Brilliant … But Bouncy

Dylan Wants to Work.

Dylan’s summer plans have been in flux since last summer. Now, not surprisingly, he wants a summer job.

For a year, Dylan has been considering a gap year. He’s gone to gap year fairs, job fairs, and been accepted into AmeriCorps. He turned it down, in favor of … well, nothing. He thought he’d be going to the beach for the summer, living there rent-free and making a ton of money, while having his girlfriend visit him frequently.

None of that happened. So, with summer on the immediate horizon, Dylan wants to work.

Dylan loves to work. I would be thrilled with him working. But he should have secured a summer job back in January, when I told him to start looking. Instead, he’s filling out applications just as fast as he can fill them.

Today, one company – a place he’d adore working – emailed him and asked him to send them his summer schedule. “This will help us to determine,” said the company, “whether or not it will be a good fit.”

I texted Dylan his schedule. He’s got high school, then the prom, a night at the theater, and graduation. This is followed by a week-long trip for a two-day college orientation, which is followed by a week-long mission trip. After that, he’s taking a week of vacation – and then heading to college less than two weeks after that.

Dylan sent all of that information to the company.

The email response was almost immediate, but not automated. “Thank you!” it said. “We would like to have you join us for an in-park interview!”

I couldn’t believe it. Who looks at the schedule he provided and interviews him anyway?

But they did – and how wonderful it would be if he could get that job and enjoy his summer, too. It might just be the perfect thing for him.