This one might be a bit of a long one since I'm going to philosophize some. Tonight on the way back from getting some Baskin Robbins Adam, Coppelia and I had a conversation that was very controversial amongst ourselves. It started with me harping on about how I delight in being given sign duty when setting up for Origin. You see, sign duty includes putting up the signs on both sides of the street right next to the church, obviously pointing to the coffee shop (where Origin takes place). Now, when most other people do sign duty, they put the first one on the closer side of the street and then jay-walk to the other side. My method includes putting the sign on the closer side of the street and then going all the way around through the traffic lights like a good pedestrian. I could excuse myself saying the reason I do this is to follow the law and to not get hit by a car, if at all possible. However, I practically boast when I say that the real reason I go around is so that I take longer doing the task, which pulls me away from doing other tasks during set-up. I refuse to do work begrudgingly so instead I find sneaky ways such as this one to, in a sense, minimize my work. In most areas of my work ethic, as I am partially of phlegmatic temperament, I tend to seek appearing busy with menial or unnecessary tasks (or just standing around) until being given an actual task; usually this task is given me by somebody with a choleric temperament.
What's this I speak of temperaments? I'll digress here for the sake of fleshing this out and I believe it'll help the point. According to (correct me if I'm wrong) the classic greek scholars, there are four temperaments: choleric, phlegmatic, sanguine and melancholic. In a short, catchy nutshell, the four temperaments follow these stereotypes:
choleric: if you wanna do it right you've gotta do it yourself
phlegmatic: I'll just wait here till somebody tells me what to do
sanguine: classic type a personality (talkative, social people)
melancholic: classic type b personality (introverted geniuses)
As I mentioned earlier, I tend to let the phlegmatic side of me control my work ethic. So I generally don't take initiative on things waiting for the choleric people to give me tasks and instructions because, frankly, I am certain that upon taking initiative to do a task, the choleric would scold me for doing it a way different from how they would've done it, despite it having been done correctly.
The reason I'm even blogging about this is because it makes me feel guilty to look at things this way. Going into a full-time job soon, I definitely want to do my best, excel and be a good employer. Now, my personal experience has been that, in spite of my general attitude towards things, when it comes down to it, I focus and get things done as quickly as I can and to the best of my abilities. In retrospect, it feels like even though I say all these things about being a lazy bum and having no initiative, I'm a good employee who is really good at following directions and generally getting things done. Of course, there are certain aspects of my work habits that I've worked on, such as making more calls on my own when I'm not sure how to do something, rather than just ask a superior at every step of the way. Perhaps this is because I have spent more than a year working at Sherwin (can hardly believe it's been that much already). Maybe it's something I've been able to improve in general.
Another thing that bothers me is when people tell you 'oh, you have to give 110%'. Other than the fact that that's impossible because 100% is the same as all you have and you certainly can't give what you don't have, it bothers me that in this capitalist world where you build empires with your own two hands, every employer expects you to give 110%, 100% of the time. This is asking you to give more than you have and thus more than you can give - at all times. If this is not the ultimate recipe for burnout, I don't know what is. I even question the notion of giving all you have at all times. Prioritizing is key in the work world. Even on a race, isn't pacing yourself one of the most important things? Why should it be different in your work life? You run harder and faster in the moments when you know you have to. You push yourself up to 100% when you need to. However, why shouldn't you pace yourself when doing tasks at lower priority? Don't get me wrong here though, I'm not saying half-a** it! I think mediocrity is unacceptable if have the ability to perform.
Going back to the deal with the Origin sign, sure, I could very cautiously jay-walk to save time with the second sign so I can sooner get back to helping, thus increasing my effectivity. However, on any given night, Origin set-up doesn't lack enough hands that we fall back on schedule far enough to merit cutting those minutes out of 'my' helpful activity. To illustrate the point from the last paragraph in this example, if jay-walking to get the signs up as fast as possible is giving 100% and walking around to get them up is 70%, while the case for giving 100% exists (desperately needing the time I would save), the merit for breaking the jay-walking law is rarely in effect.
Ultimately, this is my inspected method of thought and task handling and, to be sure, it is not some new work psychology and is not how all work should be observed. [Is this a disclaimer? haha] Making efforts to answer my own question, that of whether I am wrong in thinking this way and that regardless of how my personality is I should strive whole-heartedly to burn myself out by attempting to give more than I can for everything (skewed point of view), I lean towards saying that if it's not broken, I shouldn't try to fix it. Of course, this does not mean I will not attempt to be excellent in my work or that I will refuse constructive criticism and that I'll purposefully sabotage my motivation to improve. I strongly believe this can all be achieved within the boundaries of my method. For example, there have been many times where I am given busy work at Sherwin. Normally, my approach towards it is to assess several aspects of the task, such as difficulty and time required for completion, and, according to my other priorities, tune my effort to complete the task in a timely, effective manner. So on a particularly slow day where I expect no other work, I would take all the time necessary to do the task in a calm, effective manner (go around the street through the traffic lights). If something unexpected happened such as getting an important or urgent task all of a sudden, again depending on the priorities, I would drop the current task and work on the pressing one or work harder to complete the current one in a timelier manner to get started on the new one. This would then be akin to us being short-handed at Origin and needing me to get back quickly from setting up the signs. Perhaps these situations wouldn't turn out or work exactly this same way in real cases but I do believe my method has some merit.
If you will, it would be good to know what you have to say. It would be fun to start a conversation in the comments. I absolutely do not expect everybody to agree with me and I fully expect people to find loopholes, incongruences and the like in my method and question me to no end, but, like I said, this is how I currently see my work ethic. This new job is sure to stretch me and I'm looking forward to seeing how it will prepare me for the work I will do in Japan when the time comes.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Offer
Sitting on the futon couch I call my bed while I watch Advent Children in Japanese (with Japanese subtitles, fortunately) I multi-task enough to IM with some friends and write a blog. I feel pretty much obligated to write this blog because of what happened today. If you're one of the people who read this blog you might already know the news. To keep it short, today I got an e-mail with a job offer from Tiny Prints! Looks like what I came to California to do has finally happened; or at least an important part of the chain. In the coming weeks I'll be working hard to figure all the logistics out. Finding housing, getting a car, figuring out what to do about the payments and occupation of my previous apartment in Rochester... all that good stuff. It'll be an interesting few weeks leading up and a whole lot of transitioning. I like changes like these, exasperating and daunting as they may be but I know God's got my back. I don't know if this job is a step in the direction of my mission to Japan but I'm not even a quarter of a hundred years old. I still have a lot of time to do what I can do. I just gotta keep moving forward and let the Lord lead my steps.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Decision
Yesterday I was talking to Coppelia before setting up for Origin (night church). I was telling her that I'm just not feeling it about the interview this week. I remember saying 'I don't know what I want' and feeling tired. Later that day, after a very powerful and challenging message from pastor Mark we went home. In bed I began to have a 1 on 1 with God. I don't exactly remember if it was at this point or a little earlier at night that I realized I knew what I wanted all along. I want to do God's will. It's that simple. My decision is that I'm going to do God's will. The more I thought about it the less I could sleep and it was about an hour later that I was still stoked, thanking God and having an unbridled joy within me as I felt my life have a strong purpose for the first time in - possibly - all my life.
In the words of Phil Whickam, 'I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.'
In the words of Phil Whickam, 'I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.'
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Lazy Saturday Afternoon
This very moment for me is the epitome of the lazy Saturday afternoon. Half the people in the apartment are sleeping and the two that are awake are in two rooms, closed off to themselves. I can't say I mind. Having a break from the week's hubbub is much appreciated and in a sense i wish this pause would last longer than it is bound to. I'm just sitting on the couch, listening to Parachutes by Coldplay (see: their most chill album, in my opinion) and just teetering on the fence between lethargy and inactivity. Kinda feels like at this moment the only thing I'm actually doing is being alive. It's sort of surreal.
Yet, even in spite of such a seemingly peaceful place I can't help but feel a little uneasy. The irony of moments like these is that while the natural thing would be to relax one's mind and body, generally one's mind tends to take the chance given by the lack of activity and treads in every possible direction, thereby being anything but inactive. In other words, instead of just resting and not thinking about much and enjoying the music, I think about everything I could be doing or should be doing or what the near future holds and what the far future will bring and all the changes and responsibilities that are waiting to befall me. ... Interesting I would choose befall, as though changes and responsibilities were some sort of curse or punishment.
Having the interview next week gives me nothing but nerves. As if I half-expected the time living here with Coppe and Adam to last forever. My initial intent was to be here for no longer than a month and look now as the end of the second month approaches at 60 seconds a minute. Trust me, that's fast enough. I know I must find a job and a place to live and start really paying off my college loans. I'm not trying to escape said fate. Thinking back, it's exactly what I wanted. I wanted an average life in an average home with an average family, an average income. As close to normality as possible is what I aimed for. But right now I really don't want that at all! I want to pack a few shirts and pants and book a flight to Japan and try to make it there, have an adventure or something. But as I begin to fill my mind with these thoughts and become starry-eyed my rational side deals a soul-crushing blow of disappointment and tries to convince me that I should just be happy I have an interview and possible job lined up.
I don't want to be immature and irresponsible but like an angsty teenager I wanna dig into a rebellious corner and say no to the status quo. The worst part of all of this would then be that there's a bigger part of this business looming in the background sending waves to the forefront of my train of thought. The spiritual aspect of my life keeps trying to tell me that it's not about what I want or think I want or think I should have or do. I know what I should want the most is to do what God's will for my life is. Unfortunately I far from know what that is. I really wish I could just let go of what I want and what I don't want in my life and let God tell me what to do, and in a sense, I guess that's what I should do. However, I don't know how to do that, I don't know how to begin to do that and before getting frustrated over such a realization I'd rather bring the train back on to the rails of me figuring out what to do.
As I further introspect, I meet yet another dimension. Do I even know what I want? After college deciding to come here to California... regardless of whether or not that was the right choice, did I make the choice I wanted? Do I really want to go to Japan or move to Mountain View, CA if given the choice? I'm not much for regretting because I'm too proud to admit that I should've known better but if I do end up in Japan, would I be happy? Is the happiness worth it? Part of me stands up to say that happiness is beneath doing the will of God and I second the notion with my heart and then I meet up again with the concern of not knowing what God wants me to do. Reading the Bible I always get the feeling that the heroes of faith always knew exactly what to do. Noah didn't know what an arc was but God gave him measurements.
I guess I'm just really scared. As I said I'm not much for regretting but if accepted the job at Mountain View and moved there and that set off a series of events whereby I'm kept from Japan all my life... Then what if Japan was the will of God for my life??? I'd regret it until the day I die. Going to Japan feels like if I go I wouldn't die without returning. As in, I just feel as if returning would only be a matter of time. On the other hand, the looming feeling I have is that the door of opportunity for going to Japan is barely ajar and any wrong move I make that might keep me here a little longer will slam it shut and proceed to lock it in a million different ways.
I probably have nothing to really worry about and given some time all this will be sorted out. I'm sure no matter which direction I go it won't be easy and I'm sure God can use me no matter where I am. What I want has to come second to what God wants. It'll probably make sense in the end.
Yet, even in spite of such a seemingly peaceful place I can't help but feel a little uneasy. The irony of moments like these is that while the natural thing would be to relax one's mind and body, generally one's mind tends to take the chance given by the lack of activity and treads in every possible direction, thereby being anything but inactive. In other words, instead of just resting and not thinking about much and enjoying the music, I think about everything I could be doing or should be doing or what the near future holds and what the far future will bring and all the changes and responsibilities that are waiting to befall me. ... Interesting I would choose befall, as though changes and responsibilities were some sort of curse or punishment.
Having the interview next week gives me nothing but nerves. As if I half-expected the time living here with Coppe and Adam to last forever. My initial intent was to be here for no longer than a month and look now as the end of the second month approaches at 60 seconds a minute. Trust me, that's fast enough. I know I must find a job and a place to live and start really paying off my college loans. I'm not trying to escape said fate. Thinking back, it's exactly what I wanted. I wanted an average life in an average home with an average family, an average income. As close to normality as possible is what I aimed for. But right now I really don't want that at all! I want to pack a few shirts and pants and book a flight to Japan and try to make it there, have an adventure or something. But as I begin to fill my mind with these thoughts and become starry-eyed my rational side deals a soul-crushing blow of disappointment and tries to convince me that I should just be happy I have an interview and possible job lined up.
I don't want to be immature and irresponsible but like an angsty teenager I wanna dig into a rebellious corner and say no to the status quo. The worst part of all of this would then be that there's a bigger part of this business looming in the background sending waves to the forefront of my train of thought. The spiritual aspect of my life keeps trying to tell me that it's not about what I want or think I want or think I should have or do. I know what I should want the most is to do what God's will for my life is. Unfortunately I far from know what that is. I really wish I could just let go of what I want and what I don't want in my life and let God tell me what to do, and in a sense, I guess that's what I should do. However, I don't know how to do that, I don't know how to begin to do that and before getting frustrated over such a realization I'd rather bring the train back on to the rails of me figuring out what to do.
As I further introspect, I meet yet another dimension. Do I even know what I want? After college deciding to come here to California... regardless of whether or not that was the right choice, did I make the choice I wanted? Do I really want to go to Japan or move to Mountain View, CA if given the choice? I'm not much for regretting because I'm too proud to admit that I should've known better but if I do end up in Japan, would I be happy? Is the happiness worth it? Part of me stands up to say that happiness is beneath doing the will of God and I second the notion with my heart and then I meet up again with the concern of not knowing what God wants me to do. Reading the Bible I always get the feeling that the heroes of faith always knew exactly what to do. Noah didn't know what an arc was but God gave him measurements.
I guess I'm just really scared. As I said I'm not much for regretting but if accepted the job at Mountain View and moved there and that set off a series of events whereby I'm kept from Japan all my life... Then what if Japan was the will of God for my life??? I'd regret it until the day I die. Going to Japan feels like if I go I wouldn't die without returning. As in, I just feel as if returning would only be a matter of time. On the other hand, the looming feeling I have is that the door of opportunity for going to Japan is barely ajar and any wrong move I make that might keep me here a little longer will slam it shut and proceed to lock it in a million different ways.
I probably have nothing to really worry about and given some time all this will be sorted out. I'm sure no matter which direction I go it won't be easy and I'm sure God can use me no matter where I am. What I want has to come second to what God wants. It'll probably make sense in the end.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Developments
Well I've continued to work on Milli's site, which is still not up so there isn't much I can put on the blog but I have been working on some new graphics for it :) Coppe thinks it's cute. There's still a fair bit to do but it's coming along. I realized today that some sections are going to be very similar in form, which makes my job easier so that's nice. :) I'm glad I've been working on all these web sites as of late because it's great practice and I have to keep my web dev skills fresh in my mind so that if I'm tested in an interview I can display my abilities at the level I would be if I had never stopped working.
Speaking of interviews, there's a good chance I have one in Mountain View, CA next week! I don't remember mentioning this but I may've. Long story short, a guy I met on my first visit to Origin (community church) gave me his e-mail and I sent him my resume and he passed it on to some people he knows. Well one of those people got back to me yesterday (today?) asking if I was still interested in a position. A few e-mails later and it looks like next week I'll be driving down to Mountain View for an interview. It's weird. Even though I've been looking for a job for months, getting an interview seems surreal. In addition to that, over the past week I've gone from 0 leads to 2 solid leads and finding a listing in craigslist that looked like a sweeeet job!
I'm still feeling the draw to Japan... it's such a faint possibility but if there's even an inkling of a chance, I have to pursue it full force.
Speaking of interviews, there's a good chance I have one in Mountain View, CA next week! I don't remember mentioning this but I may've. Long story short, a guy I met on my first visit to Origin (community church) gave me his e-mail and I sent him my resume and he passed it on to some people he knows. Well one of those people got back to me yesterday (today?) asking if I was still interested in a position. A few e-mails later and it looks like next week I'll be driving down to Mountain View for an interview. It's weird. Even though I've been looking for a job for months, getting an interview seems surreal. In addition to that, over the past week I've gone from 0 leads to 2 solid leads and finding a listing in craigslist that looked like a sweeeet job!
I'm still feeling the draw to Japan... it's such a faint possibility but if there's even an inkling of a chance, I have to pursue it full force.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
My Web Site... Let Me Show You It
So I finally got around to finishing up my web site (version 1.0) and now it's up at http://www.egandara.com . Of course there's still much that can be done but I'm just glad I have something up and done. I sent it to the recruiter guy and am now waiting to hear from him. Frankly I don't know if anything will really come from this whole Kentucky business but at the very least if nothing comes from it at least it drove me to finishing up my web site. Gonna pick back up on working on Milli's on monday. Gotta try and get that done ASAP so I can hand it off to her :) Other things that I have to do include continuing to look for jobs... I still wanna go to Japan.
Friday, July 17, 2009
First Mission: Accomplished
I just finished uploading my sister Coppelia's site. Adam designed it and I implemented it from his design. It's a simple site and I admit it may have been a better deal to do it in flash but alas, that is not what I know. I think it worked out anyway and you can see it in coppeliasvoice.com. I have to keep working on mine and my other sister's sites but it feels good having cranked one out. Course, Coppe's site is far from finished. The demos area, for example, needs populating but I'm still trying to figure that out. Flash may actually be inescapable in that part...
I believe I'll spend the rest of today, working on mine. I need to have something finished tomorrow so I can send to the prospective employer! I can probably have something mildly presentable today but then I'd have to go through all the trouble of buying a domain and hosting tomorrow; a needed expenditure but one I'll begrudgingly make. I'm looking forward to continuing to work on Milli's site as I'm actually designing that, for better or worse.
I really wanted to go to the pool today :/ Maybe I'll do it tomorrow in celebration of having my own web site up!
I believe I'll spend the rest of today, working on mine. I need to have something finished tomorrow so I can send to the prospective employer! I can probably have something mildly presentable today but then I'd have to go through all the trouble of buying a domain and hosting tomorrow; a needed expenditure but one I'll begrudgingly make. I'm looking forward to continuing to work on Milli's site as I'm actually designing that, for better or worse.
I really wanted to go to the pool today :/ Maybe I'll do it tomorrow in celebration of having my own web site up!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Mid-July
So it's mid July now. I've yet to find myself a job but things are still moving along. Haven't written a word of poetry since I finished school. That must be corrected. If you've read this far you can probably surmise that this post is going to be mostly me thinking out loud. I can't believe it's been more than a month since my last serious update so I guess there's a lot to say.
Not too much has changed since then, really. I'm still part-time co-oping for Sherwin and like I said, no job yet but I haven't lost hope. Today, in fact, I got an e-mail from what appears to have been a recruiter for a prospective employer. Good news, except for the fact that the job would be in Kentucky. Nevertheless, an option is an option and I'd be remiss to snuff out that candle before I see what parts of the room it shines light on. The room, of course, being my proverbial situation of unemployment and general sedentary living. That said, I haven't been doing nothing (and this is grammatically correct because I have in fact been doing something). I've been sort of contracted to do some freelance web work for both my sisters with some projects they have working on, in addition to my own web site I have been meaning on constructing for the sake of having an internet presence and something to show to prospective employers whenever they ask for 'a portfolio' or 'some work'.
On an altogether different side of things, I've been enjoying singing in the worship team at church sunday mornings for the Ridge and being part of Origin Community Church sunday nights. I've made friends with people in both and it's been a nice experience overall. And I think I'm keeping this one pretty short hehe.
One last note is I've been crazy listening to Imogen Heap's new single from her new album that's coming out Aug. 25!!! I cannot wait. Gonna hear the crap out of it! Here's the song via youtube.
Not too much has changed since then, really. I'm still part-time co-oping for Sherwin and like I said, no job yet but I haven't lost hope. Today, in fact, I got an e-mail from what appears to have been a recruiter for a prospective employer. Good news, except for the fact that the job would be in Kentucky. Nevertheless, an option is an option and I'd be remiss to snuff out that candle before I see what parts of the room it shines light on. The room, of course, being my proverbial situation of unemployment and general sedentary living. That said, I haven't been doing nothing (and this is grammatically correct because I have in fact been doing something). I've been sort of contracted to do some freelance web work for both my sisters with some projects they have working on, in addition to my own web site I have been meaning on constructing for the sake of having an internet presence and something to show to prospective employers whenever they ask for 'a portfolio' or 'some work'.
On an altogether different side of things, I've been enjoying singing in the worship team at church sunday mornings for the Ridge and being part of Origin Community Church sunday nights. I've made friends with people in both and it's been a nice experience overall. And I think I'm keeping this one pretty short hehe.
One last note is I've been crazy listening to Imogen Heap's new single from her new album that's coming out Aug. 25!!! I cannot wait. Gonna hear the crap out of it! Here's the song via youtube.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
California
Yes, you heard right (read right?). Effective May 27th, I moved in with my sister and her family in California. The reason, you ask? I wish I could say there's an easy answer, a clear reason, heck, even a better motive than job searching. However, here I am and here's where I'll be for a good while, I hope.
I graduated the 22nd of May with a BS in IT, which, for the record, is not a Bulls**t in Indexing Turtles*. In the search for a reason, we can experiment with RETROSPECTION and need only look back a few weeks. Actually, if we look back 2-3 months it may be even more entertaining(/boring). As most of you know, I was working for The Sherwin-Williams Company until... well, I may still be working for them ww (<-- those w's mean I'm laughing in japanese). I applied for a co-op with them spring of 2007. Actually, it was more like I gave my resume to a recruiter at a job fair in RIT that spring. I didn't even hear back from them until that summer while I was working in my aunt's company. Long story short (as if that ever happens with me), I got a telephone interview with Sherwin that fall and was working for them that december. And work I did! The co-op was a double-block, which means I was to work with them for Winter quarter (Dec-Feb) and Spring quarter (Mar-May) but as luck would have it (really it was God's will), I ended up extending my stay with them through the summer and then even through that fall! Went back to RIT december of '08 and finished my degree in Indexing Turtles** while telecommuting (working from far away) for Sherwin.
Needless to say, Sherwin's been a super blessing and a great experience but as the time of graduating crept closer and closer I had to figure out what I was going to do. I asked Sherwin about the possibility of a full-time position and they said that for various reasons (one of which I'm inclined to believe is my lack of ability XD ) they couldn't really offer me one. However, they were awesomely nice enough to offer me the opportunity to go to Cleveland after graduation and work for them as a co-op for up to 6 months while I continue to look for a job. Of course, this didn't stop me from trying to find a job as I didn't want to fall back on Sherwin. I started to look at job listings in Craig's list. Now, I know you know I have some SUPER COOL friends in Cleveland and they're SUPER COOL indeed but somehow I felt Cleveland wasn't where I was supposed to be. Add to that the fact that an awakening in me occurred towards wanting to rejoin family. That is, I wanted to end up closer to them and in this case that meant living near either of my sisters, since there was pretty much no way I would purposely decide to go back to PR. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and everything but PR is just not for me at this point. To that end, I started eyeing out Craig's list job listings in Nashville, TN, Sacramento, CA and San Francisco,CA/Bay area. I sent out more resumes than ever and never heard back from anybody. This time I'm inclined to blame the bad economy or my lack of experience.
Well my time at RIT began to come to an end and I was sort of beginning to scramble to decide. I was trying to hold out as long as I could to get a job elsewhere and have a valid reason not to go back to Cleveland. Alas, it never came. And then something quite interesting happened. I went back to Cleveland for Russ and Kindel's wedding the second weekend of May. In one of the many conversations that I had, a friend told me of something she did. She went out on a limb to NYC without a job and found one after she got there. This clicked in my head and made perfect sense to me! A sort of epiphany almost, then again it was probably God talking through her testimony. Whatever the case, I knew what I was going to do... or at least attempt to do! Because Bay Area had yielded the most job listings, I thought it'd be a good idea to ask my sister who lives in Cali so I gave her a call. Her reply was great! She was totally in tune with the possibility of me going out there and even opened her house to me. Within a week I had booked my plane ticket and was rearing to go.
My parents came to Rochester for my graduation on thursday the 21st and joined me and tons of my friends for graduation on the 22nd. They stayed around until the following week's wednesday, which happened to be the day my flight out to Cali was. They helped me A TON with getting all my stuff shipped as well as some other people like Bucky, Ryan and Moses and Uncle Jim helping me get rid of some of my other stuff. Finally, after spending way too much money shipping everything (it still would've been twice as much to use u-haul or a moving company) Wednesday came and off we went. And here I am, crashing at my sister's place until I find me a job so I can hopefully find my own place (in this world*** www). It's been really nice out here hangin out with my sister and bro-in-law and nephew (Coppelia, Adam and Christopher respectively). I'm glad to be part of the family and am trying to help out as much as I can. In fact, I even helped out with worship at church today :) So yeah, maybe I don't really have a reason to be here but I'm absolutely certain there's a purpose behind it all.
TaT out.
* terrible joke #1
** reference to terrible joke #1
*** terrible joke # 2
I graduated the 22nd of May with a BS in IT, which, for the record, is not a Bulls**t in Indexing Turtles*. In the search for a reason, we can experiment with RETROSPECTION and need only look back a few weeks. Actually, if we look back 2-3 months it may be even more entertaining(/boring). As most of you know, I was working for The Sherwin-Williams Company until... well, I may still be working for them ww (<-- those w's mean I'm laughing in japanese). I applied for a co-op with them spring of 2007. Actually, it was more like I gave my resume to a recruiter at a job fair in RIT that spring. I didn't even hear back from them until that summer while I was working in my aunt's company. Long story short (as if that ever happens with me), I got a telephone interview with Sherwin that fall and was working for them that december. And work I did! The co-op was a double-block, which means I was to work with them for Winter quarter (Dec-Feb) and Spring quarter (Mar-May) but as luck would have it (really it was God's will), I ended up extending my stay with them through the summer and then even through that fall! Went back to RIT december of '08 and finished my degree in Indexing Turtles** while telecommuting (working from far away) for Sherwin.
Needless to say, Sherwin's been a super blessing and a great experience but as the time of graduating crept closer and closer I had to figure out what I was going to do. I asked Sherwin about the possibility of a full-time position and they said that for various reasons (one of which I'm inclined to believe is my lack of ability XD ) they couldn't really offer me one. However, they were awesomely nice enough to offer me the opportunity to go to Cleveland after graduation and work for them as a co-op for up to 6 months while I continue to look for a job. Of course, this didn't stop me from trying to find a job as I didn't want to fall back on Sherwin. I started to look at job listings in Craig's list. Now, I know you know I have some SUPER COOL friends in Cleveland and they're SUPER COOL indeed but somehow I felt Cleveland wasn't where I was supposed to be. Add to that the fact that an awakening in me occurred towards wanting to rejoin family. That is, I wanted to end up closer to them and in this case that meant living near either of my sisters, since there was pretty much no way I would purposely decide to go back to PR. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and everything but PR is just not for me at this point. To that end, I started eyeing out Craig's list job listings in Nashville, TN, Sacramento, CA and San Francisco,CA/Bay area. I sent out more resumes than ever and never heard back from anybody. This time I'm inclined to blame the bad economy or my lack of experience.
Well my time at RIT began to come to an end and I was sort of beginning to scramble to decide. I was trying to hold out as long as I could to get a job elsewhere and have a valid reason not to go back to Cleveland. Alas, it never came. And then something quite interesting happened. I went back to Cleveland for Russ and Kindel's wedding the second weekend of May. In one of the many conversations that I had, a friend told me of something she did. She went out on a limb to NYC without a job and found one after she got there. This clicked in my head and made perfect sense to me! A sort of epiphany almost, then again it was probably God talking through her testimony. Whatever the case, I knew what I was going to do... or at least attempt to do! Because Bay Area had yielded the most job listings, I thought it'd be a good idea to ask my sister who lives in Cali so I gave her a call. Her reply was great! She was totally in tune with the possibility of me going out there and even opened her house to me. Within a week I had booked my plane ticket and was rearing to go.
My parents came to Rochester for my graduation on thursday the 21st and joined me and tons of my friends for graduation on the 22nd. They stayed around until the following week's wednesday, which happened to be the day my flight out to Cali was. They helped me A TON with getting all my stuff shipped as well as some other people like Bucky, Ryan and Moses and Uncle Jim helping me get rid of some of my other stuff. Finally, after spending way too much money shipping everything (it still would've been twice as much to use u-haul or a moving company) Wednesday came and off we went. And here I am, crashing at my sister's place until I find me a job so I can hopefully find my own place (in this world*** www). It's been really nice out here hangin out with my sister and bro-in-law and nephew (Coppelia, Adam and Christopher respectively). I'm glad to be part of the family and am trying to help out as much as I can. In fact, I even helped out with worship at church today :) So yeah, maybe I don't really have a reason to be here but I'm absolutely certain there's a purpose behind it all.
TaT out.
* terrible joke #1
** reference to terrible joke #1
*** terrible joke # 2
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