I graduated from the University of South Florida in December 2020 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Creative Writing But I’m trying to stop defining myself by my accomplishments — if you consider a degree in Political Science an accomplishment. (Some people don’t.) What Am I Doing Here? The polite answer…

If you follow employment trends, you probably think I'm the reason your staff decided they need a mental health day and free Pizza every Wednesday. Do those journalists ever talk to their co-workers under 25? The thought of asking for a mental health day makes me break out in hives. …

Have you ever seen the inside of a restaurant kitchen in the middle of a dinner rush? It’s a fucking nightmare. One manager is in the salad window pawning salads off on any server that walks by without a tray in their hands. …

I Gave My Ex-Boyfriend a Book Titled How Not to Die Alone — Authors Note: This article was originally intended for the New York Times’ Modern Love column. It was not accepted, so I decided to publish it here. It is based on real events, but names were changed. At the beginning of the pandemic, I started an internship at a small family…

If I were to describe the kind of guy I expected to end up with — it would be Jake. — “Do you believe in fate?” Jake asks. “No, I believe in choices,” I say. Jake and I are sitting across from each other on his bed. The gray comforter is tucked neatly into the side of the mattress, only rumpled from the weight of our bodies. His bedroom light is…

I didn't understand why writers don't share their messy first drafts until I logged onto Twitter. — I remarked to a friend how strange it was that famous writers don't share the first drafts of their best-selling novels or talk about their novels in progress as they write them. We love before and after photos of home makeovers. …

I didn’t realize how unprotected that lack of a formal accommodation plan left me until I joined the workforce. — I announced I’m Going Back to the Service Industry in February 2022. I wrote that I wanted to find a career path that allowed me to be the authentic version of myself, but I didn’t tell the whole story. I want a job that challenges me and utilizes all of…

An Open Letter to Employers Refusing to Take Chances on Recent Graduates — Why am I applying to [Inset Graduate School]? I don’t have another option. I know what you are thinking — what is she doing? Yeah, I’m wondering the same thing. That’s why I decided to submit my application. I graduated from the University of South Florida in December of 2020…

During my grieving period, I asked myself, “What would my Ex do to make me feel loved today?” — The relationship with a man I thought would be a large part of my future ended in February. I wasn’t sober for the entire month of March. I obsessively ruminated over our relationship, trying to find the moment where it all fell apart. …