January is over!

Here we are at the end of month one! Thank goodness! Not only because the winter gets better in Feb and March, but I can stop looking for a job now! Just kidding!
I come out of this month with having learned a few things, which I guess was the point. Well, the point really was to find work, but I made a few steps closer to work, AND learned a few things along the way! Even better than I imagined.
First, I can pat myself on the back for the improvement of my networking skills. It helped me acquire a "mentor" within the biz. Also, a plan to work alongside said mentor with the intention of becoming part of her successful business.
In the meantime, I will continue to look for full-time work in the city or any other opportunities that come my way. Depending on where I am in a few months I may have to make another "focus on finding a job month."
One thing that was on my mind throughout most of this month was: what if I was in any other situation, I would have to really swallow my pride and do something I don't want for a while to survive. The question I have been asking myself (and others in my position) for some time now is "where does my search for the perfect job end, and the search for ANY job begin? Were I in any other situation, like having to pay rent and utilities or live without my CT client who keeps my hope alive that I have some skills worth paying for. What would I do then? Where would I be? How would I reconcile spending thousands of dollars on my graduate degree while working at a local restaurant as a waitress, where I was when I started. The whole point of grad school was to improve my situation, guarantee a job in the design world, and make more money.
Still, I don't know what the answer is. I do know that what my father always said is true: "life isn't fair." I have to make the best of my situation. Though recently while watching my favorite financial advisor Suze Orman, there was a 28 year old woman on who was laid off from her job (that she seemed not to like very much. ) They offered her job back with no benefits and she didn't want it. Suze said DO NOT TAKE THE JOB. First, it seems like the company was trying to take advantage of her. Second, her family was pressuring her to take the job because it is a paying job and in this economy who can say no. WEll Suze said it. This young woman, at 28 years of age, has her life ahead of her and her only job is to MAKE HER DREAMS a REALITY. It validated what I am doing. Somewhat. I need to push forward and make my dreams come true. I need to believe I can make them happen, and continue to try despite the risk involved.