Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. -1 Timothy 6:12
This will be my first "real" interview for a career not just a job. :) Just saying that is so weird, but it's so exciting too. I heard about the opening from Ryan Parker at one of his shows, and after originally thinking there was no way I'd apply for it - since I don't REALLY want to stay in Oklahoma after graduation - the logic finally dawned on me that a job in Oklahoma is in fact better than no job at all.
I have sent in soooo many resumes for all kinds of jobs, and this is the first one to call me back for a true interview. A few have wanted to chat on the phone or have emailed me questions, but I'm finally having to stress over what to wear, what to say, etc.
Oh, details. The position I am interviewing for is to be a Programmer for the Arthritis & Immunology department of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. I'm going at 10am, so if you read this and can say a prayer for me around that time I'd really appreciate it!
I always seem to get nervous RIGHT before things or right after, which is so much more convenient but weird when I'm thinking, "I should be nervous about this... what's wrong with me?!" So, for now, it's exciting but I don't think I can fully wrap my head around it until I am walking in the doors to meet with them.
I also have no idea if they would want me to start soon just working part-time or wait until after I graduate to start on full-time. I just started working at Best Buy again recently, and I always love working there. But of course if this Programmer position sounds like it's something I'd really want to pursue and they in turn feel like I'm the right person for the job, then I may have to cut my days with Best Buy short. It's way too soon to know what will happen with that, but I did tell my manager, Kenny, about the interview so I don't blindside him if I do end up leaving. It also feels good to have his support and approval going in this so I know no matter what I won't burn my bridge at Best Buy. :)
So, now it's been twice that I've gone to Glen Echo Park for their Friday night Contra Dancing! Lindsay had gone before, and she loved it so I had wanted to go at some point. Finally, Shanna invited me to go with her and some of her friends for a birthday party. I was excited to finally get to go, and now I'm just sad I didn't start going much earlier this summer. I'm pretty sure I would have gone every Friday night if only I had known...
Contra dancing is a lot like square dancing, but instead of 8 people in a square, you have lots of people all in a line. Your partner stays the same throughout the dance, but the other pairs are always changing as you finish a set and begin the next.
This place is so much fun because they are so open to new dancers! If you are new, then you wear a blue button that says "New Dancer" so the more experienced people can ask you to dance and teach you the ropes. And they sure will ask too. Every time one song ended, someone else would walk up and ask if you'd like to dance. The caller would help organize people from the stage and slowly walk through the instructions for the new dance a couple times for everyone to get the hang of it. Then the live band would crank up while the caller keeps calling moves for a few rounds. After a while you get the hang of it, and the caller fades out.
I took some pictures each time, so here are some to recap quickly:
This is Jim. Jim is super nice, and he taught Lindsay, Shanna, and I all how to contra. His face in this picture pretty much sums up the atmosphere in this place - so happy to be alive and totally carefree in this moment.
Here's a shot down the line of people as they're dancing. It's all very structured, but each couple or dancer had their own flair they added to the dance. That's what makes it really fun :) Also, that girl in the black shirt and duct taped feet -- super good dancer.
This is just to give an example of what a magical little place Glen Echo Park is. It has been around since the turn of the 1900's and was an amusement park back then. Still, when you walk up it feels a lot like walking back in time. Nothing is going on in those buildings, but just walking through the park to the ballroom is an awesome feeling.
Originally, the plan was for Kathleen and me to start driving home this Friday, but now the plan has changed so we're leaving Saturday morning - just so we can go Contra Dancing at Glen Echo Park. :)
I've taken the Myers-Briggs test several times now. I take it every few months to see how consistent the results are. Or maybe to see how consistent I am. :) Either way, the results have always come back the same:
You can decide for yourself how accurate this is: ISFJs are interested in maintaining order and harmony in every aspect of their lives. They are steadfast and meticulous in handling their responsibilities. Although quiet, they are people-oriented and very observant. Not only do they remember details about others, but they observe and respect others’ feelings. Friends and family are likely to describe them as thoughtful and trustworthy.
A TV special airing in early September for the National Day of Encouragement - 4 teams of youth traveling from California to NYC doing competitions representing a nonprofit org in different cities, and Wishing Well is one of those! The show will probably be shown on MTV and Nickelodeon and hosted by Jeff Foxworthy. The show's NYC finale on live television will feature the World Premiere of the Wishing Well documentary!
Now that Wishing Well is becoming much more wide spread, we are starting to look into a long-term kind of signature product. The goal is to find something that will be marketable, creative, and of course bring in money to put towards the production of more wells.
I actually came up with the idea of using a water bottle I had seen online once before, and the rest of the crew loved it! The 360 Paper Water Bottle is made of completely renewable resources unlike plastic water bottles, and from the beginning we all agree that it looks like a great fit for Wishing Well's purpose. I sent them an email this week, and we're anticipating a call back soon.
1000 Oceans - Performed by the PS22 Choir Originally by Tori Amos
These tears I've cried I've cried a thousand oceans And if it seems I'm floating In darkness Well, I can't believe that I would keep Keep you from flying And I would cry A thousand more If that's what it takes To sail you home Sail you home Sail you home
I'm aware what the rules are But you know that I will run You know that I will follow you Over single prairie hill The wind is on the field You know that I will follow you
And if I find you Will you still remember Playing at the trains Or does they slit Lay down the blue ball Just fade away Over single prairie hill The wind is in the field You know that I will follow you I'm aware what the rules are But you know that I will run You know that I will follow you
These tears I've cried I've cried a thousand oceans And if it seems I'm floating In darkness Well, I can't believe that I would keep Keep you from flying So, I will cry a thousand more If that's what it takes To sail you home Sail you home Sail you home Sail Sail you home
I love that there are so many stages of life. I love children, but I think even more than that I love old people. I love watching them, and talking to them. But of course I totally enjoy the stage of life I'm at now in college. I hope I never lose that love for life at every phase. I want to enjoy now for now and not look back wishing I could go back and not push forward too much so I miss anything while I'm in this stage I'll never be able to come back to.
That being said, I found this video, and it just makes my heart so happy. Please enjoy.
In the past, I have been more active with Wishing Well, a student run organization that aims to provide clean water to rural areas of Africa by building wells. It was started at OC by Ryan Groves, after his brother started the same organization at Pepperdine the year before. Well, this school year I went on Pac Rim, and when I came back I focused more on getting involved in Lambda again to get to know our new girls and participate in Spring Sing. I recently realized how much I miss helping Wishing Well, so today I met with Justin Mauldin, an active leader this year, about ideas that they might be able to use next year.
I had fun preparing for our meeting by writing down ideas that have worked as fundraisers in the past or ways that I thought Wishing Well could get more involved in events that are already going on around campus. It was exciting to see that he was really interested in my ideas, and I hope that next semester I can do more work with them again. Most of my ideas were ways to incorporate clubs into their plans more, so hopefully I can help actually put these plans into motion next year and see the real results of my ideas. I just hope that the clubs will respond positively to the new ideas and get more active with Wishing Well again. When they first started, it was a huge deal on campus, and over time the newness has worn off. That doesn't mean that participation and excitement for Wishing Well should dwindle though. I mean, every year there are 500 new people on campus that aren't "over it" with Wishing Well. Not only with clubs but with the freshmen, on OC's campus alone there are endless possibilities and people that dream of being able to change the world.
So, I dedicate this post to Wishing Well and all the people that are involved and wanting to make big changes in the world. Here's to ideas leading to action leading to huge results.
This is Jim. Jim is super nice, and he taught Lindsay, Shanna, and I all how to contra. His face in this picture pretty much sums up the atmosphere in this place - so happy to be alive and totally carefree in this moment.
Here's a shot down the line of people as they're dancing. It's all very structured, but each couple or dancer had their own flair they added to the dance. That's what makes it really fun :) Also, that girl in the black shirt and duct taped feet -- super good dancer.
This is just to give an example of what a magical little place Glen Echo Park is. It has been around since the turn of the 1900's and was an amusement park back then. Still, when you walk up it feels a lot like walking back in time. Nothing is going on in those buildings, but just walking through the park to the ballroom is an awesome feeling.
ally interested in my ideas, and I hope that next semester I can do more work with them again. Most of my ideas were ways to incorporate clubs into their plans more, so hopefully I can help actually put these plans into motion next year and see the real results of my ideas. I just hope that the clubs will respond positively to the new ideas and get more active with Wishing Well again. When they first started, it was a huge deal on campus, and over time the newness has worn off. That doesn't mean that participation and excitement for Wishing Well should dwindle though. I mean, every year there are 500 new people on campus that aren't "over it" with Wishing Well. Not only with clubs but with the freshmen, on OC's campus alone there are endless possibilities and people that dream of being able to change the world.
