An Unexpected Opportunity

My career development progress since my last post…

During the spring semester, I applied for at least eight internships, had four interviews, was rejected by at least four employers and didn’t hear from the others. I also sent my resume to several non-profit organizations and other businesses in hopes that they’d at least keep it on file for future reference. One would think that clearly something was wrong.

A) I really need to develop my PR skills and my portfolio.

B) I’m a bad interviewee.

C) I wasn’t what any of the employers were working for.

D) The job market is tough for soon-to-be college seniors looking for internships.

E) Something better would show up down the road.

I was feeling pretty hopeless. Naturally. Who wouldn’t after so little visible success? Surely something was wrong with me!

My frustration only grew as I examined my portfolio, which was full of writing samples from both the Stillwater News Press and the Daily O’Collegian, a successful program (the Biggest Loser), media organization sheets, an organizational analysis and report for Relay for Life, marketing experience with Universal Pictures, organizational experience from Residential Life, and InDesign samples. What was wrong with me?

Fortunately, my career counselor encouraged me by explaining how the job market was struggling right now and by remininding me that I was doing the best I could and doing it well. It may be selfish, but it’s nice to hear someone other than your mother say that you’ll be fine in life and won’t get a huge “F” in success.

After I almost decided to give up hope, my mom told me about a program near my hometown, Upward Bound, that needed female resident assistants/counselors. The job would consist of working with at-risk high school students on a college campus to give them a college experience. It was an unbelievable blessing.

A) I could be with my family periodically for my last college summer.

B) I’d be an RA, which I’d already been for two years at OSU.

C) I’d work with teens and show them what college was all about – Hello, dream job!

D) I’d get paid to work with my dream non-profit sector!

 Of course, I applied for the RA position and one of my ResLife buddies applied. We both were hired on the spot. The blessing has been incredible ever since.

More later. I’ve got to hang out with my teens again!

Boys and girls

I’m upset.

Though it may sound odd, that’s hard for me to do – get upset. It doesn’t happen easily.

However, after talking with my teenage “little sister” from church about her relationship with her (now) ex-boyfriend, I’ve decided that our girls are under-educated about romantic relationships.

Yes, girls know that sex often equals babies, AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, etc. But do they really know about what a positive relationship with a guy should be like?

Yes, they should have learned about relationships from interacting with their dads or other father figures, watching how genuinely strong men treat women, observing how their moms or other mother figures interact with men…. and so forth.

But sometimes they need a more complete education than that. What is okay for a guy to do when it’s just the two of you? Is it okay for him to touch you? If so, where? How and where do you draw the line with what he says and does? How is a “good” boyfriend supposed to behave with you? With others?

I guess more than anything, I want girls to have a profile of a date-able guy. When girls become teenagers, they need a pamphlet or list detailing what a great guy looks like, and what an inappropriate guy looks like. One list would detail several attitudes, characteristics and gestures….(missing word) that are negative. Things a boyfriend shouldn’t do – either with you, others or both. The other list would detail what good guys treat their girlfriends like – how you know he’s worthy as a boyfriend.

A warning paragraph would also be included that would help girls understand when a guy is going too far or when they should quit the relationship.

I’ve heard too many stories of girls who were unaware that their boyfriends were crossing the line, that the guys’ behaviors were unacceptable and not normal. Maybe schools don’t talk about it enough. Perhaps youth groups avoid the topic. Maybe parents and guardians think their daughters know what’s too far and what’s okay. However, many girls don’t know or don’t realize how unhealthy their romantic relationships are.

Maybe I’ll get together with some women and put this together at the end of finals week. Meanwhile I’m brooding.