Last Morning
Yesterday, I was interviewing Florida Senator Bill Nelson. Today, I’ll be packing my bags from my on campus residence. Tomorrow, I will be homeless.
I only have myself to blame.
I am a college graduate of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. To normal people, I call it USF, forgoing having to explain the St. Petersburg campus. St. Petersburg is a beautiful bustling city, one I’ve had the joy of experiencing for four years. One I hoped to stay in after graduating.
I quickly realized I wasn’t prepared for life after graduation.
Getting hired for full-time work, finding and securing a place to stay, it’s not something where you can wing it and it all comes together.
Here I am as a result of the consequences, expecting to be writing tomorrow about living out of my car.
I do have a couple interviews next week. A lot of pressure, but I have nothing to lose when my back is against the wall.
A positive attitude for me is paramount, no matter how dire the situation.
8/12/17
Last Afternoon
My decision making definitely warrants obvious criticism. Why am I not reaching out to everyone I know in the area to find a place to stay temporarily? I believe it’s called, “couch-surfing”. I’ve thought about it, maybe my ridiculous ego can’t take the thought of needing someone else’s couch as a place to stay.
I’m not broke. But I don’t have enough money rent out a place, and I still need a fixed income. Throughout the summer, I was only concerned with my job search, and correspondence only started turning up recently. A week before my move out date.
All the options and timing start to become difficult. Do I go downtown and try to work a server job for the time being? What if I have to turn around and quit within a week because I’ve accepted another job? I’ll also still be working for my university until the end of August.
I keep thinking about working smarter, not harder. A lot of people would just say it all comes down to hard work, and hard work will always have value, but I’ve put in a lot of hard work and now’s my time to cash-in. I’ve got some opportunities here that could be really good for me.
Going home would be accepting defeat. Packing up my bags and starting from square one, another option my incongruous ego can’t handle. I try not to let emotions get the better of me, and how I approach tomorrow may as well be a result of my emotions.
But I still keep the faith.
8/12/17
First Night
I expected to find myself locked inside my car tonight. But I had previously made plans to meet up with a friend of mine. We were planning out a video shoot.
I didn’t want to let him know about my current lack of housing. But he asked where I was staying, and I told him the truth. He is too good a friend to let me spend the night in my car. My ego is bruised, but not enough to not accept a brief stay on his couch.
I had spent the whole day preparing to live a life from my car. Here were some of my thoughts in preparation. Preparation is everything.
My main concerns were shelter, storage, and hygiene. I needed my car to be the optimal setting for both a place to sleep and a place to store all my things. Clothes take up the most space. I have my clothes in four separate suitcases in the backseat. The clothing are separated by type. Dress shirts in one bag, dress pants in another, and two more for casual wear.
I was expecting to sleep in the driver’s seat, so I had my pillow and blanket in the passenger’s seat. A lot of other random stuff was in the trunk. The things I need, I figured, should be more accessible.
Jammed between the backseat and behind the passenger’s seat is my laundry basket.
Hygiene is the toughest aspect of being homeless. Where do you shower? I thought about showering in the ocean. Does that work? My school’s gym has showers, but my membership just ended.
Brushing your teeth is likely relegated to a hopefully clean fast food bathroom stall.
There’s a lot more to consider. A lot to plan. I feel a successful life on the street is regimented.
Luckily, by the grace of God, I have a roof over my head.
8/12/17
First Morning
I haven’t been awake at 8 AM in months. It’s the Sabbath day in the Catholic Church. I also haven’t been to mass since Easter. My plan is to go to the 11 o’clock mass and pray, thanking God for my health and his guidance.
Religion has been a sore spot in my life lately as doubt has crept in. The doubt comes from my surroundings, and the more young people I see everyday denounce the Catholic faith. “The idea of God is okay, but his role in religious ceremony is overstated,” say many Christian faithful.
I’m at an age and a time where I question, but I think only fate and faith have the answers. I’ve desired to be a better Catholic, a better servant of God. Today I can continue that journey.
8/13/17
Second Night
My first interview is tomorrow morning. It’s for a job that I doubt will be particularly exciting. But if the job pays, I must be excited nonetheless.
I spent most of the day editing the video I took of Bill Nelson a few days ago. Adobe Premiere crashed in the middle of my editing. There was no backup file, and I hadn’t saved in a while.
I watched the Rowdies soccer club, whom I intern for, play in St. Louis. They took a gut wrenching loss in the final minutes. It’s foolish to think how the loss of one’s sports team can affect their mood, but I never feel delighted in the hours after my team takes a loss.
I’ll have to get over that loss quickly, because it’s crucial that I win during my interview tomorrow.
8/13/17
Third Day: First and (Surprise!) Second Interview
I’m a very strange person. I find enjoyment in busy days that you can complain about to friends. This was one of those days.
The day began easily enough. I was editing my video interview with Senator Bill Nelson again. It’s very tedious to add text captions to video.
My first interview with a sales company was at 1:30. That lasted a half hour, but it was a good half hour. Onto step two of that interview process.
The second call came as a surprise, another sales company called at 4. We set up a follow up for tomorrow at 4.
Our live performance studio show, Tiny Office, was set for 5, but the performer didn’t come in until 6. Likely a miscommunication from the scheduling. I had delegated two of my coworkers to do the gig, but they left right before he arrived. So after setting up, waiting, and taking all the lighting and camera equipment down, I had to set it all up again as the artist patiently waited playing the banjo that sits on the wall of our office.
I filmed the performance, which was very good, and took down all the equipment, uploaded the footage to the computer, and left for Steak n Shake.
It’s not complaining about my day for the sake of complaining, or because I felt I had an unsatisfactory day, rather it is quite the opposite. I enjoy recounting the days events, the struggles and challenges, and how I overcame them.
The big interview is tomorrow, the job I so desperately want.
8/14/17
Fourth Day: Third Interview
It’s been an hour and a half since my Skype interview for the photography position I desperately desire. Doubt has already eaten away at my brain’s ability to function. I need another shot of Dr. Pepper, similar to when I was exhausted yesterday.
I thought I did well, but I’m extremely critical of how I communicate. While I felt confidence, I left thinking there were some stronger messages I could have had, and points to emphasize. One of the those points being how badly I wanted this job.
A huge disadvantage is that the company is taking their time bringing someone in, so I’m playing with a jack of clubs and a 9 of diamonds. A 9 of spades dropped on the flop, but there’s still a turn and a river to be concerned about. Maybe I should just go all-in on being a professional poker player.
I had a follow up chat with the second interview from yesterday, and set up an actual interview for Thursday.
My things to do list still has three more tasks on it. Editing a video, and two more job applications.
I’m also apartment and roommate hunting, which is the most stressful of all, because I’m not fantastic with people when it comes to living situations.
8/15/16
Fifth Day: Scheduling Meetings
I made a post yesterday letting Facebook know I was on the search for a roommate. I received one response in the morning. A symbol of hope. A 4/2 for 450 a month is about as good as it gets. St. Petersburg is a very expensive city to live in.
The conundrum remains that I need the secure source of income, so timing is everything here. My initial plan I started developing yesterday was to stay up in St. Pete until Saturday, and then go back home for a month or less. While I was home, I could continue following up with jobs, applications, and finding a roommate so I could make a quick return.
I get another message from the property owner asking if I’m free. I explain I have my interview tomorrow, but the rest of my afternoon should be free. My mind spins considering how much I have going on at one time.
I got another email confirming a second interview for Friday. I’ll have one interview tomorrow, then go see an apartment, and then the next day have another interview on the phone. Plus try to help out with video shoots and editing at work. Getting your life together is no joke or meme my friends.
8/16/17
Sixth Day: Second Interview
The Sixth Day is also a lesser known Arnold Schwarzenegger film, where he finds out that he has been cloned, and the clone has taken over his normal life. I saw the film when my high school biotechnology teacher played it for us during a slow week of school.
Little did I know my favorite podcast personality Michael Rapaport was one of the supporting actors in the film. I try to keep up with his podcast, and the many others I listen to like Bill Simmons, Hannibal Buress, and Malcolm Gladwell’s podcast.
Podcasts and Schwarzenegger aside, I could’ve put a clone of myself to good use today, and for this whole past week honestly.
Today was my first second interview. I got dressed in all black. Dress shirt, dress pants, and my signature grey blazer. I walked into the lobby and after three minutes of sitting, I looked at the shoes of the guy who was sitting across from me. He was of, course, in nice dress shoes. This prompted me to look down and realize I was still wearing my black basketball sneakers.
“Uh-oh,” I thought to myself. I asked the lady at the front desk if I had a minute to run to my car, and she said yes. I swapped out my sneakers for red dress shoes I got a few years ago from Plato’s Closet.
Irony struck when the founder of the company mentioned immediately he liked my red dress shoes.
Me and a young mother were interviewed by two women, both whom literally had hoop dreams before career ending injuries struck both of them in college. And now here they are, hustling in the business world. I was fascinated by their candor.
Irony struck a second time when my interviewer was asking us questions in relation to a mock sales pitch. She asked who my favorite NFL team was to which I responded the New York Giants. She replied that was also her team which I was incredulous about because she said before she was from Oakland. “This must be part of her sales pitch,” I thought. I asked her, “Seriously?” And she said yes, so either she’s the greatest seller of all-time, or she’s really a Giants fan. I took her word for it. We hi-fived for our Giants fandom.
She also asked the girl who her favorite artist was and she couldn’t come up with an answer, which I found strange. “Just pick one,” I’m thinking. They turned to me. “Lupe Fiasco,” I say. We hi-fived again.
8/17/17
Sixth Day: Room Rental
After leaving the interview, I head back to St. Pete to go see the $450 room. I didn’t know what to expect on arriving, except I would be meeting with an older gentleman. I expected somewhere in the 40–50 range.
I met a guy in a blue collar paint-stained outfit, who was as kind and loquacious as they come. He explained to me that the house is under construction, but functional, and proceeded to show me the plans. It looked pretty rough on arrival, but he assured me in the next two weeks the house would be mostly finished up. His son owns the home and he helps take care of it, along with the two surrounding homes.
He seemed genuine, and a colleague of mine from school had already moved in. My thinking was that if she was already moved in, and the place didn’t become what the man advertised, then at least misery could have company.
Also it’s paramount to mention that there’s no place in St. Petersburg that can offer that monthly rate. The man also said he would heavily reduce the price for the first month’s rent, because of the mess and construction. Genuine enough for me. I just need a place to sleep.
I called my parents and snapchatted my friends to tell them the news. I had a job offer and a place to sleep.
I am cognizant of the possible pitfalls in both situations, but I’d just have to work through them, just like how I worked through this last week.
Stay calm. Find a way. And pray.
8/17/17
Seventh Day: Final Thoughts
I’m fully aware that the, “Homeless Graduate”, is a much better and more provocative title than me swiping everyone’s favorite Bon Jovi song. I just want to let the reader know I understand this fact.
I was going to start writing this the day I graduated, because that was my first stint of being without a home. I got help from my boss and the university. My situation ended up being much less dire than this one due to their help.
And the, “Homeless Graduate”, just sounds so hopeless. I was never completely without hope.
Yes, there were times where I was running on empty and concerned I wouldn’t be able to get back above the water.
Even during my lowest of low moments, I remained true to my faith, and knew that God was with me.
The story of course is not over, and if I see fit, I will decide if this series needs continuing and updating.
I want to thank all those who have been with me on this journey, you guys know who you are, and I couldn’t have done this without you. That is the most cliche thing anyone could say, but it’s still important that we remain thankful to those around us. It’s important to recognize the roles people play where we can see love and caring within them. I’m truly blessed to have people who were there for me in my toughest times.
According to the internet, Jon Bon Jovi, who helped shape me as a 13-year old kid, allegedly said, “Miracles happen everyday, change your perception of what a miracle is, and you’ll see them all around you.”
The internet says he said that, so it’s obviously true. Nonetheless, it’s a good sentiment.
Or as my pastor said in his Sunday homily. Be like WALL-E. Yes, be like the Disney robot, who had love and care for the little plant, even when surrounded by a desolate world.
8/18/17
