Tag Archives: San Francisco

When Yes Means No…

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If you know me at all, you know I’m a big fan of consent-culture, and I like to talk about it… a lot. I really never tire. I can defend enthusiastic consent until the person listening to me would rather help clean up after Pirate Party than listen to the rest of my lecture. I can explain why no means no, maybe means no, I-don’t-know means no, and silence means no. There are even times when I’ve adequately explained how a yes can mean no. This week I discovered another way a yes can mean no.

However, in this context, I’m not talking about consent-culture. I’m talking about job offers. Because this week I said yes to an amazing job offer, but that meant saying no to every other company I applied to.

Since October, I have applied to 21 jobs and internships. (And I’ve unofficially contacted recruiters and sent resumes to at least 5 others!) I’ve heard back from 8. I’ve been denied from 4 without interviews. I’ve been denied from 1 after the first interview. One company interviewed me, but I haven’t heard from them since, and the other requested an interview an hour after I accepted my job for the summer.

After 6 months of searching, I’ve received 1 offer.

As I debated this offer the what-ifs continually came to mind. I kept thinking, I love this job but what-if a better option comes along? But then what-if I turn this down and don’t receive another offer? What-if I haven’t done enough research and these companies aren’t a good fit for me? What-if I take this job, and I’m not any good?

Saying yes to this company meant saying no to any other opportunity… Including the interview request that came an hour after my acceptance.

But I can only say what-if so many times. Eventually, I have to make a choice and I have to trust myself. So, I said yes to the company that gave me an offer, and I politely declined an interview with the other company. No more what-ifs, I’m all in. I can’t wonder what would happen if I waited. I can’t speculate about where that interview would have led. And the best part is, after a day or two of processing, I don’t want to.

I know I took this job because it’s exactly what I want to do. I get to be an Operations Intern at a tech company and develop and improve company processes as well as manage and create resources for the employees. I get to live and work in San Francisco. Lastly, the parts that will never cease to amaze me are that they created this position specifically for me AND they are going to pay me. I can hardly believe that I got the internship that I was told didn’t exist.

Home sweet home as of May 18th!

Home sweet home as of May 18th!

Needless to say, I have no reason to go through any what-ifs. My yes to this company means no to the 14 companies who didn’t get back to me in time. I guess that’s their loss… But I officially can’t wait for summer and I’m so glad 6 months of hard work led me to this opportunity.

Living in Narnia

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Perfection. Photo Cred: http://www.speakupforblue.com/in-ocean-news/maldives-as-the-first-nation-to-become-a-biosphere-reserve

Perfection.
Photo Cred: http://www.speakupforblue.com/in-ocean-news/maldives-as-the-first-nation-to-become-a-biosphere-reserve

Last week someone asked me if I could live anywhere, where would I be? Of course, I said the Maldives. In a dream world where I can swim and scuba dive every single day, that’s absolutely where I would live. However, I’m still working on pretending to be a grown-up, so I should probably think a little more realistically. Luckily, the answer to “if I could live realistically anywhere, where would I be?” comes almost as quickly: San Francisco Bay Area.

During the first two weeks of my first year, it seemed like EVERYONE was from this mythical “Bay Area,” and I’m going to be honest with you, I had no idea where that was. I started thinking of various “bays” I’d heard of, and even spent time trying to remember 3rd grade geography and the difference between a “bay” and a “gulf.” I’m not actually that geographically challenged, I promise. But telling someone from Kirkwood, Missouri (in St. Louis) that you’re from the “Bay” means less than nothing. (Eventually, I asked someone and they told me it meant San Francisco, and I didn’t find out until last year that that response wasn’t technically correct either…)

Last spring break I finally had the chance to visit this Narnia where seemingly ¾ of the students at the 5Cs were raised… and I fell in love.

It’s not exactly the Maldives, but I’ll take what I can get. The weather is never too hot and rarely too cold. (And as someone from the Midwest, who experienced the “polar vortex” and several “snowpocalypses,” it’s never cold.) It’s pretty clean. (That is to say, your snot doesn’t turn black and gray like when you visit New York.) There’s amazing public transport. (Significant for me because there is no public transport near my house in Missouri, for incredibly racist reasons.) Also… THE FOOD. I’ll admit, I can get a little too focused on food, but the food in San Francisco is incredible. Between the tourist places like Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman’s Wharf to the BEST SANDWICH PLACE EVER that I may never have come across if I hadn’t been taken there. It also helps that approximately half of Claremont moves there after graduating. (So, for those of us who aren’t ready to leave the Claremont Bubble, this is a good option.)

Basically, I’ve started to understand why everyone proudly bragged that they were from this legendary place who’s greatness was unbeknownst to me before my first year at Scripps.

However, remember when I called it the “realistic option”? That was relative. San Francisco is EXPENSIVE. In comparison to St. Louis, MO, housing is 325% (WHAT?!) more expensive in San Francisco. Transportation is 24% more expensive in San Francisco. Food will cost me 33% more in San Francisco. Lastly, entertainment will cost 23% more in San Francisco. It’s the 4th most expensive city. (Want more terrifying financial information about the city I’ve decided I have to live in? Check out this cost of living calculator!)

Needless to say, if I want to live in this fabled land, I’m definitely going to need to work on this whole “job” thing…

All that said, and all percent increases documented, I’m not going to change my mind just yet. The Maldives Dream is pretty far off, I understand that, but there’s something to be said for knowing where you want to be and going for it. As long as I have a job, learn to cook, and find lots of roommates to help with the rent, I’m going to try to make it work. I’m in love with this city and I’m excited about the opportunities it presents for me.

I think, at least for a few years, it’s worth it. (If nothing else, Scripps has spoiled me with delicious food for four years; I have to live the college-Ramen-and-Easy-Mac-life at some point!)