Writing twice in a week? (almost) Unprecedented! But, per my commitment to do some personal reflection and some professional development, I come to you now with a topic fresh on my mind: the oft-dreaded cover letter.
(cue dramatic music. and yes, that link goes to exactly where you think it goes to.)
As you may remember, about a year and half ago I wrote one of the most dramatic and, in retrospect, silliest blog posts about how much I hate writing cover letters. But it was true then, and if I were applying for jobs now, it would probably still be true - I really, really don't like writing cover letters. Honestly, the first one is the hardest; by the time I was applying for my umpteenth jobs in May, June, and July, I had my structure and writing process down pat. But those first few were rough, in more ways than one: not only was it difficult to write the letters, but the content was definitely a rough draft.
Thankfully, I had the advice and oversight of wonderful friends, colleagues, and mentors, who gave me great feedback and helped me craft my perfect cover letter. And because I know there are quite a few recent grads out there who are still job searching (which is TOTALLY OKAY, you are NOT ALONE, you will NOT BE UNEMPLOYED, JUST BREATHE!!!), I wanted to pass along some of the best cover letter-writing advice that I got from my colleagues on to you.
It's never too late, my friends, to jazz up your cover letter and really make it sing. (I don't know where those music metaphors came from, but there you go). For me, making my cover letter really shine came down to a few top tips:
1) Make the cover letter sound like you wrote it. Thanks to my dear friend Amma (her blog is linked here, READ IT for reals) for this piece of advice and for a few others on this list... your cover letter needs to sounds like YOU. It is quite possibly the first impression an employer will get of who you are, and so it needs to sound like you! Now, I'm not saying you should go full-on informal prose for this tip ("Yo, whaddup search committee?" is probably a big no-no), but there should definitely be elements of YOU in your cover letter (as opposed to your letter sounding like you ripped it off of a "how to write a cover letter" website or Word template). This may take some tweaking, but eventually you can strike a good balance of professional and personally reflective.
My example: my cover letter always started with a "Hello!" It was friendly, open, and reflects me and my personality.
2) Don't be apologetic for your mad skills. This GORGEOUS piece of advice came down from my awesome theory prof (shoutout to you, Brad Cox) through my friend, colleague, and mentor Mackenzie (mad props for her counsel and advice always). I'm gonna get real here: one of the hardest parts of the job search is seemingly bragging about yourself, or, in more normal terms, "self-promotion." It's something I'm not super comfortable with or something I'm very good at (Amma wrote a great blog post about it earlier this year). But it's a reality of the job search - you need to try to represent how AMAZING a candidate you are. With that, one of the easiest traps to fall into as you're writing a cover letter are the following phrases (see if you recognize any in your cover letter):
"I have had the opportunity to..."
"I am privileged to..."
"I have the chance to..."
Sound familiar? Here's the truth that Brad and Mackenzie passed on to me: while it may seem in your head that you're being honest (let's get real, some days it's a real privilege and honor to do what we do in student affairs), on paper, it seems like you're apologizing for the skills, experiences, and jobs that you've had and accomplished. As Brad put it, "No. You didn't 'have the chance' to do this, you DID IT. You didn't 'have the opportunity' to do this, YOU DID IT."
When you think about it, that makes sense, huh?
And let's be real in another aspect - writing cover letters can be hard because you can't waste or mince words. So don't waste any words apologizing or downplaying your skills and experience, OWN THEM. You DID plan that event. You DID advise those students. It doesn't sound arrogant, it sounds confident and that you have taken ownership of your abilities!
Last but not least...
3) Tell the employer why you're interested in their position. This is another gem passed on to me through Amma, and I can't tell you how meaningful this piece of advice is. Again, I know that you don't want to mince or waste words in your cover letter. But here's the deal - if you spend the whole cover letter talking about why you're qualified for a position, and never touch on WHY you want that position or WHY you want to work at that institution or in that office, it stops being confident and starts reading like you send the same cover letter to every single employer.
And listen, it's FINE if you use the same basic words and structure for your cover letters; I certainly did! But there should be some unique piece in each of your cover letters that addresses one particular institution alone, and tells them why you're even interested in the position.
I promise you, adding this piece to your cover letter, especially as an entry-level professional, can set you MILES above other candidates. The job search is a two-way recruitment process; not only are you trying to sell yourself to your potential employer, but the employer is also trying to get you interested in working at their institution! So if you don't indicate that there's at least a modicum of interest in an institution or office - it could be in their mission statement, in a specific program or model of operation that they have, in their student population or departmental philosophy, whatever - the employer will wonder why you even want the job in the first place! (And I know that there's more to it than just being employed :). )
So there you have it. Those are the 3 best pieces of advice that I received about cover letter writing for student affairs positions.
Have you received any stellar advice? What would you pass on to new generations of student affairs professionals?
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Summer Projects (Sunshine Included)
Long time, no blog! But now it's summer, and the excuses have hit the rearview just like the academic year has. I can't believe that I've already been working at IU for almost 10 months (it'll be a year in August), and that I've made it through one academic year... time has absolutely flown by. Look for a post forthcoming about the things I learned in Year One; for now, I want to talk about summer.
What a beautiful word summer is, especially when you think about all the things it encompasses... sunshine, beaches, rest, play, green grass, blue swimming pools, star-filled nights. I could go on forever - summer is a special time. Of course, now that I'm a full-time professional, I've had to grasp a brand new reality: summer is for work, too.
If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said that I'd be disappointed about not having the summer "off," like my twenty years of schooling prior, but that I realized that it's part of the reality of being a full-time professional. Now that I'm in that reality, though, I have to say - a summer of work can be just as beautiful a thing as a summer off. Because, here's the truth that I've learned: it's hard, VERY hard, to get long-term projects done during the school year. One of my profession's truisms that I've faced as a newbie, and come to realize is accurate, is that my job really is ALL about my students. I mean that in the best way possible; I wouldn't have a job without them! But with that truth, all of my priorities when my students are around focus on those students. I love having an open-door policy; I love that my students trust me enough to come talk to me about work and about their personal issues. The truth of the matter is, though, that it's hard for me to focus on long-term projects during the school year because of the day-to-day, crisis-managing, firefighting role of advising college students.
But now, my friends, it's summer. Granted, some of my students are still around, working on programming for the summer. For the most part, however, it's SILENT in our office. And while I love my students, I am so very, very appreciative of the time to focus. Even though I'm a millennial, I've never really identified or felt comfortable with one of the generational qualities ascribed to us - multitasking. I hate multitasking; I feel like I'm not able to do justice to the work that's assigned to me when I'm forced to juggle it with other tasks. Of course, another reality of the professional world that I faced this year is that my day-to-day is ALL ABOUT MULTITASKING! So now that it's summer, and I'm able to focus on one thing at a time, my brain is a LOT happier.
In short, so far, summer has been treating me beautifully. I have time to truly focus on short- and long-term projects that escaped my notice (or had to be swept under the rug) during the school year. Here's a list, not even close to all-encompassing, but broken down of the things that I'll be working on this summer (work-related and otherwise):
1. Annual Reports - how has our office done with engaging the students? How has the Union Board done with reaching out to its constituents? Are we on target with our mission statement? Can we be proud of the things we've accomplished over the past academic year?
2. Staff and Grad Assistant Training - We just hired a new GA, and will be hiring a new professional in our office. Now is the perfect time to focus on training; what can and should our new professionals and paraprofessionals be getting out of time in our office? How can I as a professional support my colleagues' journeys? How can I make sure that I work to explain and help my colleagues understand the culture of my institution and office even better than I do?
3. Planning for the Year Ahead - Summer is the perfect time to take a look around and see where we are and how we can improve. I want to try to be intentional about thinking about the year ahead; now that I know what the school year looks like, what can I do now to ease my path later on?
4. Reflection Time - Now that I've been in my role for a year (almost), I really want to take stock of where I've been and where I'm going. I want to set goals for the coming year, and to really think about my professional development. This project includes blogging more - I've missed the catharsis and the engagement that this medium brings, and I really want to make an effort to be processing this way more (and engaging with my fellow professionals via their blogs). Which leads to...
5. Professional Development - How can I seek out new opportunities to grow and learn? I've already been blessed with one opportunity coming up this summer, ACUI's IPDS New Professionals Orientation. I'm so excited to get to spend a week with fellow new professionals! (nerd alert.) I also want to tackle some reading this summer; I FINALLY got a library card and want to put it to good use, for both leisure and developmental reading. Which leads to my final point...
6. Leisure Time - I have some beautiful vacations coming up in July; I'm playing on a co-rec softball team; I recently bought my very own bicycle. I want to be very purposeful about relaxing into this less stressful summer schedule, and really enjoying my "time off" (as close to time off as I'll get :))
Here's to you, summer 2013 - let's make it a good one!
What a beautiful word summer is, especially when you think about all the things it encompasses... sunshine, beaches, rest, play, green grass, blue swimming pools, star-filled nights. I could go on forever - summer is a special time. Of course, now that I'm a full-time professional, I've had to grasp a brand new reality: summer is for work, too.
If you had asked me a year ago, I would have said that I'd be disappointed about not having the summer "off," like my twenty years of schooling prior, but that I realized that it's part of the reality of being a full-time professional. Now that I'm in that reality, though, I have to say - a summer of work can be just as beautiful a thing as a summer off. Because, here's the truth that I've learned: it's hard, VERY hard, to get long-term projects done during the school year. One of my profession's truisms that I've faced as a newbie, and come to realize is accurate, is that my job really is ALL about my students. I mean that in the best way possible; I wouldn't have a job without them! But with that truth, all of my priorities when my students are around focus on those students. I love having an open-door policy; I love that my students trust me enough to come talk to me about work and about their personal issues. The truth of the matter is, though, that it's hard for me to focus on long-term projects during the school year because of the day-to-day, crisis-managing, firefighting role of advising college students.
But now, my friends, it's summer. Granted, some of my students are still around, working on programming for the summer. For the most part, however, it's SILENT in our office. And while I love my students, I am so very, very appreciative of the time to focus. Even though I'm a millennial, I've never really identified or felt comfortable with one of the generational qualities ascribed to us - multitasking. I hate multitasking; I feel like I'm not able to do justice to the work that's assigned to me when I'm forced to juggle it with other tasks. Of course, another reality of the professional world that I faced this year is that my day-to-day is ALL ABOUT MULTITASKING! So now that it's summer, and I'm able to focus on one thing at a time, my brain is a LOT happier.
In short, so far, summer has been treating me beautifully. I have time to truly focus on short- and long-term projects that escaped my notice (or had to be swept under the rug) during the school year. Here's a list, not even close to all-encompassing, but broken down of the things that I'll be working on this summer (work-related and otherwise):
1. Annual Reports - how has our office done with engaging the students? How has the Union Board done with reaching out to its constituents? Are we on target with our mission statement? Can we be proud of the things we've accomplished over the past academic year?
2. Staff and Grad Assistant Training - We just hired a new GA, and will be hiring a new professional in our office. Now is the perfect time to focus on training; what can and should our new professionals and paraprofessionals be getting out of time in our office? How can I as a professional support my colleagues' journeys? How can I make sure that I work to explain and help my colleagues understand the culture of my institution and office even better than I do?
3. Planning for the Year Ahead - Summer is the perfect time to take a look around and see where we are and how we can improve. I want to try to be intentional about thinking about the year ahead; now that I know what the school year looks like, what can I do now to ease my path later on?
4. Reflection Time - Now that I've been in my role for a year (almost), I really want to take stock of where I've been and where I'm going. I want to set goals for the coming year, and to really think about my professional development. This project includes blogging more - I've missed the catharsis and the engagement that this medium brings, and I really want to make an effort to be processing this way more (and engaging with my fellow professionals via their blogs). Which leads to...
5. Professional Development - How can I seek out new opportunities to grow and learn? I've already been blessed with one opportunity coming up this summer, ACUI's IPDS New Professionals Orientation. I'm so excited to get to spend a week with fellow new professionals! (nerd alert.) I also want to tackle some reading this summer; I FINALLY got a library card and want to put it to good use, for both leisure and developmental reading. Which leads to my final point...
6. Leisure Time - I have some beautiful vacations coming up in July; I'm playing on a co-rec softball team; I recently bought my very own bicycle. I want to be very purposeful about relaxing into this less stressful summer schedule, and really enjoying my "time off" (as close to time off as I'll get :))
Here's to you, summer 2013 - let's make it a good one!
Monday, February 25, 2013
It's Not About [So]Me
Lately, there's been a particular topic on my mind; one that, as a practicing Christian and specifically as a Catholic, is very close to my heart: the church season of Lent.
For those of you who might be unfamiliar or a little rusty, Lent is the season immediately preceding Easter, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday (the day after Mardi Gras for you Louisiana natives), and spans 40 days. The Catholic church especially intends Lent to be a time of solemn reflection, leading up to a holiday full of rejoicing. Christians are familiar with stories from the Gospels, describing Jesus' temptation in the desert, and how he stayed strong in the midst of the world's temptations through prayer and fasting. Keeping in mind the constant goal of being followers of Christ (that is what "Christian" means, after all!), the church (again, the Catholic church especially) encourages all its members to spend the season of Lent like Jesus did--engaging in prayer, penance, and fasting; working on our spiritual discipline; and constantly strengthening our faith through any and all means.
So as you can imagine, there's a spirit of sacrifice and self-denial surrounding the season of Lent. Lent, for Christians, is all about remembering that life is hard, but in the end, the reward is incomparable. Lent is all about denying the self, and focusing more on "things above" than things here below.
I bet at this point you've figured out where this is leading--I'm going to share with you what I decided to give up for Lent. Some of you who read this blog may already know, but here it is: I decided, for the 40 days of Lent, I will not take part in my usual/daily social media outlets (specifically Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr).
**Note: Yes, I realize the irony of sharing these reflections via blogging, a medium that many consider to be social media, but please humor the method to my madness :)**
Those of you who read this blog regularly, most of whom know me pretty well, will know that this is quite a sacrifice (which, of course, is the point--giving up something for Lent is not supposed to be easy). I use Facebook to keep in touch with my high school, college, and grad school friends who live across the country from me. I use Twitter for multitudinous reasons, chief among them a) engaging in professional development with other student affairs professionals across the country, b) live-Tweeting movies, and c) talking about Beyonce. I use Tumblr to keep on top of my pop culture consumption; without it I would not have known so early that Disney is putting a Boy Meets World sequel sitcom, featuring much of the original cast, into production (if you didn't already know this, REJOICE WITH ME). And I use Instagram... well, I'm not really sure how I use Instagram yet. There's not really a streamlined purpose for it for me. I do enjoy looking at pictures of my friends' meals, though, so that's something.
TL; DR: I am almost CONSTANTLY engaging on social media. I have apps on my phone; as soon as I wake up in the morning I'm checking Instagram photos and seeing funny tweets that popped up the night before. When I have a moment at work, I'm scanning Tumblr for the latest updates or taking a few moments out of my day to tweet encouraging messages to friends and students. I check Facebook daily to make sure that I haven't missed any friends' birthdays and to post funny Buzzfeed articles on buddies' walls. From the moment I open my eyes in the morning to the moment I close them at night, I am plugged in and connected to my many networks.
So I did some reflecting right before Ash Wednesday this year, about what to give up for Lent. And I realized something very important: while the amazing networks are, after all, the POINT of social media, all of my social media outlets are doing something for me that I did not intend: they are distracting me. I am constantly drawn to pull up Facebook (assuming, in a very silly way, that I will have some notification that wasn't there 30 seconds ago); I am constantly drawn to send a new tweet or to see what new celebrity-based topic might be trending. Instead of focusing on the task at hand, I allow myself through social media to be distracted. And it's not only at work (although work is primarily where distraction is a BIG problem)--in the mornings, when I wake up, my time could be better spent getting ready for the day, rather than spending 15 minutes checking all my social media apps. Instead of reading Twitter as I eat breakfast, I could be spending some quiet time reading my Bible and doing a devotional, mentally fortifying myself for the day ahead. Instead of spending hours perusing Tumblr after I get home from work, I could be reading a book or cozying up on my couch to watch a movie. Instead of trying to capture the perfect moment to share with friends on Instagram, I could be experiencing the moment.
Lent, ultimately, is about removing the distractions of this world and the temptation to gratify the self. To use church phraseology, it's about "dying to the self" (denying the temptation of constant self-centeredness and selfishness) and being reborn in the faith, with daily motivation found from and intended focus on "things above": God, and what He is doing daily in this world and in my life. So this Lent, that's what I want to do--focus more on things above, rather than things here below.
For those of you who might be unfamiliar or a little rusty, Lent is the season immediately preceding Easter, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday (the day after Mardi Gras for you Louisiana natives), and spans 40 days. The Catholic church especially intends Lent to be a time of solemn reflection, leading up to a holiday full of rejoicing. Christians are familiar with stories from the Gospels, describing Jesus' temptation in the desert, and how he stayed strong in the midst of the world's temptations through prayer and fasting. Keeping in mind the constant goal of being followers of Christ (that is what "Christian" means, after all!), the church (again, the Catholic church especially) encourages all its members to spend the season of Lent like Jesus did--engaging in prayer, penance, and fasting; working on our spiritual discipline; and constantly strengthening our faith through any and all means.
So as you can imagine, there's a spirit of sacrifice and self-denial surrounding the season of Lent. Lent, for Christians, is all about remembering that life is hard, but in the end, the reward is incomparable. Lent is all about denying the self, and focusing more on "things above" than things here below.
I bet at this point you've figured out where this is leading--I'm going to share with you what I decided to give up for Lent. Some of you who read this blog may already know, but here it is: I decided, for the 40 days of Lent, I will not take part in my usual/daily social media outlets (specifically Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr).
**Note: Yes, I realize the irony of sharing these reflections via blogging, a medium that many consider to be social media, but please humor the method to my madness :)**
Those of you who read this blog regularly, most of whom know me pretty well, will know that this is quite a sacrifice (which, of course, is the point--giving up something for Lent is not supposed to be easy). I use Facebook to keep in touch with my high school, college, and grad school friends who live across the country from me. I use Twitter for multitudinous reasons, chief among them a) engaging in professional development with other student affairs professionals across the country, b) live-Tweeting movies, and c) talking about Beyonce. I use Tumblr to keep on top of my pop culture consumption; without it I would not have known so early that Disney is putting a Boy Meets World sequel sitcom, featuring much of the original cast, into production (if you didn't already know this, REJOICE WITH ME). And I use Instagram... well, I'm not really sure how I use Instagram yet. There's not really a streamlined purpose for it for me. I do enjoy looking at pictures of my friends' meals, though, so that's something.
TL; DR: I am almost CONSTANTLY engaging on social media. I have apps on my phone; as soon as I wake up in the morning I'm checking Instagram photos and seeing funny tweets that popped up the night before. When I have a moment at work, I'm scanning Tumblr for the latest updates or taking a few moments out of my day to tweet encouraging messages to friends and students. I check Facebook daily to make sure that I haven't missed any friends' birthdays and to post funny Buzzfeed articles on buddies' walls. From the moment I open my eyes in the morning to the moment I close them at night, I am plugged in and connected to my many networks.
So I did some reflecting right before Ash Wednesday this year, about what to give up for Lent. And I realized something very important: while the amazing networks are, after all, the POINT of social media, all of my social media outlets are doing something for me that I did not intend: they are distracting me. I am constantly drawn to pull up Facebook (assuming, in a very silly way, that I will have some notification that wasn't there 30 seconds ago); I am constantly drawn to send a new tweet or to see what new celebrity-based topic might be trending. Instead of focusing on the task at hand, I allow myself through social media to be distracted. And it's not only at work (although work is primarily where distraction is a BIG problem)--in the mornings, when I wake up, my time could be better spent getting ready for the day, rather than spending 15 minutes checking all my social media apps. Instead of reading Twitter as I eat breakfast, I could be spending some quiet time reading my Bible and doing a devotional, mentally fortifying myself for the day ahead. Instead of spending hours perusing Tumblr after I get home from work, I could be reading a book or cozying up on my couch to watch a movie. Instead of trying to capture the perfect moment to share with friends on Instagram, I could be experiencing the moment.
Lent, ultimately, is about removing the distractions of this world and the temptation to gratify the self. To use church phraseology, it's about "dying to the self" (denying the temptation of constant self-centeredness and selfishness) and being reborn in the faith, with daily motivation found from and intended focus on "things above": God, and what He is doing daily in this world and in my life. So this Lent, that's what I want to do--focus more on things above, rather than things here below.
And hopefully, this focus on higher things--on what God is doing daily in my life, about how I can serve Him better--will lead to a better life here on earth, one that is less centered on me and more centered on others. Serving and loving others is one of the highest pursuits in this life, and I want to give my all to that end.
So, adios, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr. We'll talk again in about 40 days... or maybe not. This no-distractions thing is pretty awesome, once you get used to it.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Looking Back at 2012
Happy New Year, everyone!
It's 2013, a brand new year, and a chance to reflect on the past 365 days. As I get older, it feels like the years go by faster and faster. It seems like just yesterday that I was celebrating the advent of 2012 with some of my very best friends in my hometown of San Angelo, drinking champagne and speculating on the year to come. Here I am now in my new home city, Bloomington, in my new apartment, gazing out my windows at the snow-covered ground (yes, that's right, I live in a place where it SNOWS).
2012 was filled with change, as I expected it would be. I began my job search in January, determined to find a perfect fit for me. In April, I graduated from The Florida State University with my master's degree. In May, my parents announced that my Dad had gotten a new job in North Carolina, and they would be leaving my hometown for good. In July, I was lucky enough to find my perfect fit at Indiana University, and was offered a job. I packed up my life in Tallahassee, and drove cross-country to settle in my new home. Fall of 2012 has been spent adjusting--settling into my new place; learning the ropes at IU; getting to know my new friends, colleagues, and students. Friends and family members have gotten married and had kids; I've lost a beloved grandparent. Life has ebbed and flowed; the days have moved on.
All the while, I lived with my chosen #oneword of 2012: believe. I KNEW this time a year ago that 2012 would be one of the most challenging and life-altering years of my life so far, and so I chose a word that resonated with me to my very core. I had to daily choose to believe that everything that happens, good or bad, is for a reason, and that God's plan for my life would be fulfilled in the perfect time.
One of my StrengthsQuest strengths reflects this very word: Connectedness. According to Gallup, Connectedness means that I believe that "things happen for a reason," and that my "faith sustains me...in the face of life's mysteries." Gallup, again you've described me to a "t," and it's that belief that all things are connected that helped me make it through this year. Through life's ups and downs, I believed that I was doing my best and that everything would turn out alright.
And here I am, reflecting on this past year. I survived 2012; I could probably say that I thrived in 2012. I know I've grown and learned in the past 365 days; I hope that the people in my life can see that growth and change (and that it's for the better!). I have come into a new year a little older, a little wiser (I think), and, hopefully, a little more prepared to take on life's daily challenges.
So here's to you, 2012. You certainly didn't disappoint.
Happy new year to all of you, dear friends! I hope you survived and thrived in 2012, and I hope your 2013 starts out EXACTLY the way you need it to.
It's 2013, a brand new year, and a chance to reflect on the past 365 days. As I get older, it feels like the years go by faster and faster. It seems like just yesterday that I was celebrating the advent of 2012 with some of my very best friends in my hometown of San Angelo, drinking champagne and speculating on the year to come. Here I am now in my new home city, Bloomington, in my new apartment, gazing out my windows at the snow-covered ground (yes, that's right, I live in a place where it SNOWS).
2012 was filled with change, as I expected it would be. I began my job search in January, determined to find a perfect fit for me. In April, I graduated from The Florida State University with my master's degree. In May, my parents announced that my Dad had gotten a new job in North Carolina, and they would be leaving my hometown for good. In July, I was lucky enough to find my perfect fit at Indiana University, and was offered a job. I packed up my life in Tallahassee, and drove cross-country to settle in my new home. Fall of 2012 has been spent adjusting--settling into my new place; learning the ropes at IU; getting to know my new friends, colleagues, and students. Friends and family members have gotten married and had kids; I've lost a beloved grandparent. Life has ebbed and flowed; the days have moved on.
All the while, I lived with my chosen #oneword of 2012: believe. I KNEW this time a year ago that 2012 would be one of the most challenging and life-altering years of my life so far, and so I chose a word that resonated with me to my very core. I had to daily choose to believe that everything that happens, good or bad, is for a reason, and that God's plan for my life would be fulfilled in the perfect time.
One of my StrengthsQuest strengths reflects this very word: Connectedness. According to Gallup, Connectedness means that I believe that "things happen for a reason," and that my "faith sustains me...in the face of life's mysteries." Gallup, again you've described me to a "t," and it's that belief that all things are connected that helped me make it through this year. Through life's ups and downs, I believed that I was doing my best and that everything would turn out alright.
And here I am, reflecting on this past year. I survived 2012; I could probably say that I thrived in 2012. I know I've grown and learned in the past 365 days; I hope that the people in my life can see that growth and change (and that it's for the better!). I have come into a new year a little older, a little wiser (I think), and, hopefully, a little more prepared to take on life's daily challenges.
So here's to you, 2012. You certainly didn't disappoint.
Happy new year to all of you, dear friends! I hope you survived and thrived in 2012, and I hope your 2013 starts out EXACTLY the way you need it to.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Dutiful Citizenship
My Fellow Americans,
Well, it's the day after Election Day, 2012. In case you're woefully out of the news loop, Governor Romney, the Republican candidate for United States President, has conceded the election, and President Obama, the incumbent Democratic candidate, will be confirmed for a second term in office.
I'll be honest with you--I've been really uneasy throughout this whole election year. Perhaps it's because I recognized that, because I am a job-working, tax-paying American (at a public institution of higher education, no less), I would need to get out and vote in this election. It was time, this year more than any other, for me to take up the mantle of so many Americans before me, that of the voter--a mantle that many American men and women have fought for in the past 300 years. So the deep, (almost) grown-up parts of me recognized that I had/have a responsibility to pay attention to the candidates, pay attention to the issues; just pay attention.
I'll be honest with you again--I don't think I paid ENOUGH attention. Yes, I informed myself well enough to cast my vote for President of the United States.
BUT--and here is the crux of my whole post--what about everything else? I think that we, the American people, were VERY well-informed about the importance of exercising our civic duty--and did exercise it--in voting for the next President of the United States. However, I think we (and I unequivocally include myself in this "we") managed, somehow, to forget that "civic duty" encompasses SO MUCH MORE than making a mark on paper for the next President every four years.
So consider this post a challenge--not just to you, the reader, but also to me, the writer, because I need to work on this too--to truly understand what it means to be a responsible and dutiful citizen of these United States.
1. Government consists of more than the President of the United States.
I almost didn't vote this year. And a huge majority of why I almost didn't vote was because "President" was just one mark on my ballot, a ballot that also included U.S. Senators and Representatives, State Senators and Representatives, local and state judges, county clerks, county treasurers, city council-members, and the local school board.. I imagine that YOUR ballots looked just the same. So here's my question--when was the last time that I, we, informed ourselves about state and local elections? In our tweeting/Facebooking mania about politics, when was the last time we had an informed opinion about who our next mayor or city council-members should be? How many of us can name not just our U.S. congresspeople, but our state congresspeople as well? I sure can't. And I think that's a travesty, that we can gear ourselves up SO MUCH about who our President is going to be, but we forget that our mayor, our city council-members, our county sheriffs and clerks, our governors and lieutenant governors, are going to have more of a direct impact on our everyday lives than the President EVER will.
Lest we forget the Tenth Amendment to our U.S. Constitution:
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
Yes, the national government reserves a lot of powers to itself. But all the other decisions are left to the non-national governments in the U.S. So, let's challenge ourselves to GET INFORMED. Let's learn about what our governors and lieutenant governors, our state congresspeople, our mayors, our city council-members, our county clerks, and our local school boards are doing. Let's have as much (if not more) of an opinion about who gets to run our cities, counties, and states as our country as a whole!
2. "Civic Duty" means more than just voting.
This is a big one, y'all. And again, this is as much a challenge to me personally as it is to those of you who need/want it. When we take to our social media platforms to encourage our fellow Americans to get out there and VOTE, but then the other 3 years and 364 days of the election cycle we do not involve ourselves in the affairs of our cities, counties, states, and country, that's being as negligent of our civic responsibilities as if we didn't vote at all (and hey, some people choose not to exercise the right to vote AT ALL for various reasons, and I respect that personal choice). But, as I said, "civic duty" means SO much more than voting.
a. It means understanding local and state politics. See my point above--the government is made up of SO much more than just the President of the United States, and in order to be good citizens of our country, states, counties, and cities, we should know, have an opinion, and care about what's happening right in front of us.
b. It means supporting or serving in the military. Now, serving in the military is NOT a civic duty that all of us should take up; I myself will probably never be more than just a common citizen of these United States. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that I cannot and should not support our active duty troops in whatever ways I can. Whether you agree with it or not, we are still in war-time right now as a country, and we still have members of our armed forces serving domestically and internationally. Let's show them that we appreciate their sacrifices on our behalf, shall we?
c. It means making your voice heard. Voting for public officials is a HUGE way to make your voice heard, and I'm so proud of all of my fellow American citizens who chose to exercise that right. But you know what else is a way to make your voice heard? Write letters to your congresspeople. Go set up an appointment with your local, state, or national public officials and see if you can talk to them for 5 minutes about something that's important to you. Exercise your right to free speech, even in public protest if that's how you want to do it. I know ALL of us have opinions about the way our governments should be run every day of the year, not just on Election Day. Let's exercise our First Amendment rights and make those opinions heard. We can't hold our elected officials accountable to their constituencies unless we, the constituents, let our elected officials know what we want.
d. It means serving your community. The word "civic" means "of or pertaining to a city" and "of or pertaining to citizenship" (thanks, dictionary.com). So yes, voting is a huge piece of our civic responsibilities--we have a responsibility to make our opinions known as to who should lead our governments, state and local. But citizenship means SO much more than just who runs the government; citizenship means being a part of a community. We have not only rights and privileges; we also have responsibilities as citizens of our cities, counties, states, and United States. And one of the biggest responsibilities we have is to serve our community. Whether you're a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, or undecided; whether you're a conservative, moderate, or liberal; whether you're young or old; whether you're a temporary citizen of your town (hey college students!) or have lived there for 30 years, get out there and serve. Serve through a church, serve through a non-profit. Volunteer your time, volunteer your money. Serve soup at a soup kitchen; be a mentor for young men and/or women in your community; clean up a public park. Give your energy to a charity or cause you care about. When a natural disaster strikes, help out. When your fellow U.S. citizens need a helping hand, be there. This is not only a civic responsibility; I think this is a responsibility we have to each other as human beings.
This has been a long post. But, as the random high school student in the movie Mean Girls said, "I have a lot of feelings."
I hope I didn't offend anyone through this post; that hasn't been my intent. If you are already practicing the full responsibilities of being an American citizen, THANK YOU! Thank you for doing it, and for serving as the BEST example for me as I discover the full extent of what it means to be an American.
I think, really, the ultimate feeling behind this post is.... it's GREAT that we, the American people, live in a country that gives us so many rights and priviliges, and the freedom to exercise them. But, in the words of my favorite mantra (slash Uncle Ben from Spiderman),
With great power comes great responsibility.
Let's be responsible, y'all.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Life's a Banquet
Well, hi there.
I know that I promised to keep you updated vis-a-vis my life changes on this blog... but that's the problem with social media today. You can update "all your friends" via the quick-and-easy outlets, and neglect the medium that really makes you think. For me, that's been this blog. If you look through past posts, you'll see that I've taken to blogging when I really need to process--most of the time I just need to set my words down "on paper" (so to speak) in order to make sense of the world. It's both a blessing and a curse, I think, that I do my processing via writing; it's a weird, half-internal and half-external way of regarding life.
But I digress; I'll wax philosophical on blogging at a later date--for now, I figured that the promised update was indeed in order.
Although, knowing the nature of social media, I figure pretty much all of you who read this blog know about my amazing, wonderful, joyous, glorious life news and life change--I am now living in the beautiful city of Bloomington, Indiana, working at Indiana University-Bloomington. I persevered and persevered with my job search, pushing my hardest, trying my best, and agonized and worried every step of the way... and inevitably and ultimately, God blessed me immeasurably with a wonderful job, co-workers, students, and institution.
And, despite some of the day-to-day challenges (choosing a retirement plan is NOT as easy as it sounds), I am happy.
I'm living on my own, TRULY on my own, for the very first time, and the introverted side of me LOVES coming home to the peace and quiet of my own space.
I'm getting a grown-up paycheck, which I won't go too much into detail about, but which I'm sure MOST of you understand is one of the single greatest joys of having a job.
I'm making new friends and building relationships with new colleagues, which is intimidating at first, but which I know will prove to be a smart move over the next few years.
I'm exploring my new city, from the local eateries (listen, you don't really know breakfast joy 'til you've eaten at The Village Deli) to the local breweries (one word: Upland) to the local events and festivals. And I'm hoping to expand outward as the weather gets cooler, hiking in some of the nearby state parks. By the way, in case you didn't know, I have REAL FALL to look forward to in a few weeks.
More than anything, I'm enjoying each day's joys, mistakes, and lessons, storing it all up in my head and in my heart--this is the stuff that Job One is built on. I'll take each day one day at a time, and I'll do my best to make each day count (yes, that was a Titanic reference).
And finally, for anyone who is still on the job search, or who will embark on it soon--you've got a friend and a sympathetic ear in me. Call/email/Facebook/Tweet at me anytime. You WILL get through this, and you WILL find a job. You ARE a competent and intelligent individual, and you CAN do this.
For everyone else, I must thank you for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers--my perseverance through the job search was due in large part to knowing I had a wonderful cheering section behind me. Whatever I can do to return the favor, you just let me know.
Now, it's time to get out there and live.
As one of my favorite literary/cinematic characters, Auntie Mame says, "Life's a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death! Live!"
My banquet--and yours--awaits. Let's make today count.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Just call me Goodyear.
Well, it's summer once again. The days are hot (literally), the nights are hot (literally), the humidity is humid (Florida. I shouldn't expect anything else).
So far, my good ol' summertime has consisted of getting my Master's degree from THE Florida State University (MASTER SANSONE!) and continuing to work part-time with the Student Activities Center here at FSU. I've been saying goodbye to my cohort buddies as they go off to start their new jobs, wishing them the BEST (because I know they'll be amazing!). I've been taking my weekends easy, catching up on some good books and great TV shows. I've also gotten to go back to the great state of Texas to celebrate a cousin's wedding, which was a perfect vacation.
But what my summer has not yet consisted of is getting a job. I promise this post won't be a whiny paean to how sad I am about not being gainfully (a.k.a. full-time) employed, so bear with me! :)
You remember rightly, I've been on this job search since January, steadily and faithfully writing more cover letters than I would have ever imagined, filling out applications, talking on phone interviews, and going to visit prospective schools. More than anything else in this process, I have LOVED meeting people--all of these interviews, whether they work out or not, have given me a great introduction to some of the amazing people who work in my field with me. And I'm reassured that, even when I don't get a "yes" from a school, I'm still building some great connections with my colleagues, doing that whole "networking" thing.
I've also been afforded some awesome introspection time during my job search. As I talk with each of these schools, and discuss with them how I might fit with their students, office, department, and institution, I must know myself as best I can, represent myself genuinely, and be open and ready for ANYTHING. I've been doing a LOT of reflection, and I can tell you that I have a lot better idea now than I did a few months ago about who I am, what I need and want out of a first job, and where I might want to be (literally and figuratively) in the coming year and in the future.
I won't lie to you, the job search is taking its toll on me. Getting a "no" is never easy, as anyone who has ever tried out for, applied for, or attempted to do anything can tell you. Multiple "no"s? Even rougher. But, for my fellow student affairs graduates out there who are still job searching, you're not alone. Don't be discouraged. We're in this together, friends! For ANYONE job searching or applying for different opportunities right now--I feel your pain. This process has good days and bad days; highs and lows; excitement AND disappointment.
Even with the lows, the disappointments, the "nos" I've received, though. I'm still keeping the faith. I'm still believing that everything is going to work out according to the big Master Plan; that I'm going to end up exactly where I need to be. Because, even with the "no"s, all I need is that one "YES."
I'll promise you again that you'll get to read an excited "YAY I GOT A JOB!" post when that moment happens, but until then, know that it's all going to be okay. If I've heard it said once during this past semester, I've heard it said a million times--I've gotta trust the process. And cliche as it might be, I think it's true--this job search is a proving ground for me (like those awesome Goodyear commercials where the cars fly over hills and take really sharp turns between cones in the desert). I've gotta take myself on some test runs, go over some sharp obstacles and check my endurance, to show off what I'm really made of.
Time to kick the tires and light the fires.
So far, my good ol' summertime has consisted of getting my Master's degree from THE Florida State University (MASTER SANSONE!) and continuing to work part-time with the Student Activities Center here at FSU. I've been saying goodbye to my cohort buddies as they go off to start their new jobs, wishing them the BEST (because I know they'll be amazing!). I've been taking my weekends easy, catching up on some good books and great TV shows. I've also gotten to go back to the great state of Texas to celebrate a cousin's wedding, which was a perfect vacation.
But what my summer has not yet consisted of is getting a job. I promise this post won't be a whiny paean to how sad I am about not being gainfully (a.k.a. full-time) employed, so bear with me! :)
You remember rightly, I've been on this job search since January, steadily and faithfully writing more cover letters than I would have ever imagined, filling out applications, talking on phone interviews, and going to visit prospective schools. More than anything else in this process, I have LOVED meeting people--all of these interviews, whether they work out or not, have given me a great introduction to some of the amazing people who work in my field with me. And I'm reassured that, even when I don't get a "yes" from a school, I'm still building some great connections with my colleagues, doing that whole "networking" thing.
I've also been afforded some awesome introspection time during my job search. As I talk with each of these schools, and discuss with them how I might fit with their students, office, department, and institution, I must know myself as best I can, represent myself genuinely, and be open and ready for ANYTHING. I've been doing a LOT of reflection, and I can tell you that I have a lot better idea now than I did a few months ago about who I am, what I need and want out of a first job, and where I might want to be (literally and figuratively) in the coming year and in the future.
I won't lie to you, the job search is taking its toll on me. Getting a "no" is never easy, as anyone who has ever tried out for, applied for, or attempted to do anything can tell you. Multiple "no"s? Even rougher. But, for my fellow student affairs graduates out there who are still job searching, you're not alone. Don't be discouraged. We're in this together, friends! For ANYONE job searching or applying for different opportunities right now--I feel your pain. This process has good days and bad days; highs and lows; excitement AND disappointment.
Even with the lows, the disappointments, the "nos" I've received, though. I'm still keeping the faith. I'm still believing that everything is going to work out according to the big Master Plan; that I'm going to end up exactly where I need to be. Because, even with the "no"s, all I need is that one "YES."
I'll promise you again that you'll get to read an excited "YAY I GOT A JOB!" post when that moment happens, but until then, know that it's all going to be okay. If I've heard it said once during this past semester, I've heard it said a million times--I've gotta trust the process. And cliche as it might be, I think it's true--this job search is a proving ground for me (like those awesome Goodyear commercials where the cars fly over hills and take really sharp turns between cones in the desert). I've gotta take myself on some test runs, go over some sharp obstacles and check my endurance, to show off what I'm really made of.
Time to kick the tires and light the fires.
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