Life After Graduation

On Saturday I received a $48 paycheck for my part time work at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. On Monday Ben Roethlisberger signed an eight-year, $102 million contract extension with the Steelers.

Over the summer my editor bought me a beer on a trip to Penn State. Monday morning Dan Rooney gave Big Ben got a $25 million signing bonus.

Why does he always have to out-do me?

The fact is, up until I graduated, Big Ben and I led pretty similar lives. Both tall, well built athletes (me a svelte 5'10", 160; him a childish 6'5", 240.) Both had our fair share of female fans (his had names like Buffy and Barbie; I usually called mine Mom, Grandma and Aunt Dona.) He went to school to be a football player, I went to school to write about him being a football player.

But after graduation is where the similarities end. I probably won't win a Super Bowl ring. And if I crash on my motorcycle, the only person who will care will be my bookie because I probably owe him money.

But there is one more difference - Big Ben has one job, and that's to play football. I, on the other hand, have several. And if you have career goals like myself, you should expect the same thing.

Not only is the sports writing field very competitive, it's also hard to break into. Everybody wants someone with experience, but isn't interested in giving you an opportunity to gain any. So the only way is to work your way up. I answer phones and take high school scores at my local newspaper, as well as write for the Pittsburgh Sports Report. But still, the money doesn't come in as fast as it goes out. And it is for that reason that I still have my part-time job that I have had since high school.

Many of you might find a great job right out of school, and this won't apply to you. But for those who don't, it's important to stay focused and busy. And nothing will keep you more focused then working a terrible part-time job. It's what motivated me through four years of college. And most importantly, when you do get that interview you've been waiting for, employees like seeing a resume that shows you have been keeping busy.

But on top of everything, it's important to not get discouraged. After all, even Rex Grossman can still find a job.