’t committed to it yet. It’s scary, and my main obstacle at this time is, admittedly, myself, but I’m going to try.
How do you define being a successful person?
To me, being successful is to be content with your life as is and to have stability. Too often, we think “making it” is about having a flashy job and endlessly grinding. But when I see someone doing something like that, I don’t see a successful person. I see someone who’s toiling away endlessly in the hopes they will be validated, or that they think their life doesn’t matter if they don’t constantly grind away. So in my eyes, a successful person is someone who is content with the life that they have and has at least some stability. That’s the kind of life I want.
If we traveled three years into the future of your life, what do you want to achieve? What would you hope has changed?
If we travel three years into my life, I hope to see myself with a stable job I’m comfortable in that provides me with what I want/need in life. I want to have finally moved out of my parents’ house and be independent, to have finally written that book idea that’s been swirling in my mind for far too long. And I hope that my anxieties are quelled, so I may have peace.
What’s the biggest lesson or piece of advice you wish you’d known earlier?
The single biggest lesson I wish I had known earlier is that life is nonsensical, and you shouldn’t look to others or status to feel like you have value. Everyone matters and has value by the sheer virtue of being alive, and no one can take that away from you. For better or worse, the world we live in isn’t predictable, and you will never end up quite where you see yourself, so do not hate yourself for “falling short.” Your life is still happening, still changing. Whatever rejections or perceived failures that have happened to you do not make you matter less as a person. Your worth is not tied to other people.
Connect With Cole:
- LinkedIn: @ColeMumper
- Portfolio Website: Cole Mumper
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