For the first time in about three years, I am really excited to tell my peers what I'm doing for the summer. Not that anything is wrong with working at your mother's law practice (in fact, I really enjoy working there), but it just doesn't quite have that social allure that stirs up interesting conversation. Conversations with acquaintances trying to be polite used to go something like this:

"Hey Adam!!!! I haven't seen you in ages! What are you doing this summer?!!!" (Note how the multiple exclamation really emphasize how genuinely interested they are in your response).

I then smile and tell them "I'm working at my Mom's law office. She's a Social Security Disability Attorney based in Mentor. The work is really fascinating."

The half-genuine smile quickly fades from their face "Oh.....sounds..err......interesting." which translates to "I want those fifteen seconds of my life back"

 Bam! Conversation over. I must scramble to find something else to talk about, because there is nothing "hip" about working at a law office at age 21, even if you are going through resumes and meeting with clients. At first I thought I was doomed to never have an interesting conversation about work with my peers, but that all changed as of June 15th. My life will never be the same.

Now, when my peers ask me what I'm doing this summer, I smile widely and tell them that I am the equivalent of the recruitment chair for young Jewish Cleveland. Basically, my main responsibility is to program different social events and hang out with college kids in the area -- It’s my job to show my peers that Cleveland is hopping. In other words, I get paid to go bowling or hit up East 4th street on Thursday night with my friends. With perks like this, I have trouble believing that someday 5 years from now I could be boasting about the healthcare plan my employer offers.

As Jack Bauer says "Who do you work for?!"

None other than the Jewish Community Federation (JCF) in the heart of Downtown Cleveland. I'm working with the Strengthening and Growing Jewish Cleveland initiative. The purpose of this program is to be the "brain faucet" to counter the "brain-drain," the current trend plaguing Cleveland in which kids who grow up in Cleveland and then move away from this amazing city after graduation.  

That being said, I'm going to be planning a ton of fun events ranging from bowling nights to rock climbing and beach parties. Dying to get out of the house and hang out with other kids your age? Check out my Facebook group  for invitations to events in the area. Also, check out the rest of this website for tons of information about fun things going on in Cleveland this summer.

In other words, be warned! Next time you run into me at the Indian's game or a local bar and ask me what I'm up to this summer, do not go into auto-pilot and expect the same lackluster answer that I've given for the last three years. And yes, I'm sure your job is just as interesting. 

-Adam Yasinow