Settling In, Looking Forward

I made a whole list of "to dos" today while waiting to meet with someone. On there I wrote, "set goals/next step in career plans." I have officially moved into the next third of my stint here at Drexel. This portion of my job will be spent working out goals for things I want to have done or been involved with before June. These things will be shaped by and help shape the other part of this third which is looking for my next job. Hopefully between the two goals, by the time the third trimester of this occupation roles around I will be able to be narrowing down places to apply and starting interviews.

Christmas In July

Today's picture is the back of my dad's truck. He actually drives a Ford Escape. He borrowed this truck from his work. It was used for my older sister's bridal shower which was today. As you can see from the picture, it's purpose was to transport the gifts home. There were two other cars with gifts in them as well.

Needless to say, I need to get married.

Hearing From A Friend

I had said two days ago that I wanted to tell you about a package a received over the weekend. Typically at home I get one or two things addressed to me in a month. Most of these things that come to me are junk or bills. Every once in a while, however, I get something worth hanging on to.

On Saturday, there was a large manilla envelope waiting for me. It almost looked like it might have an acceptance letter in it from some university. Having not applied to any graduate schools, there was no way that could be it. The letter was from Pontotoc, Missisissippi. It was from Father Tim. Glenmary Camp's Father Tim.

I jumped a bit inside. If you have read this blog or talked to me recently you know exactly how much this camp meant and how much I was affected by the people there. To receive something from them is so exciting. Father Tim and I got to talk one on one several times during the week and at the end of camp he approached me about the future. He told me that he was impressed with how I handled a bunch of things that week and how I was with the kids. He told me of someone he knows in Texas who has become quite the name in play therapy for kids.

In the package was a magazine advertisement for the National Play Therapy conference in Kentucky listing all of the speakers and dates and times. Next were two other journals including the latest published articles regarding play therapy. Finally, a letter from Father Tim. He told me to register for the conference in Kentucky. He also reminded me about coming back to the camp next year and finished by asking me to pass along his regards to the rest of my group.

The magnitude of this gesture is so great that its hard to describe. I knew I had made a friend in Father Tim, and I felt his invitation and discussion about my future in psychology were sincere. But, to go to this extent was both unexpected and incredibly humbling. Even more than ever I am so thankful for getting the opportunity for this trip and so grateful that I had the time to get to know it's director. The inclusion of the last line about sending his regards to the rest of my team made me realize that this is not just a kind gesture he does for everyone who helps at his camp. This was something he did for me. I am still in disbelief and excited about the whole thing days later.

I hope to be able to go to the conference and eventually make it back to Mississippi. Father Tim is a big part of why that camp exists as it does and has the heart it does, leading people like myself to feel incredibly connected to it and everyone involved. He proved that his kindness to those who come to his camp does not stay at the camp but extends past it. He is a very inspiring person.

Here they come

The lasts. I know for a while now there have probably been lasts. Last snow storm in college. Last midterm, etc. But over the next few weeks there will be a lot more. Last Friday of classes followed by the last of the rest of those days. Last day of classes, ever. Last assignment due. Last final. As well as last city adventure, last day on eddies, last band practice, last concert I'll ever play.

This was triggered by a friend of mine posting on her Facebook about her last day of classes being tomorrow. It'd be funny if it did nothing but rain for the next two weeks. I remember the first two weeks we came here it did nothing but rain. Talk about making it difficult to adjust to a new lifestyle.

I am trying to stay positive, though. Alex and I have decided to cancel our cross-country adventure due to financial reasons. It was becoming impractical and definitely either requires more time to plan or more money, or both. But other things are looking up. I am excited about the possbilities that lie ahead. I am pretty much open to anything right now. I have not explored job options too much, but I am considering other avenues as well. There is a Teach English program for one month in China that sounds like an amazing opportunity as well as several interesting positions through Americorp. All of these options have me very optimistic about life-after-graduation.

The near future is looking bright as well. Things are kicking into high gear for our Go! Mississippi fundraising and interest looks high for our t-shirts. Hopefully if we can generate half of that interest in our concert that I am responsible for we will be on our way in terms of covering the cost of our travel. I could not be more excited for the trip. It was definitely a decision made in haste, and with little foresight. Two months later and I could not be happier about making this choice. I am so grateful for the people I have gotten to meet through it and still have not totally grasped the idea that in 6 weeks I will be flying to Mississippi to work at at kids summer camp for a week. I just hope I have enough time to take pictures of everything.

In summary, the future looks bright. Yes there are one thousand lasts coming up, but there is so many firsts to follow them. I just have to make sure that the time between then and now is not wasted, even if it's just spending time with people here doing absolutely nothing but being with each other.

Planning Ahead

It is definitely something easier said than done. And the word ahead, brings a vagueness to it. I tend to think I plan ahead decently in the short term. But planning bigger things, larger steps that encompass much bigger chunks of time, now that is an area I tend to fail at.

I met with a professor and friend of mine today to talk about an assignment I was hoping he could assist me on. We ended up spend 40 minutes of the hour I was there talking about my plans for the future. I know that in 10 years, there is a definite place I would like to be. That place would be working in a private practice setting as a clinical therapist for children and adolescents. It does not have to be my own practice, and honestly if it's through a center but the job is the same, that is fine too. Regardless - this is my long term goal.

The plan to get there is a lot less defined. After talking with my teacher, less so. Not because he made me change my mind or anything, but he more was able to lay out how many different routes there are to go without really listing anything specific. I know I need a PhD. It was originally decided that I was bypassing the Masters but after the discussion today, that is no longer certain. As far as jobs, places who will employee me while I go to class for the next 7 years, finding a place that is relevant, that will pay for this schooling, and will pay me well enough, that place seems as realistic as winning the lottery right now.

I have managed to make it to 22 without ever needing a resume, without ever having to formally apply for a job, go through an interview, etc. There will be a lot of firsts piling up over the next few months, that is a definite. I just hope I can start making bigger strides in my planning ahead.

less like high school

remember how highschool got easier in senior year. once you were accepted to a school and all that was taken care of all you really had to do was not screw it up. other than that - things were pretty much wrapped.

college isnt looking to mirror that at all. or maybe this search for a job is like the search for your college. maybe im just lazier now than i was then and so its not the work thats harder but motivating myself. i dont really know. either way im staring down this Insiders Guide to Clinical Psych Master/PhD path and i think im gonna lose this battle.

In other words - not working tomorrow, and hoping that in my new found free time (yeah i told myself this last night about my classes cancelled today) I will start working on something whether it be a job search, this insiders guide, or starting to plan out any of my papers for the semester before i get behind. anyway out hopefully by the time i go to do one of these tomorrow night I have accomplished something on that list.

with that said im jumping in bed. here's to a productive tomorrow - for everybody!

cheers

(the picture is of our refrigerator after going food shopping today. its a bitter sweet feeling to have a lot in the apartment again yet have alot less in the bank. hopefully this lasts...)