Slight Change of Plans

After much thought and consideration, Josh and I have decided to expand my job search outside of the southwest. I have been looking exclusively in Arizona and a little in California and have been frustrated with my options. It figures that Arizona, one of the lowest performing states in the country would have little opportunities in the area of education policy, evaluation, analysis and reform! 

I will continue to search and spend hours on google looking for opportunities in this region but will also start seeking opportunities in Nashville and elsewhere. I am really just looking at the positions available, trying to find the best career move and wherever that takes us we will go. We have been looking forward to leaving Nashville and being closer to family and friends, but it just makes more sense for us to spend a few more years away from home if it means better opportunities for our family. I need to use the connections Vanderbilt has to offer, after all it is a big reason I came out here. Josh has had a real tough adjustment living so far away from friends and family, but now that we have Riley and are officially our own family, he has become more open to making another move. I was always the one trying to convince him to move somewhere new, but this time he was very receptive to the idea.  His top choices include Boston (for the baseball and basketball games) and California (up until yesterday when he read the article about the impending "superstorm").

Not knowing where we are going to be living come June 1 is very exciting, and I can't wait to see where we go next! I will keep you updated on the job search, and if you know of anyone, or anything in program management, policy analysis/development/evaluation in government, non-profits, think-tanks or the private sector let me know! My emphasis has been on education policy, but I also have interests in finance and workforce development.

On a side note, Josh has been practicing his stay-at-home dad skills. After all he is cheaper than daycare:)

Cold Toes

In a hurry to get out the door this morning, I made the mistake of slipping on a pair of flip flops with my wide leg jeans. I have not seen the sun in a few days now, and it did drizzle a little last night, but I did not expect to be scooping up water and wet leaves into my flip flops as I rushed into my 8am Monday morning meeting! My toes went numb and I felt silly sitting next to people with rain boots on. You would be proud to know that I only own 1 pair of flip flops now, which is absolutely crazy considering they are ALL I wore for about 5 years. But I guess that one pair is going to have to go back in the closet for the next couple of months.

I spent the last week relaxing, watching french films with subtitles on Netflix, catching up on Dexter season 3, reading about culture wars in American schools, writing a paper about homeless education and working on a case study of the Massachusetts tax system. I am so ready to kick this semester and move on to the next. I only have 2 weeks left of class, can you believe it? I have yet to have a meltdown, and I do not see one on the horizon!!! With my transfer credits from ASU, I only have to take 2 classes each semester for the remainder of my program. Only 6 classes, 3 semesters and 1 practicum left. I am pretty stoked about it.

Minus the frozen toes and dreary weather, life is good. I can't wait to plan a trip home!

Oh, and congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Greene! Neil and Jenna have been close friends of ours for our entire relationship, and I could not be happier for them. I heard the wedding was beautiful and I am so excited for you guys! Wish I could have been there. Judging by the several pictures I have seen of Josh dancing via fb, it looked like a good time! I love love love my dear friends for thinking of me and giving me a call during the festivities. I truly have amazing friends, and I appreciate them now more than ever.

This one is going on the fridge...

Lola, November 2, 2009

I have been validated as a Vanderbilt graduate student. I got my very first paper back, and contrary to my apprehension and the near nausea I experienced while the prof passed them back at the beginning of class, I actually did pretty awesome. The brutally honest prof said, "some of you did very well, others..." I was sure I was one of the others. (Side note, I once over heard this prof telling an undergraduate student she needed to go back to the 9th grade to learn how to write...yikes right?)With every name he called I was thinking, "Oh, dear God please at least let me get a B, I need a B to know that I fit in here, I need a B to know that I don't need to go back to the 9th grade." Well, I did better than a B, thank you Mrs. Mooney, I do not need to go back to the 9th grade!

I have been seriously doubting my abilities since coming to Vanderbilt. While I am a Sundevil at heart, ASU isn't exactly known for academic rigor. I had been worried my grades were inflated, and my work would not be up to par. But alas, I have been validated, I am capable. I paid a quarter of what some of my classmates paid for their private school degrees, yet I am in the same program getting good grades. I guess hard work does mean something. And boy does it feel good.

PS Am I too old to pin my paper on the fridge?

Eat, Sleep, Study, Blog

I am sitting in bed with this stack of enlightenment (or torture, I can't decide). Each clip represents a week's worth of reading in my History of American Education Policy and Reform class. I have a midterm this week that is comprised of 5 essays... and will cover the 30 readings, 2 books, and 8 lectures we have been assigned so far. It is nearly a thousand pages of information. I have just completed the organization process, and the outline document. Now I am delaying going through all of the readings again because I know I slacked on some of them.

So if you need me, I will be holed up until Wednesday, buried in the theories of protestant republicanism, common schools, progressivism, domestic ideology, intelligence testing, sterilization, life adjustment, and desegregation.

At least the sun is shining! I have my windows open and life is good.

Vanderbilt.

Peabody Library On campus Somewhere on campus I have never been

Wyatt Center at Peabody - Where all of the big events for my program take place

Sorry I have been slacking on the updates lately. I have been busy, spending a lot time at the lovely place in the first picture.

I will be back soon with some developing awesomeness.