Transitions (One Year Later)
Greetings, Friends!
It's been about a year since I last posted, and I could have never imagined what life had in store for me last August. When I first started this blog, I was the Graduate Assistant to a youth philanthropy organization. Upon returning from our honeymoon, my team had the difficult discussion surrounding the unforeseen sunsetting of our program. You see, the danger (for lack of a better term) of the founder and president still heading an organization is the power he/she/they have on its immediate future, especially if there are no long-term and strategic programmatic contracts in place. Wanting to retain assets and spend time on the future strategy of the parent organization, the president decided to indefinitely stop all extraneous programmatic activities. This came right after a lengthy strategic planning session for our program, so it was quite a shock to find we wouldn't be implementing our ideas through that program itself. So what do you do with a long-term strategic plan meant for raising up an entire field after your program no longer exists?
You share it. You open it up to the field and ask others to carry out the pieces they love, the pieces that fit with other organizations, the pieces to make the field an improved platform for all players.
And what do you do when your position no longer exists?
Well first, you panic a little. After all, it was a school-based internship-type placement, now no longer available. Second, you thank your amazing supervisors at your current placement and the support staff at the school for networking you and finding ideas for a new internship for the upcoming school year. Last, you quickly learn all about the new organization that took you on, a seeming God-send of a placement.
And so began my Graduate Assistant position the American Red Cross, with the Foundations & Federated Giving Strategy team. Just as I was starting to learn the ropes of working with such a completely different organization, Hurricane Harvey hit Texas's coast. For a few weeks, I was working well over my prescribed 20-hour placement, hurrying to get materials out to our fundraisers to assist the victims of the disaster. Then Hurricane Irma made her entrance. Wash, rinse, repeat.
However, I can say that during my time with this team, I learned so many things. Some of which contradict my former posts, so keep an eye out for future (updated) lessons learned posts.
And then, I graduated. (Yay!!!) My Red Cross team kept me on until the end of June to finish a few projects, and then my husband received two competing job offers: one in New Haven, CT, and one in Colorado Springs. After many discussions, lots of phone calls with parents, and some stress, we decided to move to Colorado Springs. And it couldn't be more different from Indiana.
So many transitions. Most of them happened in the last 18 months or so. And what have I learned? First, flexibility is everything. I can't say enough for having a more "go with the flow" attitude, especially if you're someone used to structure and familiarity. Flexibility will open a myriad of doors to you. Second, as soon as you think you have something figured out, life will change. (You've heard the Woody Allen quote- "If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans.") So know that sometimes you'll be wrong and be strong enough to admit it to yourself first. Nothing's worse than arguing a point only to realize you're in the wrong halfway though. And third, don't hesitate in making friends. Develop good relationships with your supervisors and colleagues, reach out to the people you meet, and keep in contact. You never know when one of the contacts will mention your name for an opportunity or be a mutual connection for an organization you're attempting to be a part of. Make a splash and make sure that when someone mentions your name, it's followed by a stream of your accomplishments rather than reservations.
So thanks for sticking with me. More soon, team.
