certainlily

I just accepted a job offer! Heck yeah.

Now I have all the logistical things to figure out... car, car insurance, parking, health insurance, copying my passport, finding a flight home for Christmas (not loving the fact that I'm going to have to fly on Christmas Eve Day), and tracking down my immunizations and CPR and first aide certification. Let the games begin!

I didn't get the position. I'm not really surprised I felt like there was some pretty good competition there. I am replaying bits of the interview over and over in my head but I can't change anything now. Arg.

The whole process of trying to find a job is really really getting to me. I've now applied for 55 jobs or so since I graduated in May and I just had my first interview, I'm so discouraged I just don't know what to do with myself.

Life is looking a little better then it did last week at this time. The whole not getting the job thing was difficult because it felt like all the hope had been taken away from me. However, I have since gotten a call about setting up an interview for next week! Interview number two baby! Bring on the hope, I know it was there somewhere.

Over the weekend I went on a little trip to New York with Dave, it was a totally unplanned but worth it because it was BEAUTIFUL in New York last weekend. We stayed at a place on the west side near Central Park. I was able to see an AWESOME Kandinsky exhibit and a broadway show. Central Park was beautiful with all the fall colors and it was a part of New York I hadn't seen yet. I want to go back, two nights just wasn't enough.

I'm trying to negotiate what I'm going to do if I don't get a job, plus still trying to live my life in a somewhat normal manner without totally stressing out about what might happen to me in the next few weeks/months.

Waiting game....

The interview was a bit out of the ordinary. I arrived and had to fill out a four page questionnaire with questions that would normally be asked in an interview. Then there was an informational powerpoint, I got the slide notes. Finally we had to do some role playing as child and therapist. I was a little thrown off by that portion as many people were demonstrating a theory that I am unfamiliar with. I went with child-centered and am still not sure if it effectively communicated how I work with clients.

On the up side, they did say that they generally get up to 300 applicants and that the seven of us in that room should feel honored to make it that far. I feel pretty good about that part.

First real interview tomorrow!!! SCARY!

I think I am as prepared as I can be considering. I wish I had more interviewing experience but I've thought about some questions, done some practicing (thanks Jen), and research on the organization.

Wish me luck!

I have a cold. I'm not really enjoying being sick but at the same time I really have nothing else to do. The one thing it is impeding on is my exercise. I started training to run a 5k, not that I really have any plans to actually run an actual 5k in the near future but you never know when I may need to run 3.1 miles.

The job search is going. I've probably applied to 40-45 places or so since I graduated in May and I have yet to have an interview. The whole process itself makes me questions my qualifications/worth, it's not good. Yet I know that the economy sucks and that a lot of people have no work but then I see an old classmates post on facebook about his/her new job and then I start to wonder and question all sorts of things.

I'm not sure how long I can stay here while being unemployed. My parents have been helping me out with rent and things but it's expensive to live here.

On the upside, I did have a few good social activities this week. I made a new friend via an ex-midwestern meetup group and we've gone to the movies. Zay came for a visit on her way back to the King Richard's Fair and we took a day trip to Salem. I also spent last weekend hanging out with Carrie (my friend from my 1st year internship) and we went to the movies, did a little shopping, and went apple picking. Good times. So there is some hope in there somewhere....

My fish Opal died, she was a female beta. I've had her for about two years now, I can't remember exactly when I got her but I know it was at the start of my graduate school fall semester. Sadness.

I began a semi-massive cleaning spree. I'm trying to work my way from my desk (the farthest thing from my doorway) to my door. My roommate bought a bookshelf for the living room and I get to use a few shelves so I need to do some major book re-arranging. Right now it looks like books are starting to over take my room.

Not much else is new. I'm seeing the career counselor once a week or so. Right now I'm going over some interview questions. I've been catching up with "House" and "Grey's Anatomy" in preparation for the new TV season.

"It's back to school time. There are reminders everywhere you turn: in the mall, the grocery store, on television. You can't escape it. For recent college graduates not returning to school for the first time in nineteen or so years, this is going to be a tough month. My recommendation for the back-to-school blues: volunteer." (Taken from http://www.graduatecareercoaching.com/)

Amen to that!

I went and saw the career counselor this week...

I was hoping it would be like visiting some magical fairy where she tells me that I've been so silly the answer (the perfect job) was right here all the time. Reality bites. Instead I was told that my resume looks pretty good, I could just adjust a few things here and there, there was one spelling error (pretty good for me actually) and I needed to personalize my cover letter a bit more. She was surprised that I had no interviews out of the 35 or so jobs that I've applied to but considering the current economic situation it is clearly possible. So, while I didn't get any "answers" I know I'm on the right track, the effort I've been putting in just hasn't gotten me very far yet. Sigh.

This whole day after Labor Day thing is getting to me.

Traditionally this have often been the first day of school or so. This is the first year in at least 20 or so that I'm not starting school. Not that I'm not proud of where I've come and the education I have, but I'm just not sure what to do with myself at the moment. A lot of my identity development has revolved around my life as a student and now it's like a whole part of me doesn't exist. It's weird.

I'm also thinking about last year, specifically starting my internship. I had no idea how much I'd love it there. I feel a loss around not being there anymore. Yes, ideally I'll find somewhere just like that that I'll enjoy working and feel like I'm making a difference with the clients I'm working with. However, at the moment I have no job and quite frankly I'm having some difficulty finding one. With all the education that I have received I feel a little worthless.

On the upside, my Labor Day weekend was rather enjoyable. While I was unable to go home for the Peach Festival (only the 2nd time of missing it in my lifetime) I was able to go to Maine with Carrie. I had a good time, we had yummy sea food, did a little shopping, walked on the beach, played cards, and went kayaking.

Now I need to face some of the above issues and hopefully find some sort of direction to go in.

I have now been living in Boston for a year to the day. Time has just flown by, I can't believe I've been here for two years and am now holding a masters degree in expressive therapies. Now the question is what the heck am I going to do with it.

I've been searching for a job for some time now. I have yet to have an interview. Some of my classmates seem to have found jobs so easily and others seem to be constantly on interviews, it's not very uplifting. I have no idea where I'll end up or even where I really want to end up.

I was home in mid-July for a bit. I had an amazing time. I was able to go up north for a few days with my family sans my brother who was taking a class at MSU. It was a little chilly for Michigan in July, there were a few days in there when I had to wear my sweatshirt and pants. I also made a trip to Kalamazoo and was able to go to several of my old favorite places. Plus I went to the Ann Arbor art show, amazing stuff, as usual. It was very inspiring.

Last week was the IEATA (International Expressive Arts Therapy) conference. It was quite enjoyable. I volunteered the week before and wrote out 115 or so thank you notes to the presenters. Then the first day I helped with registration. I went to four workshops varying from 'zines and blogs to bullying and marginalization. One of my fellow interns from last year also came for a visit and was staying with me for the weekend. It was quite a busy week, I'm sort of looking forward to taking it easy

My internship is over. It was bittersweet. I don't think I could have asked for anything more. I had a great final group and some great interactions with the kids. My good-bye (when all kids and staff sit together to say things they will miss about the person leaving) was short and sweet. I made little cards for every staff with a photograph from my altered book inside.

The next week we had a full staff/Lesley intern goodbye dinner where all the Lesley interns from this year were treated to dinner. The staff gave each of us a book from a local book store and a finger puppet and my supervisor gave me a little clay kitty that she made. I am still sad to leave and have dreams of what the program is like without me but I think I'm ready to move on.

The last week or so I got to see a lot of the people that I've connected with since I've moved here. A few of them are getting ready to leave Boston. It's sad. Graduate school seemed so long and yet so short, I wish I had more time to connect with most of these people.

The fourth of July was pretty good. The day was pretty low key but I went and saw the Boston fireworks from one of the bridges overlooking the Charles River. It was a mad house getting out of the area, I have never been SO packed on a subway before in my life. It was a good thing I was only a few stops away from home.

I've decided to go home for two weeks. My parents encouraged me to visit while I still have the chance, hoping that I will soon have a job. I'll be home from July 9-28. Part of me is really looking forward to it and the other part is a little scared to go home. I feel like I'm beginning to learn what it is like to really live on my own and I'm not sure how going back will change that feeling. Anyways so far I haven't packed or really thought about packing...

I'm taking applications for life planners because I'm apparently having some difficulty planing my own life after graduate school.

The last few weeks since graduation have been pretty good. I've enjoyed having some extra free time and doing some reading for fun and watching some good tv shows and movies.

I have two weeks left at my internship, that's six days since I'm only there three days a week. I really enjoy it there and I will be quite sad to leave. The whole termination thing hasn't really sunk in yet.I've started my job search but haven't gotten anywhere yet. I need to get more into it and dedicate some serious time to the task.

Graduated this past weekend. The whole weekend went by so fast. My parents and sister flew in to Boston on Friday and I met them downtown. We did a little shopping and had dinner in the North End (Italian section of town). It was delicious and I now have three plates of left over Italian in the fridge.

Saturday was graduation. I met my parents downtown and we headed to the ceremony which was in a pavilion on the harbor. The weather was a bit overcast and foggy plus there was a breeze coming off the water making the ceremony a bit chilly. We headed off to dinner and went and saw a movie.

Sunday my parents came in to Harvard and we had breakfast and walked around a little bit before they had to catch their flight home.

The weekend was amazing, busy, and tiring. I now have to go to my internship.

Well my paper is done. I stopped at 19 pages and e-mailed it to my professor on Monday. We had our grades posted for the class by Wednesday and while I don't know my grade on that paper I do know that I got an A in the class. I rock. Thursday was my last day of graduate school classes. Now I'm just waiting to actually graduate, which happens in a week. My parents and sister are coming out for the ceremony. I'm excited to see them.

Now my job search begins.

19 pages.

I rock.

I graduated from college two years ago today.

Scary how time flies.

PAPER UPDATE:
Page 14.

6 pages to go.

I went to my internship to find out that the members of my group were absent. I asked to leave half way through the day.

I left at 4:15 and have spent almost all of my evening writing my paper.

It's now 11 pages. Only 9 more to go!

However I feel like I'm starting to run out of things to write about....

Back to my word document...

Five pages.

This paper may be the death of me.

Fifteen to go.

I have to write a 20 page paper.

It's currently 85 degrees outside.

Great procrastinating weather if you ask me.

I need to chain myself to my desk chair.

I have 1 page done...19 to go.

Say my next door neighbors the Moon's last week. I joined them to watch Michigan State loose to North Carolina. They also gave me a bag of goodies that my parents sent with them.

I saw Vienna Teng in concert. AMAZING. Her new CD came out last week, I can't stop listening to it. She's coming to Michigan three times for those of you who enjoy her music I recommend it.

Jen came to visit. I showed her some of the sites. We did a tour of Boston with a land and water vehicle (ie a Duck) which was lovely. We walked around downtown a bit in the touristy area, had seafood, and pastries from the north end. Saturday it was a tad bit rainy so we ended up doing low key activites. We played scrabble and kismet, watched Gilmore Girls, got manicures and pedicures, and had dinner with Patrick at one of my favorite restaurants. My roommate was able to drive her to the airport on Sunday, which took 1/4 of the time it would have taken to use to T.

I had dinner with my roommate and her parents for Easter. We went to a really nice steak house. I had tomato and mozzarella salad, fillet mignon with cheesy potatoes, lobster mac and cheese and asparagus. For desert I had a nice hazelnut chocolate cake. Needless to say the meal was DELICIOUS, I had left overs, and I was eating chocolate cake for the next three days.

Graduation is thirty days away (not that I'm counting). It's getting a little scary. I have not decided what I want to do when I graduate. Nor have I really started to look at any possibilities of what I want to do. Big change coming up and I'm enjoying hiding under my rock.

I just made cheesy potatoes for dinner and chocolate covered strawberries for desert. Yum.

I'm so tired I could possibly fall asleep while sitting here writing this.

I had my last intensive class this weekend. We actually had Saturday off so I was able to enjoy some of my weekend but my alarm was quite the reality check this morning. I did not get the best sleep last night, I did not go to bed early enough and there was some tossing and turning. I spent the day listening to class presentations, this included my presentation in which I had to watch myself on video pretending to be a five year old boy....I hate watching myself on film. I felt rather in a fog at the end of the day.

Tomorrow is another early day for me so I better jump into bed now in attempt to get a decent amount of sleep tonight....