That time of year is quickly approaching. Ya know, the time where you re-evaluate your life and how it's played out over the past year - what you did, what you didn't do, what you could've done better, what you learned. At least, that's what I always do. Boy, did I learn A LOT.
My year started with recovering from a robbery that left me pretty shaken and distrustful of others. I still have a hard time leaving my house; I always have that fear in the back of my mind that something will happen when I'm gone. But, there are just some things I can't control, and getting robbed happens to be one of them. At least to an extent.
I spent a few months struggling with my decision to stay in grad school. For awhile there, I contemplated quitting. I still wonder if it was the right thing to do, but at the end of the day, even if a master's degree doesn't land me a great job, it's still a great personal accomplishment. One that cost $30,000, so it better come in handy for something! I look back on my grad school experience with mixed emotions. Overall, it was a great experience, one that I learned a lot from. I learned that, though I didn't necessarily pick the "best" program, I probably learned more from the negatives of my experience than all of the possible positives combined from a so-called "perfect" program. I learned about the character of certain individuals in positions of power, and how it's not always good. I learned that supposedly mature adults can still treat you like shit and try to belittle you, and how important it is to stand up for yourself, even when it goes against popular opinion. I learned that, no matter how long you have had a relationship with someone, it takes work to keep it not just going, but going well. I learned that you can't always trust your colleagues. I learned how to take on a job that I had NO idea how to do, and excel at it. I learned that people often let their petty jealousies get in the way of forging friendships. I learned that, not matter how hard you try, sometimes you'll just never fit in. And that's okay. On that note, I learned that if it's meant to be, it will be. I learned to have faith that things will work out how they're supposed to. I learned that people will often judge you falsely, and sometimes it takes a little work to change the way people see you. I learned that college students can be really, really lazy. I learned how to have a BLAST at work. I learned that sometimes your friends can make big mistakes, and how to forgive them for it, even when you know they are wrong. Overall, I learned that no experience in life is perfect, and you must learn to take the good with the bad, and make the most of it.
I think they highlight of my year was getting to see my family on the East Coast that I haven't seen in 3 years. That's just way too long to go without seeing the people I love the most. I will never let that much time pass before I see them again. Being around them takes me back to a time in my life when things were so much simpler, and I was so much happier. Not that I'm unhappy now, but it's different. They remind me of who I am, and who I was, and how important it is to never forget where I came from.
2009 will remind me of the friendships I forged, and how blessed I am to have such wonderful people in my life.
I really hope that 2010 is a good year for me. I have a feeling it will be. It will be the first full year that I won't be in school. This will be both good and bad for me. Good in the sense that it's time to pursue some non-academic endeavors in my life, but bad in that I really, really like school, and will miss it. I can't wait to see what the new year brings.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Conflicted
So the time has come for me to find a new job. I knew it would; that's the whole point behind going to school. I'm graduating with master's degree in December, and would really like to find something before the beginning of the new year. Of course this has left me with all sorts of questions. What do I want to do? Where do I want to be? How do I get there? What are my goals? All of these questions, and more than one answer to each one.
I had an interview on Friday with a managed services company. I must say that I never really envisioned myself in managed services. I didn't even know what that was until a few months ago. I was really excited throughout the interview; it seemed like a really great opportunity. However, the recruiter I interviewed with is mainly hiring for the Dallas area, which left me wondering if Dallas is somewhere I could live. I like Dallas. I mean, it's nice. Very cosmopolitan, and sprawling like Houston. Well-manicured, with an impressive downtown. But could I live there? Honestly, could I? I don't know. It's a nice place, but I could take it or leave it. I was far more impressed with Fort Worth than I was with Dallas. And I'm not too keen on Dallas culture, at least what I know of it. But if the students I go to school with are any representation of the Dallas culture, than I could definitely pass on that. Not pretentious enough for Dallas culture. Maybe I'm being too judgemental? I don't know. If I'm going to move somewhere, it might as well be somewhere I REALLY want to be, and not just somewhere I'm so-so about. At least, as long as I have the option to do that.
Anyway, the recruiter seemed to like me, and passed my resume and information on to the Houston office. I think if I could have my own account in Houston I would enjoy it. It would kind of be like running my own business. We'll see if I hear anything from them.
I'm looking at several marketing positions right now. I really enjoy marketing, and must admit that the steady schedule appeals to me. I've done my share of working nights and weekends, and I'm pretty much done with. There's something to be said for work-life balance. I want to have a family, and a life outside of work, as well as enjoy my job. Is that too much to ask for?
Of course, if I were to own my own business, things would be different. I wouldn't mind working nights and weekends if it was on my own terms. One day, I would like to own a small cafe that features, soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastries. I would love love LOVE to be a pastry chef. Working in managed services would really allow me to experience what it would be like to own a business. But I'm still really drawn to marketing, so I don't know. I'm sure plenty of people have owned cafes without having actually managed a restaurant before. Besides, it's not like I don't have any experience - I've worked in restaurants since I was 16, and will have a degree in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management. I know all of the principles, it's just the fine details I'm not sharp on right now. But I know if I wanted it bad enough, I could figure it out. Plenty of people have before my time. I guess at some point, you just have to pick something that will make you happy and not stress about what you can't control! If I'm going to own a business one day, I will, and nothing is going to stop me.
I had an interview on Friday with a managed services company. I must say that I never really envisioned myself in managed services. I didn't even know what that was until a few months ago. I was really excited throughout the interview; it seemed like a really great opportunity. However, the recruiter I interviewed with is mainly hiring for the Dallas area, which left me wondering if Dallas is somewhere I could live. I like Dallas. I mean, it's nice. Very cosmopolitan, and sprawling like Houston. Well-manicured, with an impressive downtown. But could I live there? Honestly, could I? I don't know. It's a nice place, but I could take it or leave it. I was far more impressed with Fort Worth than I was with Dallas. And I'm not too keen on Dallas culture, at least what I know of it. But if the students I go to school with are any representation of the Dallas culture, than I could definitely pass on that. Not pretentious enough for Dallas culture. Maybe I'm being too judgemental? I don't know. If I'm going to move somewhere, it might as well be somewhere I REALLY want to be, and not just somewhere I'm so-so about. At least, as long as I have the option to do that.
Anyway, the recruiter seemed to like me, and passed my resume and information on to the Houston office. I think if I could have my own account in Houston I would enjoy it. It would kind of be like running my own business. We'll see if I hear anything from them.
I'm looking at several marketing positions right now. I really enjoy marketing, and must admit that the steady schedule appeals to me. I've done my share of working nights and weekends, and I'm pretty much done with. There's something to be said for work-life balance. I want to have a family, and a life outside of work, as well as enjoy my job. Is that too much to ask for?
Of course, if I were to own my own business, things would be different. I wouldn't mind working nights and weekends if it was on my own terms. One day, I would like to own a small cafe that features, soups, salads, sandwiches, and pastries. I would love love LOVE to be a pastry chef. Working in managed services would really allow me to experience what it would be like to own a business. But I'm still really drawn to marketing, so I don't know. I'm sure plenty of people have owned cafes without having actually managed a restaurant before. Besides, it's not like I don't have any experience - I've worked in restaurants since I was 16, and will have a degree in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institutional Management. I know all of the principles, it's just the fine details I'm not sharp on right now. But I know if I wanted it bad enough, I could figure it out. Plenty of people have before my time. I guess at some point, you just have to pick something that will make you happy and not stress about what you can't control! If I'm going to own a business one day, I will, and nothing is going to stop me.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
My dog is a chewing machine.
In the course of just a week, she has chewed up a leash, and my cell phone charger. How she managed to chew up the charger without getting electrocuted, I don't know. I shouldn't have left it so close to her crate. Maybe I can find a new one on eBay or something. Sam and I might be getting iPhones in December, so I don't really want to buy a new one.
As for the leash, well, that one was my fault too. Left her sitting alone in the car too long and she finally had her way with it. Came back to the char and the buckle was still on her color - without the ensuing leash.
Current score: Jade 2, Kristen 0
As for the leash, well, that one was my fault too. Left her sitting alone in the car too long and she finally had her way with it. Came back to the char and the buckle was still on her color - without the ensuing leash.
Current score: Jade 2, Kristen 0
Monday, October 19, 2009
It would be really nice if...
...I had a job lined up! I'm so stressed out over not having a job yet! I know it's only October, but I'm starting to freak out! Not only that, but Sam tells me today he may be getting laid off. AWESOME!!!!! I pray that God will show me the way to employment!
Gaahh!!
I really hate assessment tests! I just finished working on one for a job I interviewed for. I never do well on them, and I don't think they're an accurate assessment of one's personality. I mean who can say that they do one thing or another all the time or never??? So stupid!!!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Useless Beauty
Returned from my 1-day trip to New Mexico today. Actually, if you count the time I arrived there to when I left, I was there less than 24 hours! Talk about a long trip, it took about 7 hours each way from Lubbock to get to Albuquerque. For some reason, I didn't think it would take that long. It's about 400 miles one-way, almost the same distance from Houston to Lubbock. Houston to Lubbock is about 8 hours. My point is, it took awhile, and I'm glad to not be in a car for awhile!
Once we got to Albuquerque (I traveled with my dad) I had a good time. We went to my dad's friends' house to pick up some boxes of my grandfather's stuff that they moved with them when they moved from Massachusetts a few weeks ago. They've lived there their whole lives (both in their 60s now) and I can't imagine what a shock it would be to move to a completely different state at their age! But I admire their gumption and adventurous spirit:) It was great to seem them; I haven't seen them in about 10 years. That's 10 years too long! I used to seem them all the time when I lived in New Hampshire. They're a part of my past, and it was really great to go down memory lane with them.
Albuquerque/Rio Ranch are beautiful cities. Everything is very clean, and well-manicured. The weather is as close to perfect as possible, and the city caters to bike-riders by adding in bike lanes to all the main roads. I thought that was pretty cool. I guess in a city like that you can actually ride your bike because the climate is so dry and it stays pretty cool most of the year. I have pictures, but I left my camera cord at Sam's apartment, so I won't be able to load them until (possibly) next week. Ugh.
On the way back to Lubbock, we went a different route. Instead of driving I-27 from Lubbock to Amarillo, then I-40 from Amarillo to Albuquerque, we took I-25 from Albuquerque to Santa Fe (love it!) and then highway 285 to highway 84 which goes directly to Lubbock. Actually, we weren't supposed to drive that way, but we both missed the exit for I-40, so it ended up being faster to drive to Santa Fe and then back down then to turn around. We also stopped in Fort Sumner to see Billy the Kid's grave. It took all of 5 minutes to see, and it was pretty creepy, but at least I can say that I saw it!
New Mexico truly is a beautiful state, but it is such a barren wasteland. I mean, in some parts there is literally nothing. No homes. No trees. No hills. Nothing. So Ive dubbed it a beautiful wasteland. I go back forth in my head as to whether I could live there or not, but for now, I'm sticking with no. It's beautiful, cheap to live in, and has amazing weather, but it's really isolated from everything. But I dunno, knowing myself, I'll change my mind tomorrow. I do like how outdoors-y it is.
Once we got back to my house, my dad decided he wanted to leave to go back to Cypress. I tried to convince him it wasn't a good idea, but he never listens to me, so he left around 8:00 tonight. Last I heard he was somewhere near Abilene.
Glad to finally see my pup again! I was so worried about her. I know I shouldn't be, but she's still only 10 weeks old, so I didn't want to leave her without me for too long, which is why we didn't stay in New Mexico longer. My roommate was nice enough to watch her for me, and I didn't want to place more of a burden on her!
The only thing I wish I would've done was buy some turquoise jewelry. I've been wanting some for awhile now, and I live so close to New Mexico, it's kind of ridiculous that I haven't gotten some by now. I'm supposed to go to Carlsbad Caverns next month. Hopefully I can buy some them!
Once we got to Albuquerque (I traveled with my dad) I had a good time. We went to my dad's friends' house to pick up some boxes of my grandfather's stuff that they moved with them when they moved from Massachusetts a few weeks ago. They've lived there their whole lives (both in their 60s now) and I can't imagine what a shock it would be to move to a completely different state at their age! But I admire their gumption and adventurous spirit:) It was great to seem them; I haven't seen them in about 10 years. That's 10 years too long! I used to seem them all the time when I lived in New Hampshire. They're a part of my past, and it was really great to go down memory lane with them.
Albuquerque/Rio Ranch are beautiful cities. Everything is very clean, and well-manicured. The weather is as close to perfect as possible, and the city caters to bike-riders by adding in bike lanes to all the main roads. I thought that was pretty cool. I guess in a city like that you can actually ride your bike because the climate is so dry and it stays pretty cool most of the year. I have pictures, but I left my camera cord at Sam's apartment, so I won't be able to load them until (possibly) next week. Ugh.
On the way back to Lubbock, we went a different route. Instead of driving I-27 from Lubbock to Amarillo, then I-40 from Amarillo to Albuquerque, we took I-25 from Albuquerque to Santa Fe (love it!) and then highway 285 to highway 84 which goes directly to Lubbock. Actually, we weren't supposed to drive that way, but we both missed the exit for I-40, so it ended up being faster to drive to Santa Fe and then back down then to turn around. We also stopped in Fort Sumner to see Billy the Kid's grave. It took all of 5 minutes to see, and it was pretty creepy, but at least I can say that I saw it!
New Mexico truly is a beautiful state, but it is such a barren wasteland. I mean, in some parts there is literally nothing. No homes. No trees. No hills. Nothing. So Ive dubbed it a beautiful wasteland. I go back forth in my head as to whether I could live there or not, but for now, I'm sticking with no. It's beautiful, cheap to live in, and has amazing weather, but it's really isolated from everything. But I dunno, knowing myself, I'll change my mind tomorrow. I do like how outdoors-y it is.
Once we got back to my house, my dad decided he wanted to leave to go back to Cypress. I tried to convince him it wasn't a good idea, but he never listens to me, so he left around 8:00 tonight. Last I heard he was somewhere near Abilene.
Glad to finally see my pup again! I was so worried about her. I know I shouldn't be, but she's still only 10 weeks old, so I didn't want to leave her without me for too long, which is why we didn't stay in New Mexico longer. My roommate was nice enough to watch her for me, and I didn't want to place more of a burden on her!
The only thing I wish I would've done was buy some turquoise jewelry. I've been wanting some for awhile now, and I live so close to New Mexico, it's kind of ridiculous that I haven't gotten some by now. I'm supposed to go to Carlsbad Caverns next month. Hopefully I can buy some them!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sooner than later would be nice...
Today proved to be quite a stressful day for me. I went on my first job interview in over a year. I interviewed with Jason's Deli. I think the interview went pretty well, though I'm not sure if there's an actual position available or not. The man I interviewed with said he would be out of town until Friday, and that if I was selected to move on to the next step I would know by early next week.
I'm starting to stress more and more about finding a job. It's disheartening to not even receive a phone call for an interview. I knew it was tough out there, but this is crazy. I'm starting to wonder if having a master's degree is doing more harm then good. I hope something comes around soon.
A lot of my stress can be credited to the fact that I'm going to start my period soon. I always stress out really bad before I start. I hate feeling this way! I'd love nothing more then to crawl into bed and snooze away my sorrows, but I have a Food Systems midterm to work on that is proving to be more time consuming than I originally thought. It would've been nice if my prof had sent it out last week like I thought she was going to. I actually had time to work on it this past weekend. Now, I don't. GRRR!!!
I'm starting to stress more and more about finding a job. It's disheartening to not even receive a phone call for an interview. I knew it was tough out there, but this is crazy. I'm starting to wonder if having a master's degree is doing more harm then good. I hope something comes around soon.
A lot of my stress can be credited to the fact that I'm going to start my period soon. I always stress out really bad before I start. I hate feeling this way! I'd love nothing more then to crawl into bed and snooze away my sorrows, but I have a Food Systems midterm to work on that is proving to be more time consuming than I originally thought. It would've been nice if my prof had sent it out last week like I thought she was going to. I actually had time to work on it this past weekend. Now, I don't. GRRR!!!
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