Into the Wild...Let the Hunt Begin #17

Reality of Ending Graduate School Part I: Leaving the Ones You Need.

Sorry for the late post, folks. This past week has been very busy and full of some happy and sad moments. I wrapped up my year-long internship on Friday. While the internship was frustrating at times and I may have thought to myself that I was being underutilized, it wasn't until I had to start packing up my office and had time to reflect that I realized how very meaningful the experience was and how much I truly learned.

I always told my classmates, colleagues, and professors that the best thing about my internship experience were the people. I have never worked with such an amazing team before in my time in student affairs. These extraordinary women come from all walks of life with a wonderful understanding of social justice and they have backgrounds and life experiences that are so valuable in this field. I really cannot express how much I have learned from them just through our daily conversations. It's funny how sometimes the most valuable experiences are what appear to be the most mundane (conversations that do not relate to work projects). If anything, these amazing women reinforced my passion to continue my own education as I develop as an advocate for social justice.

Leaving these women, who truly understand what it means to encounter a microagression, for example, and have such skill when working to educate students on the importance of diversity, was bittersweet. On one hand, I was happy to have more free time during my weeks to focus on my capstone assignments and wrap up graduate school. On the other hand, it made me nervous about my future. Will I be so lucky to find such allies in my job? It was so comforting to have these women to talk to and not have to worry about being viewed as "oversensitive" when discussing the -isms in our society and on our campuses. I suppose I took it all for granted. Now that I am leaving, I am nervous I will not be able to have those candid conversations with other colleagues in my new job. If that is the case, how do I find such people? How does a new professional seek allies?

My internship supervisor heard my concern and suggested to 1) keep in touch with all of them whenever I needed to talk, and 2) to look for organizations or groups on campus at my new job. There may be a group of faculty/staff whose focus revolves around diversity or the school may have a intercultural center, become involved in their efforts. I will never forget these women and hope to keep our relationships growing to ultimately develop into mentor relationships. I really think I will need their support wherever I go in this field over the years.

In addition to leaving my internship, I also made a trip to my future home in order to go apartment hunting. It was quite an experience. After a full day of driving from town-to-town, looking at closets, kitchens, bedrooms, discussing prices, utilities, areas, safety... oh gosh, I felt like I was buying a home! I was extremely excited about one option though. When I pulled into the neighborhood, it just felt like home. As you may recall, I'm moving to a city-like area, which is not really the type of person I am. But this one place was like an oasis in the middle of the city. It was close to everything: the school, the mall, the upscale downtown scene, the park...everything! It was quiet and peaceful and removed from the chaos of highways, parkways, turnpikes, and multi-lane roads. I am up against one other person for the place, so please keep your fingers crossed for me.

I graduate in 20 days and start my job in 30 days. I just hope this place will be my new "home" otherwise, my next post may be me freaking out about more apartment hunting trips.