Well, that's it. As of yesterday, I'm no longer a GIS Tech. Sad day, no doubt. The only job I feel I ever truly excelled at came to its planned end yesterday afternoon, and while I didn't walk away empty handed, I'm still left with many more questions than answers.
You see, during this internship, on top of learning GIS and doing the associated watershed work that came with it, I was also required to search for work. That was probably the most depressing end of the deal, not just because I live in a county where there are next to no opportunities to be had, but because the counselors who set this up simply don't understand this, well-meaning as they may be.
The biggest question I have for the country at large is this: Why is it that we as human beings have to fight so hard for so little? It took me months to get this, and now that it's over I feel like I'm right back where I started.
I know I should feel gratified that I managed to impress many people in my time there, especially my supervisors. I am also grateful that so many people stepped up to help me retool my resume so that it at least makes me look marketable, but in a county like mine, unless you can be on call 24/7, marketable skills are a moot point.
Because of my disabilities, a 24/7 work lifestyle is simply not possible. Keep in mind I still have yet to find out whether or not I can obtain a driver's license.
I already have an idea of what I'll do with the extra time on my hands in the mean time. On top of job hunting, which is like looking for a needle in a haystack, I got a C++ book for Christmas, so I'll be going through that and improving and diversifying my computer skills. The difficult part will be finding a meaningful purpose for my skills, because, as is the case with many of you on this site, I live in a country where it seems profit takes precedence above all else, and that is what I find most reprehensible.
Still, as this comes to a close, I'd like to thank all those who cheered me on and helped me in this process: My supervisors and coworkers who taught me new skills and saw my potential for what it is. If I could keep working with them, I most certainly would, because supervisors and coworkers such as these are a rarity here.
I would also like to thank my fellow Kossacks who continue to encourage me even in my most down-and-out moments. If anyone has any advice on where to go next, I would certainly welcome it.