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AbiHumber-GettingThere

Column has been much more than a side job

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Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 11 December 2012 14:24

Getting paid to do what you love is one of the world’s greatest things, but this column has been so much more than a side job for me these past seven years.

This column is the space where I have refined my worldview, processed the shift from high school to college, spoken out about rape and patriarchy, complained about Internet trolls, realized the depth of my love for my family and contemplated the meaning of “home.”

This column is the space where I championed my first tangible...

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First ‘big-girl job’ opens a whole different world

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Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 13 November 2012 15:37

While my fellow college seniors are frantically preparing portfolios and working on research presentations, I’m successfully ignoring everything school-related and, instead, frantically learning to carry out the tasks 826Chicago’s new commu­ni­cations coordinator might be doing.

Yes! It’s true! Maybe you’ve heard—826CHI, the location of my internship (and subject of much gushing on my part) has hired me as an actual staff member.

It feels surreal that I’ve gotten to bypass most of the freaking-out-about-post-grad-jobs phase and launch right into a “big girl job.”

It’s incredibly encouraging and affirming to be recognized in this way, too; to know that the other staff members believed in me enough to bring me on...

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Chicago’s marathon is a new favorite tradition

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Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 09 October 2012 14:22

On Oct. 7, I got to be part of the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. By “part of the marathon” I mean that in less of a “I ran 26.2 miles” sort of way and more like, “While my marathoning boy­friend and 44,999 others ran 26.2 miles, I chased them all over Chicago in 40-degree weather and it was a surprisingly incredible experience.”

This was Miles’ fourth marathon but my first. It’s not that I wasn’t proud of him for the other three, I just had no point of reference to understand what the marathon itself was like.

The other times, Miles would send me a, “Bye, I'm going to run now,” text before the race and another, “I’m done...my knees hurt,” sometime after it ended.

Between those texts, I’d do...

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Chemistry the hardest class in the universe

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Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 11 September 2012 15:47

Two weeks into this school year feels a little too soon to have a firm grasp on how things are going to pan out. I’m still getting settled into my new apartment with my new roommates, still trying to fall into a rhythm with my classes, and still a little antsy about starting at 826CHI.

I sure as heck can tell you, however, that General Chemi­stry is the hardest thing in the entire universe.

I’m taking the class to satisfy one of my final general education requirements, and, yes, I have postponed my enrollment as long as possible. I was holding onto a teensy ray of hope that North Park might change its standards and stop requiring non-chemistry majors to suffer through the class.... But, no such luck. You can find me sulking in the...

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Entering unchartered adulthood is traumatic

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Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 28 August 2012 13:04

I’m feeling fairly panicked as I write this because the digital clock on my computer reading 11:59 has just clicked over to midnight. It is now Monday, Aug 27.

It’s officially time to bite my fingernails, grind my teeth, and fight the urge to procrastinate every task, ever. I will soon be hurtling at light speed toward The Great Unknown: Actual Adulthood.

What I’m trying to tell you is that my senior year of college has begun.

I’m probably making this moment a tad more dramatic than it really should be, but the drama adequately conveys the anxiety I feel about entering a completely uncertain stage of life with absolutely no finalized direction and no cheat codes whatsoever.

Justifiably nerve-wracking, right?

People keep...

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