The World That Never Was

Last year, I applied for a job. It was a fresh graduate’s dream job. I fit the qualifications for it perfectly, I had the experience to back it up, and I nailed the two interviews and written work that I had to do. I thought I had it in the bag.

I didn’t get that job, though. I actually found out almost one year ago today; I hunted through some old e-mails to find the date I got the rejection notice. I posted a semi-mopey, semi-optimistic FB status about it (the thing about doors closing and doors opening), and after being disappointed about it for a little bit, I moved on.

The rejection e-mail that I got said that my application stood out among the 189 applications that they received, but they decided to go with other applicants for their two positions. Today, I found out how close I was to getting it. Apparently, I was so close that had they three positions to hire instead of 2, I would have gotten the job as well.

Now granted, that doesn’t mean a whole lot. For all I know, there could have been 10 of us who were strong enough to get ‘third place’ when all they could hire is two people. But what I started thinking about at that moment is just how different my life might be right now had I actually been good enough to be one of the two.

I would have started work in June, which meant that I wouldn’t have been able to do the summer job that I did. Beginning a regular, full-time job over the summer would have meant that I probably would have found a reason to stay in Seattle past when I moved back home in September. However, that would have also meant that I wouldn’t have had as much time for spending time with friends, since I’d be working very regularly. Since I wouldn’t have done my job over the summer, I obviously would not have been in position to get the job that I currently have, which does work in a sort of similar realm.

I don’t know if I would have had as much time to volunteer as I have been had I gotten that job. That means I wouldn’t have gotten to know some people or have time to hang out with them as I have this year. I might have been more an enigma, which is not what I wanted to be this year.

I realize it’s a lot of what if’s and hypothetical scenarios, but it is interesting to think how life would be if I got that job, and what my life would be like in that world that never was. Regardless, it was true back then and it is now- for every door that closes, others open, and you just have to go and find them.
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http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/829/07kyloforce.png - Thanks Diyosa!

I like that. It is interesting. I thought through this with Lynsey actually... the girl who broke my heart the most, is what made me desperate to find someone and made me seek someone right away, which was Jess, and maybe she'd have been with somebody else or I'd never have met her otherwise. Ya never know. And Jess has worked out, in spades!

I like to call this "being as thankful for what you don't have as what you do." I'm also pretty glad that my parents met. Cause...yeah.
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Seth: What are you making?
Evan: I'm just drilling holes. Last two weeks, **** it.

I am reminded of "Tapestry" the TNG episode, in some ways.
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If you're a human and not feeling creative, make this your signature.

From: Kylo Force | Posted: 3/25/2011 2:58:40 AM | #001

Today, I found out how close I was to getting it. Apparently, I was so close that had they three positions to hire instead of 2, I would have gotten the job as well.

Youch. Besides my own, somewhat similar recent experiences, I know someone who was at the very top of the waiting list for a PhD program, but wasn't admitted because all five people who'd been admitted had enrolled.

Because of the butterfly effect, it's impossible to tell whether things like this, which so dramatically affect the course of one's life, are ultimately harmful or beneficial.

From: AzumarillMan | Posted: 3/25/2011 12:04:01 PM | #003

I'm also pretty glad that my parents met.

I dunno, I think in-vitro fertilization is kind of awesome. I wonder if there have been any real-life virginal mothers yet. I've read that biologists have succeeded at inducing parthenogenesis in mice, but I'm not sure I want the world to be overrun with clones.
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"Monads are easy. Think of them as burritos."