Hello again (long awaiting readers/bloggers/family)
Tomorrow I embark on an exciting new journey, I'm not even sure how to classify it (and as a Type A personality that means A LOT!) I've been slighlty mysterious the past month or so... your inbox has not been overflowing with donation requests, event invites, or the threatening "DONATE NOW!" messages it is accustomed to. The story begins about a month and a half ago. I was at the CCFA office making calls for the Team Challenge 2011 Napa to Sonoma info meetings, attempting call people and have them commit to attending an info meeting to hear about the amazing Team Challenge journey. I had no idea this simple "call night" would lead me on one of those life changing journeys.
As I sat at Becky's desk dialing the numbers on my spreadsheet I was listening to Becky (Team Challenge) and Shannon (Take Steps) chitchat in the corner. Between calls I'd add my 2 cents and dial the next person on my list. As it turned out Shannon was moving........ to Texas! I sort of jokingly (not wanting to sound DESPERATE to leave my current job) said, "Oh, so your position is open?!" and Becky and Shannon perked up, "YES! why, are you interested?!" Needless to say, Becky was more than happy to print me a copy of the job description and encouraged me to send in my resume. She is the bestest!
The next day I frantically called in my troops!! OH MY GOD!!! I'm going to attempt to switch careers! A little known secret... wait for it... months before I was walking around the Pettit National Ice Center with my cousin Molly. Contemplating life and feeling utterly hopeless in my "career" choice. Its a pretty sensitive subject that only a select few knew about, I was super frustrated. I spent the past 6 years and THOUSANDS of dollars on my education. I don't feel like I truly use my education in my day to day activities and question myself fairly regularly, is this really what I want to be doing?
The practical side of me says, "shut your mouth, you have a job and a paycheck, ingrate!" while the other side of me says, "some of this is (God, forbid) unethical; I feel anxious as I leave work; I feel like I spent this much money to be treated like THIS by my supervisor?!" and so on, and so on.
But back to the Pettit, I sincerely asked my cousin, "what do you see me doing with my life?" and she told me straight up: helping non-profits, being a planner, raising money, raising awareness. This was just what I needed to hear. As I did the first season of TC, I realized how much I loved planning events. Its what I did in college, be it through Student Programming Board, Psychology Club (yup, I'm a nerd!), and even AOII... Why didn't my adviser ever say, "there's more to a psychology degree than grad school"...?!?!? I mean, I had TONS of opportunities, networking, and experience with planning events. But the only option presented was grad school for either your MA or PhD. And here is my cousin telling me this would be a great career path!!
So once again, in secret, I applied a few places, not really getting my hopes up, because I am grateful to have a job and a career change NOW would be crazy. Needless to say, I didn't get much of a response until that call night.
As the TC season kicked off I prepped for my phone interview, nervous, apprehensive, and not too hopeful that there could be a life change in the near future. It took the pressure off, honestly, I was thinking "how nice of them to appease me with a phone interview"... well that turned into a real interview and now here I am.
As a result of my very exciting new job, with the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation Take Steps Manager, I will be giving up Team Challenge 2011 Napa to Sonoma. Its bittersweet but I am accepting of the fact that ONE race, ONE weekend is nothing compared to a lifetime of happiness. Although I am dissappointed and SO grateful to people that donated to my fundraising, I will not be able to continue with Team Challenge. I am hoping to do another 1/2 Marathon between now and October. I am hoping to raise money for ALS to honor the woman I started running for, my grandma. It may not be an official training program or an offical team or a wine party at the end. But it will more than suffice!
I am registered for the Chicago Marathon October 9, 2011; I will be decked out in my Betty's Butterflies in lieu of participating in the Milwaukee ALS Walk (happening on the SAME day!! What are the odds?) Thank you all for your support and donations over the past 2 TC seasons, please know that your money has help so so so so so many people suffering with Crohn's and ulcerative colitis live a better life. Thank you all!
No comments:
Post a Comment