On having a "hardcore" MAJOR and my 1st JOB interview experience

On one recent conversations that I had with my friend, Lin, she randomly asked me, "Liane, baket ba Biochem ang major mo? Bat hindi ka na lang mag veer towards the arts or computer science, since mahilig ka rin namang magcomputer tsaka mag webdesign tsaka magsulat," I quickly answered, "I don't think I would want to major in my hobby, tsaka isa pa, I like the challenge of studying hobbies on my own, pag me umextrang expert na magturo sakin, baka mawalan lang ako ng ganang gawing hobby pa".

What amazed me about that whole dialogue with her, was that her question didn't make me think twice about my Biochem major, in fact, I felt complacent enough to feel that Biochemistry IS the major for me.

But now, after two failed midterms from two MAJOR Biochem courses, I'm starting to contemplate on whether or not Biochem is the right major for me. Not that I haven't contemplated about it before, but today's contemplation is different. Today, it's a serious contemplation.

Speaking of my major, I find it interesting that whenever I say, "oh, I'm majoring in Biochemistry," people give out reactions such as a wince or an expression on their faces that says, "damn, girl, your in for a wild ride with that major". Everytime this happens, it makes me wonder why the heck people give such reactions and at the same time, I contemplate on whether or not I set myself up on a major that way over my league. Then again, ano bang course ang madali? Kahit naman anong major ang pasukan natin, we're always bound to go through challenges.

I honestly envy those people who are confident enough to stick with their chosen major. It makes me wonder what kind of inspiration or drive they have in them, for them to be able to stick by their major.

A year of college has passed for me. If I change my major, what will I replace it with? If I change my major, thousands of $$$ will be flush down the toilet. If I change my major, will I be happy? Truth of the matter is, I don't know the answers to the questions I posed above.

Maybe I'll just quit school and work.

Speaking of WORK, I had my very first JOB interview last Thursday. There's a big story behind this whole thing. So, if you care to know what it is, read on.

I received an email newsletter from the American Eagle Outfitters (A&E) last Monday regarding their current need of seasonal help. So, I took the opportunity to apply for them by asking my mom if she could get me an application from their store in Northgate Mall last Thursday. ---- I know it's unprofessional for me not to get the application myself, but can you blame me? I'm so stressed out last week and I didn't want to go to the mall because if I do, I'll be tempted to un-stress myself, because I will be buying stuff I don't need!! (ok, shameful excuses moment over)

ANYWAY...

So when I arrived at the house last Thursday (11/18) at around quarter to 1, my mom greeted me with the question, "Baket ngayon ka lang? I got the application from A&E and they informed me na meron silang group interview today at 3 pm." I was surprised and at the same time got MORE stressed out than ever before because I also had the final draft of my research paper for my English 102 online class due on that day as well.

As I was eating my lunch, I furiously went through the application answering the questions that I was suppose to answer. However, I had a hard time filling the "references" and "employment history" sections because due to my BAD BAD memory and the pressure that I was going through at that moment, I didn't know who I should write as my reference and I forgot the names and the phone numbers of the supervisors that I had when I was volunteering. I also got confused as to what to do, "do I go to A&E and risk not having to finish paper on time?" or "do I not go to Northgate and then wonder to myself that if I DID go through the interview, would I have a chance of getting the job?". As you may well know at this point, I went to A&E and I finished my final draft ON TIME. THANK GOD.

I didn't finish filling out the whole application because I was crunched on time. So I just went to the store and explained to the manager, who was the one that was going to interview the applicants, that I was crunched on time in filling out the application because I just learned about the whole group interview thing was going on that day at the last minute. Thankfully, he gave me a chance to give my application on a later time (I gave it yesterday, I know, UNPROFESSIONAL).

The interview went ok. It was basic questions like, "what do you do when you enter a room full of people that you didn't know" or "what motivates you in doing the work that your suppose to do" or "besides the money that you will earn, what is the most important thing that makes you wanna work for A&E". And to my surprise, I was not one bit nervous in answering the questions in front of other people that I did not know. It was all good.

So now, I'm just waiting for THE CALL. I'm not really expecting too much from it since it was my first interview gone a wry because of the whole application filling out issue.

Well, if that doesn't work out, then I'll go back to volunteering at the daycare center in Northwest Hospital. I haven't volunteered for almost a year now, so I told myself that I should get back on track with that since I'm applying for transfer to universities next year (you know how university admission officers can get very detail-y about your community work).

By the way, just so you guys know, CHRISTMAS IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. I'll be posting my "wish" list AGAIN (refer to the month of OCTOBER entries in the archives) as soon as I get a hold of the pictures of the items I wishfully WANT.

Adios, mi amigos.