Clocking In, Rolling On: My Timesheet Saga
I write with about six cups of coffee inside my 80-pound body as I enter the third week of my three-month cannabis cleanse. My new job as a Marketing Specialist at Rare Disease Research, LLC has motivated me to make a goals whiteboard. I stare at the five tasks laid out—like "finish social media deck"— and "work on designing three templates on Mailchimp." I am so thankful I finally have some responsibilities to wake up to.
One of those responsibilities? Filling out my own timesheets for the first time. My mom still handles the timesheets for my aides, but eventually, that’ll be my job too. For now, I’m getting used to logging my own hours with Gusto, watching that little pig run across the screen like it's cheering me on for another day of work. If only it also refilled my coffee.
Now that I am the Marketing Specialist at Rare Disease Research, LLC, I have begun to hear back from a few pharmaceutical PR firms about interviews for internships, fellowships, and even full-time roles in New York City. It finally made my spreadsheet of contacts feel worth all the emails, LinkedIn searches, and direct messages. Maybe the saying "things happen when you least expect them" is mildly true. The waiting phase can feel tough, but I must give myself a high five because I am a master networker.
When I posted about my new job, many recruiters commented on my photo, expressing excitement that I finally got hired. Even some recruiters who had ghosted me came around when they saw my continued hustle. I even stumbled in one of my interviews due to jitters. My face turned red like a tomato. I froze and had nothing to say. Even that recruiter reached out to congratulate me, as she empathized with my year-and-a-half-long pharma PR networking journey. Hopefully, by the summer, I will be back in Manhattan, but for now, I must focus on being present. I know I have the confidence to kick ass at these interviews.
For now, I am committing to my cleanse, enjoying Roxy's company, saying hi to my mom in her home office, and greeting my dad, who is in his home radiologist den. I am also redefining my relationship with social media, turning a past addiction into a career by tracking and posting on work pages while muting my personal account to avoid the doom-scroll trap. My anxiety and depression are far less extreme than in my high school days. I am completely off antidepressants, and it feels good to manage things naturally. I finally drank some water. My dad and I are like camels with our coffee intake. My house is crowded, but I am shutting off the noise to set myself up for summer. My next goal is to cut my LinkedIn intake to three times a day and use it only for work.
The only thing missing is a girlfriend or potential life partner. That might sound depressing, but I am just as social and fun as my siblings, yet I struggle in that area, thanks to my wheelchair and how some people perceive it. I used to get angry and hit up way too many girls, but now I just use my daily swipes on Hinge, focus on my career and finances, and keep an open eye for those in my network who might consider me. I am confident that in my late twenties and early thirties, these immature preconceived notions about disabilities will change. I tried Jewish speed dating for confidence, even though none of the women reached out. I take it day by day, and before you know it, I'll be balling. Through all of this, Roxy—my dog—has taken on the role of my unpaid intern. She's great at moral support, though I think I’m the one doing all the work while she naps. But hey, we all have our strengths.
