My advisor says I focus too much on my flaws when it comes to writing and reflection, but one flaw that can’t be denied is that I do not handle failure in a reasonable way. At all, by any caliber.
The summer after my freshman year, I was up for a competitive research position near my college, but ultimately didn’t get it. I felt devastated, and completely lost as to what to do with myself next. Having just finished my first year of college and experienced the freedom and independence that accompanies it, the idea of going back home to live and work sort of felt like a step backwards.
That, I think, is what drove me to furiously scroll through the google search results for “cool summer jobs for college kids” at 3am one night. That’s where I found the listing for a seasonal ‘hospitality crew member’ at Yellowstone National Park.
Looking back, this plan had every opportunity to go wrong. And by wrong, I mean kidnapping, death, or severe misconceptions. But somehow, between the interview and subsequent hiring within two days, the journey out west, and my ultimately fantastic job at Yellowstone, it granted me the best summer of my entire life.
This job allowed me to work and travel constantly at the same time, while providing endless opportunities to explore the outdoors that I love so much. Thankfully, I’ve written about my adventures of this summer in the park extensively, there are about 50 posts in the docket right now! I’ll be posting them through the next few months, and I can hardly wait for you to read them.
I hope that they inspire you to explore the travel opportunities that accompany seasonal work. Or, that they at least make for an entertaining read.
Love y’all, as always,
~WTB
