I was recently on a Zoom call with the English department at my old university, where I talked about our senior thesis, or capstone. At one point, the students broke off into groups to discuss any potential ideas they had for their capstone, while I stayed on the call to help students with any questions they had. A few of my professors saw me and asked what I had been up to.
There was so much to tell them, and at the same time not a lot.
What have I been up to?
I think it all starts with graduation.
I had just come out of the busiest week ever—an improv show (my final one), a school dance, and a full day of filming with the film department at my school. All the week before Commencement. Then, the Monday before I’m supposed to walk, my throat starts feeling a little funky. It’s my absolute worst fear, and frankly everyone’s fear living in 2022—a positive covid test.
I immediately put myself into isolation (thankfully my roommates didn’t get sick or test positive), let everyone who had been in contact with me know, and pray that I would be able to walk across the stage that Saturday.
Sadly, I didn’t. Because of when I received the positive test (Monday night), Monday was “Day 0” and Saturday, the day of Commencement, would be “Day 5”. I would be able to get out of isolation on Sunday; I would miss walking.
I felt horrible, for many reasons; putting my friends and boyfriend in danger, inconveniencing my teachers, not having anything to do for my extended family (who had come from Texas and Indiana to see me walk). However, in my sad state of constant nose-blowing and watching old movies for a sense of comfort and nostalgia, I got a call: the school would let me have a private ceremony on Sunday, the day after actual Commencement, with the president of the school, along with 10 other people.
While it wasn’t what I wanted or had in mind, I began to consider the positives. I could have more time to heal, I wouldn’t have to sit through any long speeches, I could get to my family quicker (who also had or were getting over covid and were masking and social distancing), and I could hang out with the president of the school.
Obviously, I said yes.
I was allowed to invite ten other people, and while my extended family were leaving early Sunday morning, I wanted the people I had spent college with the most and my biggest supporters to be there (aside from my parents and my boyfriend): my professors. Two teachers from the Digital Cinema Department and three Teachers from the English department dressed in their regalia and came to my mini ceremony. It was so amazing to open the doors and see those integral figures at one of the most important moments of my life. (The two other members of the English faculty couldn’t make it, but they were there in spirit!)
After that amazing ceremony, I packed up my dorm, the one I had lived in three out of the four years in college. Stuffed everything into those boxes and bins. My parents and I, hours after my ceremony, drove home.
And so started one of the longest summers of my life. Since I have always had school and classes, any long period of time where I don’t I consider “summer.”
One of the biggest things to happen during the summer was my graduation present, a trip to Universal Studios Hollywood with my parents and my boyfriend (aka my first time going—can you believe my parents had gone without me?!).
It was probably the best week of the summer, and probably one of the best weeks of my life. My dad purchased VIP tickets, so not only did we get a tour of the studio, but we got to WALK OUT and look at the actual sets! Places from Pirates of the Caribbean, The Good Place, and even my favorite movie of all time, The Blues Brothers.
We also got a special lunch for VIP members, where characters from different Universal projects came and talked to us—among them were Lucille Ball, Dracula, and Doc Brown. Then, we had a special escort from ride to ride.
The day ended with seeing the 4thof July Fireworks in the park, and going back to our VRBO with smiles on our faces.
The next day, my boyfriend and I visited some college friends, and it was good to see them and catch up. Again, one of the best weeks of my life.
After coming home from that trip, things quieted down a bit. I went back to work at a movie theater I had been at previously, getting tips and working through the summer rush. I went to my first wedding that wasn’t a family member’s, but a friend’s, began seeing a new therapist (after saying bye to the one I had for the majority of college), took frequent trips to Oregon to visit my boyfriend and college friends, and started playing Animal Crossingon my friend’s old switch.
I did take a longer trip with my mom to visit family members in Tennessee, after my grandma had fallen over spring break we wanted to make sure she was doing ok. That week was filled with book shopping and hanging out with my baby cousins.
Onto the part a lot of you are curious about: WORK.
When I tell people I got a degree in English and Digital Cinema (I was one of those scary double majors), along with journalism experience from running the school newspaper and improv experience from leading one of the school’s teams, AND an extensive theatre background, everyone is curious: what AM I gonna do?! What do I WANT to do?
Currently…I’m still looking. One of the first things I did over the summer was update my Indeed profile and create a LinkedIn. I also made a website, which serves as another type of resume I can submit to employers, except more detailed and more pictures. It’s just like they say, job searching in itself is a full-time job. I’ve been trying to find internships or entry-level jobs that I have a bit of experience for or a lot of knowledge of.
Some days I’m able to get five, seven applications in. Other times it’s more like one or two, or even none. And that can be for a variety of factors: not having the mental energy, being busy with my other job, just not finding anything. What’s helped me is creating a whole spreadsheet of different places I’ve applied for, when, when I heard back, where they’re located, etc.
Right now, I’m looking for any kinds of writing internships, publishing internships, journalism or editing jobs, and film and theater work. I’m still looking, trying my best.
Also at the beginning of the summer, a family friend reached out to me asking if I wanted to work freelance for her, making PowerPoint presentations for when she gets invited to speak at conferences. Finally, I get to put my English major to good use!
During all this, the trips and the job searching and the movie theater work and work for the school (I was also working for the Welcome Team at my school during this time), I felt like something was missing. Two somethings, actually.
Theatre, and school.
For a while, I had toyed with the idea of going to grad school. What would I study? Not sure. Something writing, maybe English? Did I know where? Also no. Could I afford it? Definitely not. I knew I wanted to gain more knowledge in something I already knew, and I definitely knew I wanted to expand my screenwriting skills.
I instead found something that was MUCH cheaper than grad school, but still a concentrated form of studies that could get me some great connections to the film industry: The UCLA Extension. Their writer’s program is in high regard, and after checking in with one of my former professors about the program, he said that was a great opportunity for me to continue my education. In September I started my first screenwriting class at the UCLA Extension, and I plan on completing their Certificate for Screenwriting in Film (and TV, if time/my wallet allows it). So far, the class has been a blast and I have enjoyed working with other writers and fleshing out story ideas. I’ve also noticed I’ve become a bit more confident in sharing my ideas and asking for feedback.
Second, theatre. After keeping in touch with a few theatre friends from my old community theatre days, I was able to get a volunteer stage managing gig with a local theatre company. It feels good to be back to something familiar.
Overall, that’s what I’ve been up to. When I have free time I watch movies, still on a nostalgia kick from when I had Covid (thankfully I haven’t noticed any long form effects from the virus, but it could take a while for those to show), read, and try not to doom scroll.
I started this blog to help encourage myself to write and produce written content on a regular basis. The blog is nowhere near complete (at least by my own standards—who knows, I might change the background or header whenever I feel, or change the layout entirely). Regardless, I hope you’ll stick around and follow along with me on my post grad and job-searching journey.
Much Love,
Emily (or Ms. Em)
E. A. Young Writes 