Collegiate Times

He said:

When I was in high school, I coached Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas at a summer basketball camp. I don’t think he was even a teenager yet, although he did boast a size 13 shoe — absurd.

I stifled laughter watching him lumber his cement feet and noodly limbs up and down the court like Stretch Armstrong.

Then I watched the Hokies crush Appalachian State last weekend. Thomas is now an agile mastodon who I would dread to see on the hardwood. And while this column won’t become an “I feel old” bore, the new football season has confirmed that time is sneaky. I graduated 15 months ago, which doesn’t look long when you read it, but I feel far more removed than that from Blacksburg.

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I migrated to Denver, Colo., days after receiving a diploma and was fortunate to snag a job soon thereafter. I could speak to the still-ailing employment forecast — we just had more than 50 people apply to our company’s fall internship — but I imagine that’s beaten into you enough on campus. (Advice: As one who’s now read countless cover letters, I implore you to tell a compelling story. It’s true that your applications are judged quickly.) Rather, I’ve been obsessed with the notion of contentment this past year.

As a young professional, you work a lot. You (hopefully) have vigor, and employers see how that can propel their goals, which often translates into exhausting hours. Do that enough and it’s easy to head home with zero initiative — assembling a decent sandwich sometimes requires too much effort, let alone, say, reading a book.

Interactive graphic: Where are Tech students living after graduation?

It’s somewhat depressing how frequently I drank a beer and watched an episode (uh, episodes) of “Friday Night Lights” — and that’s it. Incredible character development aside, the TV routine was unfulfilling. So I’ve changed it, and I encourage those who will soon dive into the workforce to be conscious of contentment far in advance.

I’m exercising more because, surprise, it’s refreshing. I’m building furniture to feed my design appetite. I’m reading Charles Bukowski because he is terribly derogatory and entertaining. I’m homebrewing beer because it’s enlightening and, more importantly, delicious. Etcetera.

Take note of all things extracurricular that bring you joy and don’t let them wither with a new job title. It’s not always easy, and you sometimes have to crack the whip on yourself to make it happen.

That said, I certainly hope you like your job — hating your occupation is another animal. But still, I’m not a believer in “living to work.” Conversely, I don’t think “working to live” will yield satisfaction either. The right kind of contentment emerges with a balance of activities.

I read a Labor Day-inspired essay in the local newspaper that said United States workers log 122 more hours per year than those in Great Britain, and 378 more than those in Germany. You’ve got to suspect those overseas are finding balance in that free time. At least I believe it when I drink a cold Hefeweizen.

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A version of this article appeared in the Sep 9 issue of the Collegiate Times.