March madness does not even begin to explain the tumultuous nature of this month as I'm sure many of you have experienced.
I went to my first NASPA and had an amazing time. I was surprised at how many people I reconnected with. It was a great learning experience as well. I mean, I thought that with school and such my brain would be a little burnt out. But I appreciated the real world examples and the applicability of the session content.
I am really looking forward to NASPA Baltimore. I also hope to get more involved with NASPA during my career. Our profession is filled with some great individuals and it was powerful to be connected to that for a few days.
Of course I came back to The Real World: Grad School and was thrown into comps/job search bonanza. I didn't do TPE so I was momentarily spared from the intensity of emotions surrounding that event. But once I rounded the bend of my comps, the stark horizon of my future became glaringly clear. Graduation was coming and a job needed to be found!!!! I have my first on campus tomorrow and I'm trying to prepare for it without being too anxiety prone.
It's hard for me to allow myself to really want something. I worry to much to feel peaceful with that type of emotion. Negative thoughts start to cloud my thinking and I ponder over if I am even qualified or if I can even do the job well. Sometimes we can be our own worst enemy.
That's why I have found it so helpful to have a cadre of cheerleaders who spur me on to believe in myself and achieve impossible things. One activity a mentor convinced me to do was to write down my accomplishments and areas where I have made an impact. It sounds cheesy but it definitely lifts the spirits. I mean these are things you have already done to prove yourself and these are examples you can use in future interviews. So it is both uplifting and productive.
This can also help when considering if you should apply for a position. I think it's really easy to forget how awesome we all are. If you don't have anyone reminding you, then take a cue from my mentor and start your list of awesome things you've done. And then imagine yourself in the position, making those things a reality again and again. It has also helped me when thinking of questions to ask at the interview. It shows I've really engaged with the position and thought about it.
I hope to give you a positive report of my on campus interviewing lessons learned by the end of the week. Good luck with your searches and for rounding the bend of an incredible experience.
Here's some Disney love.
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