Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Stay or Go
As of this morning I was informed that if I do not have a teaching job or full-time job by January I am expected to go home. I have no clue what this means for me, as my mother was in a rush and visiting my Aunt Carrol. So I guess I have a few choices to make in the next two months. So do I keep going as long and as hard as I can, or do I just give up? What happens to all I have here in Texas? How can I start a support system of friends back in NC before I get there so that I don't go crazy?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Fear of Failure
Over the past two months I have been looking for jobs. I look online, go to job ministries, and even have networked with friends and Emory alumni. The problem is I cannot find a job. I have passed my teachers test, I have been applying like a crazy woman, and all I have to show for my efforts is a part time job at Bath and Body Works.
It is in the past day or two that I have come to a very revealing realization. I am afraid to get a new job. I am afraid I will fail again. Failure is something I don't see as being an options, so therefore in my subconscious I have been not wanting call backs, not wanting people to even look at my application and resume, not wanting to job.
It is in the past day or two that I have come to a very revealing realization. I am afraid to get a new job. I am afraid I will fail again. Failure is something I don't see as being an options, so therefore in my subconscious I have been not wanting call backs, not wanting people to even look at my application and resume, not wanting to job.
I have one question now
What is wrong with me?
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
The Wonderful World of Retail: Part I
So I have a feeling that this is going to only Part I of what is to come of my blogs in the next few weeks.
As a college, and theology school graduate I have found out what every person wanting to help others should do at some point; Work in Retail. Although, like myself, you might have to sit through hours of boring training videos, which I must say was worse than any class at Candler, you will see how you can really help others. You put a smile on your face, act at all times like your happy to be their, and most important put customers first.
There is no right way to tell a person you can only use one promotional coupon per transaction. Most people want to get what they want and for the right price. The more you can discount what they want the more they like you. In Ministry terms, The more appealing you can make Jesus look the more people will want to have a relationship with Jesus. If you tell someone they can only use one coupon per transaction they usually get mad at you and if they don't get mad they might ask if you can do two separate transactions. Ministry terms: If you tell someone Jesus is the only way to heaven they might get mad, however if you explain God's grace in the right way one can see that sometimes we can mess up and come back to Christ.
As a college, and theology school graduate I have found out what every person wanting to help others should do at some point; Work in Retail. Although, like myself, you might have to sit through hours of boring training videos, which I must say was worse than any class at Candler, you will see how you can really help others. You put a smile on your face, act at all times like your happy to be their, and most important put customers first.
Lesson I of working retail:
There is no right way to tell a person you can only use one promotional coupon per transaction. Most people want to get what they want and for the right price. The more you can discount what they want the more they like you. In Ministry terms, The more appealing you can make Jesus look the more people will want to have a relationship with Jesus. If you tell someone they can only use one coupon per transaction they usually get mad at you and if they don't get mad they might ask if you can do two separate transactions. Ministry terms: If you tell someone Jesus is the only way to heaven they might get mad, however if you explain God's grace in the right way one can see that sometimes we can mess up and come back to Christ.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Good news all around
I am having a great week. Maybe the best since I lost my job in July.
On Monday I signed on to the TExES teaching test site to find that my score for my Language Arts and Reading Grades 4-8 was finally posted. I freaked out I got 256 out of 300 and only needed 240 to pass!!! I then called the A+ Teaching program, where I am getting my Alternative Certificate, and got my acceptance letter into the program. I am now 100 % eligible to teach middle and junior high language arts. I have now applied in two school districts for three open positions.
Tuesday I went on an interview for a part-time weekend position at Bath and Body Works. I was one of the only people there dressed like I was going to an interview. I gave great answers to the group interview questions and I felt good about getting the job. Within an hour of my interview I got a phone call from my old co-worker Tammy that the manager had called her and asked for a reference! OK so now for the best part. I got a phone call yesterday that I have gotten the job and start THIS Sunday! I know that means missing one Sunday of church, but they promised not to schedule me until after 2 pm from now on.
Last night I meet with Karl Broom from Chapelwood UMC in Houston, Yes there are two chapelwoods in the same conference. We have been working on my resume and finished last night. It looks great and sounds even better. So for now my prayer is that with all the hard work we did that I will get a full time position as a teacher, councilor, or at a non-profit.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Bluegrass in Autumn
Blue Ridge Mountains in North CarolinaAs person who has always loved the seasons, all four of them, I have begun to realize how much I loved Autumn. I grew up for most of my life in the North East either in Danvers, MA or Horseheads, NY. These are two place where Autumn is huge. The trees become these majestic colors, the wind blows cooler, and you start feeling like the harvest is all around you. Everyone starts to pull out their winter clothing and you start to see people with long sleve shirts, sweetters, and coats. You may even get to see a little snow starting in October.
My family then moved to Apex, NC when I was 13. I still got some of the parts of Autumn I loved: trees changing colors, seeing people dressed more warmly, and the wind did blow a little cooler (just not a cool as in the North East). The harvest part was not really there though. Even in a small town and going to a church that had a harvest festival it was not the same. No one was supprized when I decided to go to the NC mountians for college. The colors on the trees were vibrent and majestic like those of the North East, the tempture and winds were cooler, people really did bring out their winter cloths, and the harvest was very special in Mars Hill. Western NC had come very special tradations of harvest festivals, hymn singings, and bluegrass festivals in Autimn. I came to love bluegrass while I was there. It reminded me that Fall really had come. The the leaves would change, the days would grow shorter and cooler, and that soon I would be celebrating Thanksgiving and the birth of Jesus Christ with my family and friends.
After college I made sure to make a trip to the mountains of NC or GA while I was at Candler. I made sure to do things that reminded me of the beauty of Autumn, like going to see Nickle Creek with Steven and Stacy. This year is different though. I have no colorful mountains to go to, the weather is still in the mid to high 80's, people are wearing summer cloths still, and it does not feel like harvest. So last night I pulled up bluegrass music, Allison Krause and Nickle Creek, and spent time just listening to what feels like Autumn to me. I just hope that through this Texas Autumn I will find ways to remember what comes next and what has always been the most important to me; Giving thanks with my friends and family and in a few months celebrating the birth of my lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
My family then moved to Apex, NC when I was 13. I still got some of the parts of Autumn I loved: trees changing colors, seeing people dressed more warmly, and the wind did blow a little cooler (just not a cool as in the North East). The harvest part was not really there though. Even in a small town and going to a church that had a harvest festival it was not the same. No one was supprized when I decided to go to the NC mountians for college. The colors on the trees were vibrent and majestic like those of the North East, the tempture and winds were cooler, people really did bring out their winter cloths, and the harvest was very special in Mars Hill. Western NC had come very special tradations of harvest festivals, hymn singings, and bluegrass festivals in Autimn. I came to love bluegrass while I was there. It reminded me that Fall really had come. The the leaves would change, the days would grow shorter and cooler, and that soon I would be celebrating Thanksgiving and the birth of Jesus Christ with my family and friends.
After college I made sure to make a trip to the mountains of NC or GA while I was at Candler. I made sure to do things that reminded me of the beauty of Autumn, like going to see Nickle Creek with Steven and Stacy. This year is different though. I have no colorful mountains to go to, the weather is still in the mid to high 80's, people are wearing summer cloths still, and it does not feel like harvest. So last night I pulled up bluegrass music, Allison Krause and Nickle Creek, and spent time just listening to what feels like Autumn to me. I just hope that through this Texas Autumn I will find ways to remember what comes next and what has always been the most important to me; Giving thanks with my friends and family and in a few months celebrating the birth of my lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
What has your heart??
My friend and interim singles minister at Tallowood, Michelle, sent me and the other members of the singles minister this question last night. The strange thing was I had been thinking about this very questions that whole day.
What has my heart? Where is my heart guiding me? What makes my heart feel full and happy?
Over the past two weeks I have become involved in two job ministries in the Houston area. One is called Between Job Ministries (BJM) and is a network to help us find jobs and support while people are between jobs. The other is JET ministry. The JET ministry does have one support group that starts tomorrow, but I am using them for resume services and well just job counseling. This brings me to my question What has my heart?
In the last two months I have been applying to any and every job I even have the smallest qualifications for. It is only now that I am realizing that just any job will not lead to happiness in my life. I want to help others. My passion is counseling people through different parts of their lives. In order to be truly happy I know that I must be in a position where I am helping others. My heart is with people who are down on their luck, abused, trying to find themselves, and just people who need someone to listen.
Yesterday I had two meetings that helped me figure this out. One was a counseling session at BJM with Gail, an encourager. Gail and I talked over what was going on and where I could be happy with a job. We talked about teaching, ministry, counseling, and social work. He gave me a few numbers to call and try to make contacts. The second meeting was last night with Karl, from JET. Karl is helping me revamp my resume into a functional/chronological resume. The ones I have now is just chronological and kind of boring. It does not high light my gifts and talents. Karl and I spent two hours talking over where I want and need to go from here. Where is my heart at? was the big question of the night. Now I have figured out that my hear is in counseling people. This for me could be as a hospital chaplain, pastoral councilor, teacher, councilor, advocate at a non-profit, or a social worker.
Now I just have to convince someone that I do have the gifts I have and trust in God that person will give me a job or pass me on to someone who will.
What has my heart? Where is my heart guiding me? What makes my heart feel full and happy?
Over the past two weeks I have become involved in two job ministries in the Houston area. One is called Between Job Ministries (BJM) and is a network to help us find jobs and support while people are between jobs. The other is JET ministry. The JET ministry does have one support group that starts tomorrow, but I am using them for resume services and well just job counseling. This brings me to my question What has my heart?
In the last two months I have been applying to any and every job I even have the smallest qualifications for. It is only now that I am realizing that just any job will not lead to happiness in my life. I want to help others. My passion is counseling people through different parts of their lives. In order to be truly happy I know that I must be in a position where I am helping others. My heart is with people who are down on their luck, abused, trying to find themselves, and just people who need someone to listen.
Yesterday I had two meetings that helped me figure this out. One was a counseling session at BJM with Gail, an encourager. Gail and I talked over what was going on and where I could be happy with a job. We talked about teaching, ministry, counseling, and social work. He gave me a few numbers to call and try to make contacts. The second meeting was last night with Karl, from JET. Karl is helping me revamp my resume into a functional/chronological resume. The ones I have now is just chronological and kind of boring. It does not high light my gifts and talents. Karl and I spent two hours talking over where I want and need to go from here. Where is my heart at? was the big question of the night. Now I have figured out that my hear is in counseling people. This for me could be as a hospital chaplain, pastoral councilor, teacher, councilor, advocate at a non-profit, or a social worker.
Now I just have to convince someone that I do have the gifts I have and trust in God that person will give me a job or pass me on to someone who will.
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