People ask why I decided to become a vet, and I tell them it’s my calling. This is why it’s so damn frustrating to not be able to find a job in my chosen profession. I worked hard for my degree, and it’s a good degree. I passed all my exams; I did all my placements. I’ve got one year of actual working experience in a decent clinic in a developed country. In addition, I’ve volunteered; I’ve attended conferences. I have good references from superiors who know me. Unfortunately, none of these seem to matter.
Australia – the place I want to go back to the most – doesn’t want me because of the whole visa issue. I’ve lost count of how many times I got rejected because employers weren’t willing to wait three months for my work visa to come through. Hong Kong doesn’t want me because I’m not experienced enough and there’s basically no jobs for new/recent grads. I’ve tried Singapore and China – no luck with the former and still waiting to hear back from the latter. Not going to move back to the UK (too cold, lacking in sunshine, generally depressing weather) and not terribly interested in the States (where the unemployment rate for vets is allegedly pretty high) and New Zealand so haven’t tried these places yet.
I feel really stuck, like I don’t know what the fuck else I should be doing. I’m doing everything within my power and it’s still not good enough. Mum’s been bugging me and I don’t blame her – who wants to still be financially responsible for their adult child? I can’t help but think that gen-X had it easy – graduate secondary school and you were almost set for life. Work you arse off and you (and your two children) would probably be okay. Not so in this day and age, where a college education means nothing. Property prices (in HK) are so high it’d be a miracle if you could afford your own box-sized flat before the age of 35.
Maybe I expected too much in life. Like most people, I thought I was invincible in high school. I thought I could achieve anything, and of course the world was supposed to be my oyster. And then I graduated uni. And then I realised my first job sucked. The rest is history. What the hell happened?
I’m just so disappointed. Call me self-entitled, but no one told me life was going to be like this. All I was taught was that as long as I did well in school, I’d be able to get a good job and live happily ever after. A big fat fucking lie. People should have been more honest with me, then at least I’d be a little more prepared.
Tomorrow I’m starting a temp job selling candies and cookies. I hope it’s at least going to be fun, and that I’ll learn something – be it communicating with customers or making small talks to people. And I hope the pay is reasonable. I wish I could be content selling sweets for life, but for someone who is convinced they have a calling – a duty they’re meant to fulfil – this is unlikely to happen.
myssapphire 