My Failed Attempt to ‘Act Like a Responsible Adult’

I had planned to take six months to backpack through South America. As the winter season drew to a close, I started to have second thoughts.

In a few weeks, I would leave Colorado with no job, no place to live, and no prospects. What would I do if I ran out of money? What if I couldn't find another job? How would I support myself? I didn't want to end up living on the streets, foraging through trash cans, subsisting on discarded pizza crusts. What was I thinking? I had no business traveling overseas. "Grow up," I said. "Act like a responsible adult."

I needed to find a stable career — one that provided reliable income, benefits, and health insurance. So, I scrapped my travel plans, updated my résumé, and wrote a cover letter that explained my "gap season."

I spent countless hours scouring job sites. I applied to every attractive job that caught my eye. Admittedly, my time would have been better spent sticking my résumé into an empty bottle and throwing it into the sea.

I never received an offer.