After Life

47

I took a deep breath, my third in the last five minutes, my leg bouncing nervously against the floor. I clutched my portfolio in my lap, my hands a death grip on the black book so tightly my knuckles were turning white. I tried to think calming thoughts, of sunshine, and puppies and my bed. But nothing seemed to ease the nerves I felt as I sat in this bright, clean, remarkable office, waiting for the most important interview of my life.

It was Friday afternoon, and I was currently sitting in the main New York office of National Geographic, waiting for my meeting with Mike Ward. As warm and welcoming as he had been at the exhibit when he had initially approached me, I admittedly hadn't felt intimidated. Now, sitting in this office, the glass doors, the iconic and historic photographs littering the walls, reminding you just the importance of where you sat and the impact that you may be able to make, it was like a slap in the face waking me from my daydreams.

This was real. I was literally about to embark on the most important meeting of my career. Although he had seemed promising with regard to my chances for the position, I still had to impress others, and make them confident in my abilities. I was a new graduate, literally only just over a week. I had no field experience, no knowledge of the impact of what I may be embarking on. I was as green as they come, and I knew it.

I had spent the entire night before pouring over my photographs. Mike had suggested I tailor my portfolio to the type of images suited to NG, and the excursion he mentioned. Within the first twenty minutes, I already had damn near every possible photograph spread across the living room floor, myself sitting cross legged in the middle of my little nest, frantically trying to decide which ones best showcased my work in this genre. At one point, I laid down in my mess, staring at the ceiling and contemplated my entire existence and why I couldn't just win the lottery and not have to deal with this shit.

Finally, after much stress, debate and a little help from Mia, the photos were selected, placed in the portfolio that was currently grasped in my hands, and I was as ready as I would ever be.

Now, sitting in this office waiting for my name to be called, it all suddenly felt more real to me than any of the interviews I had experienced so far.

"Ms Jennings?" A voice called, my head snapping to the side. I was greeted with the familiar smile of Mike Ward, stepping towards me with his hand extended. "Pleasure to see you again," he said, and I stood in time to take the hand he offered.

"Thank you for seeing me," I returned, forcing a confident smile despite the nerves I felt in my core.

"Of course", he smiled. "We've been looking forward to meeting with you all week,"

"You have?" I asked, genuinely surprised.

My response seemed comical to him, as he gestured for me to follow his lead down the long hallway to my right. "You seem to underestimate the impact your exhibit had on me, Ms Jennings," he explained. "To be quite frank, you are the one candidate this week that I'm actually truly considering,"

I felt my cheeks flame under his praise, as we reached a set of tall glass doors. Pulling one open, he ushered me inside, where I was met with a long mahogany table, in front of a beautiful view of the New York skyline. Edging the far side of the table were four individuals, a fifth empty chair waiting. Closest to me, was a single black chair.

Well, this is about to get intimidating as fuck, I thought to myself as Mike lead me to the single chair closest to us. Once I was seated, he circled around, taking his own place in the empty chair across from me. Going down the line, he introduced the other interviewers, and I tried my best to seem confident and relaxed.

"Well, are we ready to get started," Mike asked, glancing down the table. The others nodded, all regarding me with keen curiosity.

Over the next thirty minutes or so, I was drilled with countless questions. What inspired me to get in to photography? What was my favorite genre? What were my short term goals? What were my long term goals? What did I feel I could bring to such an establishment as NG? How did I work with others, since photography was generally considered such a singular career? Did I have any experience in the field? What were my thoughts on the current situation overseas, and what was my knowledge of the actions taking place?