It’s hard out here for a graduate. Just ask Diana Tran, who recently earned her degree at SF State and just can’t seem to land a job anywhere. Her days consist of several job hunts and unsuccessful interviews, followed by plenty of free time, which gives Tran a chance to vent her frustrations. Tran, 22, blows off steam by joining in on flash mobs, where crowds of hundreds or more meet in public places to create an event of some kind, on-the-spot. Whether it’s an impromptu opera on the streets of London, a ninja battle at UC Berkeley, or the recent Valentine’s Day pillow fight below San Francisco’s clock tower, flash mobs offer the willing a chance to let their inhibitions run wild and have fun with an anonymous crowd.

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Diana Tran researches ways to land a job, which has eluded her since her recent graduation. It’s the reason why Tran looks to flash mob events for therapy. “It’s been a tough time trying to get by,” says Tran. “[Flash mobs] are a nice way to get my mind off reality.”

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After a particularly bad day, Tran makes a quick trip to a nearby Ross to stock up on weapons for the impending pillow fight, which she decided to attend at the last minute. “I had a complete break down that day and I wasn’t even going to go, but it ended up being the best way to end the night,” says Tran.

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Tran smacks a fellow participant during the height of the pillow fight. The event drew around 700 participants, which began at 6 PM. “I couldn’t stop laughing, it felt so unreal,” says Tran. “I’ve had pillow fights before, but never to this extent.”

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The attendants stand in the aftermath of the debacle, the result of over two hours of soft, comfy violence. “Pillows were exploding in the air the whole time,” says Tran. “Everyone was breathing in feathers instead of air.”

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Tran finds one of her friends at the pillow fight and embraces her after hours of harmless pugilism. “It was the time of my life,” says Tran. “After a crappy-ass day, and a crappy-ass month, it was a relief to let go and just do or die.”

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Tran finds time in between the fiasco to take in an especially surreal moment. No matter how hard times may get, moments like this serve as her balance. “I’m still bummed I can’t find a career-oriented job. But it’s okay, I’m young,” says Tran.