My NOT-so-Triumphant Return

Miss me? I miss you. Why? Because I find something so therapeutic in the notion that I can regurgitate my perceptions and opinions and goings on in this digital drop-box known as a blog, and you just have to sit there and take it (OR, better yet, leave comment). SO, allow me to heave my most recent thoughts.

I have been bummed the past couple of days. In fact, the first day I bordered pissed off. Well rather, the first day I was bi-polaring from perspective to pissed offedness. Yesterday, I was bummed. Today, I am still bummed. Tomorrow, I anticipated bummed with a touch of the HAPPY FRIDAY (That ALWAYS seems to make things better). Saturday, well on my way to recovery!

Why, you ask? Allow me to explain.

About eleven months ago I heard about an awesome career opportunity known as Teach For America, and organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap within America’s schools. It was a two-year commitment teaching school in inner city districts. I was PUMPED. I have always wanted to teach and one of the programs was back in the South. This was going to be a perfect opportunity for a couple years before I went back to school to get my graduate degree.

After waiting about 8 months, I began the extensive application process. The entire process could easily be compared, if not more extensive than, the application to a prestigious graduate school. Over the next three months, I filled out the initial application, wrote a few different letters of intent and ability, had OTHERS write letters in my behave, filled out multiple forms, had three sets of interviews, studied the program in depth, prepared and taught a group lesson, studied in depth the possible locations for relocation, and read multiple articles about the nature of the achievement gap in America’s schools. I was pumped and excited. And two days ago, I got the word that I was not accepted into the program. I am bummed.

This is just an employment opportunity. Why am I so bummed? I mean, come on Greg, get it together. However, in an attempt to get it off my chest, allow me to explain a couple of the reasons I feel bummed:

• I was PUMPED about his opportunity. The program fit me and I fit the program. I was ready to excel! This was not a lofty goal; it was going to be a great marriage, if you will.
• I felt I did an outstanding job throughout the entire interview process. I felt confident.
• I was SO excited to move back to the South for a couple of years and show Megs and Em the joy of Dixie.
• I had studied and prepare myself for this program for almost a year
• Though I have been applying elsewhere, it was a degree of “job security”. It was a main player in helping me focus my last semester of school.
• TFA offers outstanding opportunities for grad school grants and scholarships as well as career placement after the two-year commitment.
• Lastly, I felt so “good” about the entire process and organization.
  
  The worst part of it all was how I found out that I did not get accepted. I was sitting in class (my LEAST favorite class, none the less) and a fellow student raised his hand to make an announcement to the class. He had just been accepted to Teach For America and the entire class cheered. I, excited and confident, then logged on to the TFA website to check my status in anticipation of raising my own hand in excitement and announcing that I, too, had been accepted and was moving to Atlanta! . . . The first word I saw was “sorry”. I just starred at the screen for a bit, and then put my head down to gain a little composure.

So, after “the news”, I have spent hours and hours applying for more jobs. I have even spoken with CEOs and CMOs of prestigious companies, and nothing fruitful has turned up as of yet. So, the saga continues.

I am confident that I will succeed, just in a different light than I anticipated, but such is life.

Now for my plug. If you will, please be my eyes and ears to opportunities. We are looking to come back to Davis County for the time being. I would love a job in the Davis County/SLC County area, but would welcome any opportunity that allows me to provide sufficiently for my little family.

Thank you for being such great supporters . . . and for reading this never-ending rant!