Graduation and Beyond

My college career is in the books.

Saturday morning I woke up at 5:45 a.m. to get ready for one of the biggest days of my life.  For me though, it felt a little different then most of the students that I would be walking with.  When you graduate typically you feel like you are saying goodbye to your college life and stepping into adulthood.  You say goodbye to the town that held so many memories and it is a mixed emotion of pride and sadness that the part of your life when you really embraced your freedom and had the least amount of responsibilities you will ever have as an adult.  For me, I had already said goodbye to Fayetteville, AR.  I said goodbye back in May at the end of my last semester.  I had already been out in the work world doing an internship and applying for jobs.  That sense of sadness at leaving college wasn't there for me because honestly, I felt like I had already done it.  To me, Saturday just left the emotion of pride.  I was proud that I had finished and finished strong. 

One of the best parts of the ceremony was getting to sit by one of my best friends and my college roommate for the last two years of college.  It was a memory I will never forget.  My parents all came for the occasion, as well as my brothers, uncles and grandparents.  A few years ago my Uncle Pat had my grandmama's (my mom's mom) wedding ring broken up and set into some earrings for me.  On my 18th birthday I opened the box to find these delicate earrings that held so much history and meaning for me since my grandmama had passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease when I was in the 3rd grade.  A couple of years later my granddad passed away unexpectedly too so it made the earrings even more special.  I had never found a good enough excuse to wear them until Saturday.  As I put them on I felt like both of them were there with me getting to experience it as well.  Such a treasure I will hold close forever.   

So what's next?  That is the question every college grad without a job dreads.  Honestly, I am not 100% sure for one of the first times in my life but I have learned that it is okay not to know right away.  I am taking my time to find the right job for me.  No, I am not going to be the college graduate that moves home for forever to "figure it out" haha.  Within the next few months I hope to make some serious progress and I already have some great leads.  Keep an eye out for what's next.  

Thank you for cheering me on in my journey.  It really means the world to know I have to support of so many.  I will be continuing to post special interest pieces and things that are going on in my life.  This has just been the start!  As I have always said, "This is the end of the chapter of this part of my life, the next one is only beginning. I don't know what it may hold but I am sure excited to start writing it."

Rachel  

Caroline and I waiting in line! 

Ready for the "real world"? Ahhh...

The earrings along with my 2013 tassel

At the Razorback games this year they gave out jello molds and we used them to make Razorback chocolate molds! 

First day of school...

To the last

The End of the Beginning...

Today is my last day as an intern at the Capital Hotel.

I honestly can't believe I just typed that sentence.  4 months have literally flown by so quickly.  It seems like just yesterday I had the suburban packed so full that we literally could barely fit ourselves.  I am so thankful that my awesome uncle allowed me to live with him for these past few months to give me this opportunity. Words cannot express how much that means to me!  4 months ago I was nervous, excited and completely clueless about what I was going to be doing or how I was going to like working at the hotel.  The only thing I knew for sure was that I was going to come ready to learn and take every opportunity that was thrown my way.

And now, here I am saying goodbye to what I can positively say was one of the best experiences of my life. It taught me about the hospitality industry in general but more specifically it taught me to take pride in every single thing I do.  I learned to be an artist in my work and to satisfy the guest because it is your pleasure not just your job.  This internship helped me gain humility through doing the tough jobs and confidence when I excelled at the jobs I didn't think I would be so good at.  I learned that you are never too good to help someone in what you believe is a lesser job because honestly there are no lesser jobs.  Every job is equally important to the functioning whole.  I learned how to handle stressful situations like dealing with snow and how that can affect your business and other things that happen along the way that you just have to learn to flow with.  And last I learned that when you find a common connection with so many different people, a connection that crosses job lines and communication barriers, that you start to find a new sense of joy and fulfillment that comes with being completely engaged in  the work family that you have created.  You have no choice but to do your job if it is what you love to do.  Working at the Capital Hotel has given me not only the physical skills of making beds, doing laundry, prepping food, and serving guests but also the internal skills of caring for people, treating everyone as equals, and loving the work you do.  I put my all into my work at the hotel and I think overall, it showed in the work I produced.  The things I wasn't so good at I learned with time, effort and dedication.  This may be the end of my internship journey but it is just the beginning of my career in the hospitality industry.  

My time at the Capital Hotel will always be a memory I hold close to my heart and will share about for the rest of my life.  Today, I am so grateful. 

From my first day to my last week! Such a great experience. 

Awesome gingerbread village made by our pastry chef's.

The hotel's 28 ft. real Christmas tree.

Just hanging with Santa