#howbeauma

Hubby @tedhoward02’s excitement over me saying “let’s order pizza” is VERY apparent. A few important things to note here: 1)This is not just an indulgence. It’s a celebration! I’m one week, we will BOTH be taking part in the @duncanlukas 8 Week Transformation! Round of 👏 for Ted, who actively decided to jump into this. So... we figured we might as well get some pizza now since we won’t be seeing it for a while. #DontfeedtheTed 2) This is a doughlicious (Berkeley MA) pizza. They’re incredible. IT 🍕is called “hot mess.” Not me. (not today, anyway) Just clarifying that text 👆🏻 there. 3) #pizzaandbeer and Tetris on the Xbox. Our Thursday night is better than yours. 👌🏻 #newlywedsforever #howbeauMA (at Taunton, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnr4eGFFlCtvDOFcLx2HBTbK7X_dLuaWIoXNX80/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vqipbfcl1r40

Here I sit as an MPA graduate, just two months out, content with space in my calendar and my head... but unfortunately not so much with my job. And so, the potential of switching gears on my career (again) has come to play in our lives. After a thorough contemplation, and an interview that solidified my desire to move on, I've begun the search for jobs that may better utilize my degree. We come to today's adventure in Boston. My "first day" commuter experience kicked off the journey, driving to Bridgewater to catch the train and barreling toward South Station. Hopping off and walking through Boston and over the Southie waterfront down to the US District Courthouse. A beautiful and historic piece of architecture, with pristine location on the Fan Park waterfront. The job looks like it was made for me on paper. "Project Coordinator," managing two unique Fellowships for high school and college students. Shadowing judges, taking courses at local Law Schools, trial viewings, networking and moot court, all to assist in preparing for a future in law and the edu atop all attainment in achieving such a career goal. The job description required events planning experience, social media management, working with students and alumni, providing mentorship, coordinating meetings, and working with media and press pass distribution. All of which I have some degree of experience in from my past 2 jobs alone. It was for the most part a good day. The commute went well, and I had a relaxing morning (got up there at 9 and had 2 hours to kill.) The weather was beautiful, so the walk from South Station was quite enjoyable actually. I savored a delicious iced latte at the Starbucks across the street, and then wandered a bit, discovering a beautiful courtyard and park just behind the courthouse on the waterfront. A perfect place to Zen before the culminating moment of 2 weeks of excitement and preparation. There was a little mix up with security when I finally went into the courthouse (20 minutes early) so the panel originally thought I was late! 😫I was still waiting downstairs because security wouldn't let me go up without a badge and assumed HR would come get me. I finally went back and got my cell phone to call the HR secretary and explain. Thankfully she came down and got me, and that was cleared up quickly. I was hoping I'd have a really strong feeling coming out that I gave an excellent interview and they would want me to come back. But I don't. The interview felt neither great nor bad, just okay... and they didn't give any obvious inkling one way or another as to if I was a potential candidate for round 2. What I know is that I nailed the assessment and essay. The exam was a lot of legal jargon and definitions, spelling/grammar and a general attention-to-detail skills assessment. The essay was about mentoring and its impact so that was easy. I talked about my guidance counselor and her impact on my college attendance and influence on my interest in education as a career. I finished in about 40 minutes and we had an hour. The conversations with the panel during the interview were good but also felt rushed, making my answers limited and perhaps not the best examples that could have been. The woman I'd be directly reporting to had to leave early to do a naturalization ceremony. Unfortunate. No chance to really connect with her and less opportunity to make an impact. The questions were weak and sort of standard- ("Give an example of when you've been a leader." and "How do you stay organized?") so the answers weren't all that amazing. I don't know if I stood out. I felt like I had a great example for a time I "made change" in an environment where the motto is "We've always done things this way" but unfortunately I don't think Homecoming quite aligned with what they were looking for. I just tried to have a lot of energy and convey my excitement, and remain positive. There was one question in particular that my answer is haunting me and where I sounded so dumb - and of course that's just running through my head over and over. "What do you know about the US District Court"? I kind of blanked and was just like thinking in my head "in what sense?" I said "I know that it's here!" and laughed. Then I said "I know they do jury duty here and file cases with the clerks". Ugh. Worst response. I don't know why I couldn't formulate that. I know that one of the most important things to be able to answer when walking into an interview is "Tell is a little about our organization." Why didn't I prepare for that with the US District Court? Luckily it was followed up by, "What do you know about the Fellowship programs?", and that I redeemed myself on because I'd done a lot of research on both of them. I hope I seemed to know more than the other candidates. We'll see. There are 2-3 rounds though. The HR manager said they'll let people know in the next couple weeks if they are going to round 2 and that there will be a different panel compiled for that. Interesting. It seemed they wanted someone to begin before the Fellowships end for the summer so they could get a little insight on them but that's mid-August so they should hurry up! Especially, since most people are inclined to give at least two week's notice. I think I'm still interested, though they really didn't talk about the position much. It seems they're trying to figure out what sort of projects this person will work on (since they're piecing together and dishing out duties that belonged to one woman before she passed away.) Maybe it'll be more molded to the individual who takes it on. It seemed my media/press experience and social media expertise were of the least interest to them. That concerns me in my ability to stand out. However, it was truly a unique experience and just another great day in the "new" life of ours in the Boston area. We're coming up on 4 years in MA, which seems just impossible, and we've lived in the house just over a year now. It's hard to wrap my head around. I'm ready for the next journey here in MA, and I hope court administration might be a part of it! Who knew? 🤞

Back to work he goes. We had a nice few days in NH though and I was happy to escape for a bit. #howbeauma #marriedmybestfriend #newlywedsforever #weddedbliss #exploreNH

It seems surreal, and it's going to be a crazy, challenging year... (starting with class 3 nights a week this summer,) but after advising last night, its clear that the route I mapped out to finish this program in 3 years is on course and the end is in sight. Assuming I pass the comprehensive exam next March, I'll be walking in commencement next May! One grueling class this summer, plus two tonight classes in the fall and a module (two long Saturday's). Then praying that I get thru the spring. I got permission to take my final required course at the same time as the Capstone, as well as taking the Comp exam (8 hours, 4 essays) that same semester. Normally you have to finish all required courses before taking capstone and comps... So it's a crazy idea. But I just want it done! If I do it, I walk May 2017! That's hardly even a year left. An actual light at the end of the tunnel...