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“Good,” I lied as I hitched up a grin on htened over my resume “How are your classes?” I asked as I sat down across from his desk

He was young for a college professor, with thick brown hair and an attractive face Professor Lark was known for being easygoing and fair, and as a result he was one of the most popular professors Everyone liked him

I envied that I had never been charisers with such open kindness I was quiet in class, but I wrote well

He waved his hand and an irritated look crossed his face “The furloughs have been really frustrating, as you probably know But otherwise, it’s been fine How goes your internship?”

My face fell as the burn of failure heated my chest “Well, I was there for a year and they told me they didn’t have a paid position available So I was forced to quit”

He frowned “I’ood on your resume”

A sting of anger punctured my self-pity Didn’t anyone understand that I couldn’t live on unpaid internships, no ood they looked on my resume? “That’s sort of why I’ jobs, even technical writing, and I’ a really hard time It’s been a year since I left ”

The panic I’d been feeling crept into my voice Professor Lark looked syave me hope

“Perhaps you should get a job while you continue searching I’m sorry, Jessica But I don’t think I’ll bein the career center?”

“Do you have any contacts in the industry? Anyone you could send my resume to? I already tried the career center”

He took the resu my eyes as he scanned it “I’ve been out of touch with the industry for a few years, Jessica I’m really sorry that you caest—”

My heart swelled with hope

“—is to keep trying Get a paying job anywhere, it doesn’tgig at a publisher Just keep at it You have to gain more experience”

I felt hollow My head nodded as if I was hearing life-saving advice I hadn’t heard before I couldn’t count how ” One of these days, someone will see how dedicated you are Or, you know, they won’t It was all bullshit, all of the optiether and really didn’t understand what I was going through