Over the past few months, I've REALLY started to enjoy my job. The challenges I have from this position, the people I've met and the experiences I've had have made change dramatically on the way I look at things, how serious (or a little less serious) I take things, how to manage people and seeing the good in people a lot more than I did before I came here a little over a year ago. Don't get me wrong, I'm very thankful for what I have. The kids, seniors, basketball and football members and the community are awesome and I'm learning so much through this position.
There are a few times out of the year that I REALLY miss UCO though...Greek Week, Homecoming, Christmas Break, PIKE I-Week and a few others, but days like today are actually very unique...I just miss working with COLLEGE STUDENTS. Besides my teaching gig at TCC, I only interact with two college students on a semi-regular basis; Callie and Robby. These two date, Callie worked for us during HS and now works for us during the school breaks and Robby comes in just to talk about twice a week when they are on breaks. They go to NOC (I make fun of them and call it NO OTHER CHOICE, learned from my recruiting days at UCO) and always want to talk about college stuff. Robby and I will get in pretty intense conversations about leadership development and his career choice like we did today. After our conversation, I realized...these conversations were an EVERYDAY thing at UCO, especially when I was working in Student Organizations.
Because I didn't have to work til this afternoon, last night I stayed up (a little later than planned) to research a few degree programs for my Ph.D. I've been doing this for months and it's become pretty addicting. I've narrowed it down to two or three locations that I would like to apply to but am not really closed minded about any of them yet. I'm deciding if I would like to go into a program for Psychology OR Educational Psychology. Every time I have a conversation with Robby though or even one of my students at TCC, I feel like I should eventually make my way back to the collegiate sector, which is where I would like to end up...but WHEN?
When I came back to Tulsa, I said I would take this job for a few years. It was going to be a stepping stone to the future for me. Not sure if a lot of people know, but I wanted to take these few years to give back. Pretty much the theme of my time so far and my time in the next year will be a time of me giving back to the people, organizations and everything else that gave me so much to get me where I am today. I feel that in the shoes I'm in, it's my obligation to give back...it's only right. I love my kids, seniors, parents, basketball and football members and the community that I work with, but so many times I reminded where my passion really lies; higher education.
For now, I enjoy teaching...actually, a lot! I will keep doing what I'm doing and having fun with this position until I finalize the Ph.D. plans and make them into action. My whole outlook on The Salvation Army AND The Boys and Girls Clubs of America have been completely transformed, positively, and I am so excited to keep these programs growing and gain more experience with people that I've come to love.
As a quote I live by, "What good is it to live, with nothing left to give. Forget, but not forgive, not loving all you see." I will continue to give and love my surroundings - keeping it fun and exciting.
Yep, life is pretty cool...and I have so much more to go!
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