I have turned into a social media whore.
More of an observation, not a judgment. I graduated with my Ph.D. last May and have spent my time job hunting since. The cool thing about this transitional state is that I have been able to travel all over the country, primarily for interviews, but also have crashed with family and friends during the down times and have spent meaningful time with people who have felt distant while I pursued my degree.
For some context… I’ve always felt a little scattered, but the last two and a half years amplified that feeling due to multiple moves. I pursued my graduate degree in Laramie, WY. When I first applied to graduate school, I thought I was a ‘small town’ girl. As I live a little too loudly, it wasn’t until I sequestered myself to a small town that I learned that cities are actually a better fit for me. After completing the appropriate graduate milestones, I moved to Brooklyn, NY for my internship where, following some somewhat-traumatizing adjusting, I found a better lifestyle fit. Unfortunately, as my dissertation did not write itself over the two years I lived in NY, I returned to Laramie. Most of my possessions I kept in storage in Brooklyn, and I moved in with a friend in Denver before I accepted reality and returned permanently to Laramie. Due to health concerns, I also spent extended time in Seattle with my sister.
That somewhat boring history was just to provide a bit of understanding for the roots I’ve made over time and space. To maintain them, I invest in social networks to continue to grow and, when confronted with a new place, create relationships. Even starting this blog, something I’ve thought about doing for years, is the product of wanting to reach out and connect. Email, facebook, online dating sites, blogs centering around my favorite shows, feminist blogs, and (outing myself here…) blogs that review young adult fiction (Hunger Games, yo!) provide some sort of tether, no matter how improvisational, during this time of transition.
I don’t know how long this will last. My period of anchorlessness might be the window for producing things and throwing them out on the intertubes, and it might be over as soon as I figure out my next step. That said, it is kinda cool to try to produce something, as opposed to my until-now role of primarily consuming. Time will tell.
Well said. I like what you say about social media connecting across physical boundaries, and then helping to follow up on those connections when you are the same place again. I agree that producing something on the web creates a nice balance to just watching as if you have no agency.
ReplyDeleteYou of all people would know. Yes... it seems so long ago, but writing letters to people with whom I had already-established relationships really helped me feel anchored when I was younger and in new spaces. I am incredibly thankful for the social media networks that allow me to maintain and develop new friendships. I know I would still make my different moves work, but it does seem less lonely.
ReplyDelete