I have been blogging on and off for the past year, but after the some research I decided to let go of my WordPress roots and give SquareSpace a try! I love the sleek templates and simple web instructions offered.

For my first post here, however, I'd like to take a look back and note the first post I made on WordPress over a year ago:

"You have a degree in Journalism and now you’ll work for Applebee’s.

That comment hit me like a dagger in the stomach. It bothered me for so many reasons I couldn’t even think of any in said moment since I physically removed myself from the situation (as in, I got up and walked away.)

Let me get a few things straight. No job is below you, or anyone. Everyone needs to make a living – white, black, Asian or anything. I may not have my dream job yet, but I’ll get there. It’s only been a month since my last full-time job was over and I’ve been searching ever since. I’ve had a couple of interviews and almost all rejections. It sucks. It’s a terrible feeling, because I constantly wonder if I made the right choice studying what I did. At the same time I know this is meant for me. Journalism is storytelling. Telling a story about politics, health, current events, etc.

My name is Bushra.

Bushra means “Messenger of good news.” I want to read the news, write the news, edit it, and be able to convey it to the public in the most raw way possible. I know I’m asking for a lot when I say that I cannot look for work in any other state other than New York. I know it’s the most competitive, and I understand why. But when you have yourself, a sibling and a parent to take care of, you know you can’t just pick things up and move to a small town hundreds of miles away to work for a gig that won’t even pay me enough to ensure that I can send money back home.

There’s a sense of dread that comes with knowing that I might not make it, but I took the risk because I believe in myself and because I can kick-ass in the workplace. I’m not afraid to report on a tragedy, or to ask the questions that NEED to be asked. I want to be the mediator between the story and the public.

All that said, everyone is working or trying to find work. And it doesn’t matter what someone is doing to make their living. You support them regardless because it’s their life and their choices. You aren’t better than anyone because of the job you hold or the money you make, and no one else is better than you because of the job they hold and the money they make.

I have an interview with Applebee’s tomorrow.

I have an interview for Applebee’s tomorrow. I’m not any less proud of myself for the things I’ve accomplished.

I wrote this last year at a time when I felt depressed, and frustrated when it felt like my job search was landing me no where. A few months after this initial meltdown, I was lucky enough to land a position at a media buying company in midtown Manhattan. It isn't my dream job quite yet, but I am definitely happy and could not be more grateful. This February will mark one year that I've been with my company!