Since graduating from University last year, I
have worked in a couple of roles that haven’t coincided with my career pathway
goals. Frustrated with my lack of job satisfaction, I decided to get real and
stop chasing the dollar signs and start chasing the experience.
I am not sure if it’s because I’ve started
applying for graduate/entry-level positions that I am increasingly asked
questions relating to my high school days: What high school did you go to? When
did you finish? What was your ENTER score? What subjects did you study?
 |
| Directionless, young, wild and free me (ten years ago) |
These questions take me back, both literally and
metaphorically. I finished high school ten years ago and my peers and I were
always under the impression (because we were explicitly told) that after a
couple of years, high school and your final scores are no longer relevant. They
never told me that my 18 year-old-ghost-self-from-the-past would come back to
haunt me ten years later though.
 |
| Britney Spears post mental-breakdown (aka 18 yr old Leah) |
Back in the day, my high school self was far from
studious. I was directionless, lacked career motives, spent my disposable money
on fashion, alcohol and taxi rides home from the city and barely saved my money.
I hadn’t been overseas but was constantly dreaming about it and giving in to the
“what-ifs”. I partied hard and drank harder. I just knew I wanted to enjoy
being young while I was, have fun, live recklessly and responsibility-free.
Flash-forward to my 28th year, I am
still consuming alcohol but far less than I used to and hardly ever going to
clubs. I have moved out of home, pay my own bills, save my money and am on my
way to becoming a responsible adult. I have travelled to thirteen different,
lived in Mexico for seven months, enjoy language barriers and never give in to “what
ifs”. I have also since returned to studies, completed a degree, have clear
direction and ambition of the career path I want to take and determination to
get there.
 |
| "…Baby One More Time"-Britney (aka current Leah) |
So when interviewees question my high school self
and ENTER score, I feel like responding:
“You’re wanting me to compare the young, ambitious ‘…Baby One More Time’-Britney Spears dedicated to making a career for herself; to post-mental-breakdown, directionless ‘Gimme More’-Britney Spears?! My 18-year-old self was ‘Gimme More’-Britney. I am the ‘…Baby One More Time’- Britney (without the naivety)! Same person, but that's like comparing apples to oranges. Especially when they haven’t ripened. Although I appreciate your questions of interest, no one cares anymore that Guy Sebastian won ‘Australian Idol’ or participated in ‘World Idol’ ten years ago and lost, because it has no relevancy anymore! He has done so much more with his life and career in the past ten years, as have I. So can we please concentrate and focus on the relevancy of that?”
 |
| Guy Sebastian, circa ten years ago: Whatta dork! |
... Instead I just usually respond, “that was ten
years ago and I actually think I got my pen license about then too. (Can
you please write that down/quote me on that?) Also are you sure what I did a
decade ago really has any relevancy now?”
>>> So tell me, what interview question(s) gets you
riled up?
x Leah Tortilla
#BeyoncéWouldBeProud
#SpeakYourMind
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