“The only easy day was yesterday.” – US Navy SEAL phrase 

Hello pals. It’s Matt. I have a lot of things on my mind about life and whatnot, so I’m going to go ahead and say what’s up. For those that don’t know, I recently finished my master’s in Communication at University of Cincinnati, and have been on the job search for almost three months. I’ve watched my savings dwindle and I have $200 to my name (cheery, right?) In about ten days, I am moving back to my childhood bedroom and more than likely going to be looking for part-time work in order to make ends meet. This is not how I envisioned my life.  

I’m currently in a tunnel. A tunnel so vast and deep that I cannot see any light on the other side. Despite this, I continue to push through. I have no choice but to continue to push through. 

II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV: For we walk by faith, not by sight. 

For the first time in my life, there is not a clear cut path for my future. I tried to do my best to work multiple jobs in college in order to get experience in basketball, journalism, and public relations, but it appears that I made myself a jack of all trades and a master of none.  

I have skills. I worked on basketball recruiting campaigns for high level basketball teams. I produced all of the graphics, while also reporting and editing my own stories for a college TV news station. I taught two classes at the college level!  

The problem is, employers do not appear to care. I am not getting past HR. I’ve had one interview in over 70 applications, and it happened to be for a job I didn’t even formally apply for! (For the record: I killed the interview.) 

When I have a chance to state my case, I know I can impress employers. I don’t mean this in a cocky way— I just put in a lot of hard work to make me a very employable person. To humans. Unfortunately, I have no idea how to play the game in the modern job-hunting setting, where many companies use resumé scanning software that decides who gets to HR and who doesn’t. I apparently stink at that. Oh well. 

The good news is that when somebody decides to take a chance on me, they’ll find a candidate that works hard, brings energy and is very good at his job! I hope that happens one day. I’m sitting here waiting for a chance to show that I can contribute to a company! I can tell stories! I can come up with creative ideas!   

I spent the last two years in borderline poverty. I sacrificed almost every Friday and Saturday night writing paper after paper…. reading scholar after scholar in order to better improve my critical thinking skills and earn my master’s degree. I lived in complete social isolation, often to the point where it was to the detriment of my mental health! All so I could earn a degree that says I am willing to go above and beyond to help make a company successful.  

Yet, I sit here writing this piece. I am still in social isolation. I am still living in borderline poverty. I am still in the darkest tunnel. I don’t know where the light is, but I hope to find it soon.