So last time I wrote I was packing up my professional life, and getting ready to set out on a new journey. It's been almost a year and a half, and I must say, what a year (and a half...) it has been! Despite being unhappy at my previous position, it was what I knew, and I was hesitant to give up that comfort. I started my internship in June last year, and like I said, I didn't know what to expect. It was something that I had to do as a graduation requirement for my Engineering degree, so I went blindly forth to start my new life as an Engineer.
When I had my interview I was nervous, but something just felt right about the place. I left feeling pretty confident, but still unsure if THEY thought I was as good of a fit for the company as I did. It turns out, they did too! I was impressed when I got a card from the HR department before I even started welcoming me to the company. It really says a lot about a company when they are so invested in their employees that they go the extra mile and do something like that, even for a summer intern!
Then my first day, nervous, not knowing what to expect, I walked in and at the front desk they had a sign welcoming me to the company. I got settled, and right away they had me working on a design, something that I hadn't done at my previous job in a very long time. I was treated less like an intern as an intern than I had been at my job of almost ten years.
So the summer went on, and although I knew my employment there was only a sure thing until school started back up in August, I really enjoyed my work I was doing, and was starting to realize how much I loved working there. I guess I never really realized just HOW unhappy I was before. Well it turns out, they had enough work to keep me on over the fall semester, and so I continued on working there, and trying to decided what I was going to do once graduation came around, which was all dependent on passing the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and finishing my senior design project.
Late in the fall I had a discussion with my supervisor about what I planned to do after graduation, and I threw caution to the wind and said how much I loved it there, and that ideally, if they had a position, I would love to stay on at the company. He didn't really say much, and I figured it was a long shot.
In December of 2012, I found out that I passed my exam, successfully presented my project and found myself the 10th graduate of the Western Illinois University Engineering program. Yippie! But still with no job, I had applied a couple of places, but I was still holding out hope for staying on. Then one day I got a meeting request, and my supervisor and one from the Structural group sat down and asked if I would be interested in joining the structural team. I said that would be fantastic, as that was where my passion really was. I did enjoy the work I did in the civil group, but buildings and structure was my focus starting out in Engineering school. So I got an offer in late December/early January, and I began my life as a full time Structural Engineer Intern that week!
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Change
I don't like change, and there is a LOT of it coming down the line for
me and my family. My big kid just graduated from pre-K, and my baby is
not a baby anymore and will be starting preschool soon. I am so excited
for both of them, they are so eager to try something new, and let go of
the old. I love to watch them as they learn new things and try new things. I need to take a page out of their books, and just embrace
life.
I quit my job last week, and as of right now only have 3 1/2 more days here. I am facing so many emotions right now. I have been miserable here for the last few months (years even) so I am so excited to start something new. But I am also scared. I have been at this job for nearly ten years, and I know what is expected, what to do, when to be here. Those are all unknowns at this new place. Plus, it is an internship, and there is no telling what I will be doing come the fall.
I am trying to pack up 10 years of my professional life, and it is difficult to tell what I might need in the future, and what the person who takes my place might need instead. It is amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in 10 years, and the sad thing is we moved 8 months ago, and I got rid of a LOT of it already! I'm trying to slowly tackle the tangible items. The files shouldn't be as bad, I'll just toss them on a disk (or 10, haha) and deal with them at home on my time.
I quit my job last week, and as of right now only have 3 1/2 more days here. I am facing so many emotions right now. I have been miserable here for the last few months (years even) so I am so excited to start something new. But I am also scared. I have been at this job for nearly ten years, and I know what is expected, what to do, when to be here. Those are all unknowns at this new place. Plus, it is an internship, and there is no telling what I will be doing come the fall.
I am trying to pack up 10 years of my professional life, and it is difficult to tell what I might need in the future, and what the person who takes my place might need instead. It is amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in 10 years, and the sad thing is we moved 8 months ago, and I got rid of a LOT of it already! I'm trying to slowly tackle the tangible items. The files shouldn't be as bad, I'll just toss them on a disk (or 10, haha) and deal with them at home on my time.
Friday, April 06, 2012
Reflections
Here I am again, with a random mix of thoughts and emotions running through my head. It's been one of those weeks (well, a few weeks really) where I just want to crawl in a hole and stay there until everything has passed by. School has me very busy, work has been difficult lately (our server taking a vacation is not helping things in that area) the kids are wound up and I am really irritable. I'm sure everyone has those times.
But then you get news that makes all of your troubles seem so insignificant.
Last week, Dee Imlay, a fellow Lancer from a few classes below mine, was killed while serving our county. I knew him, not well, but I knew him. He left behind a wife and two beautiful children, ages 2 and 4. His wife was a Lancer also.
A mutual friend of ours posted an update Tami had posted about making the final arrangements, and how in the midst of all she has to deal with she was going to take a day off to go to her 4 year old's first soccer game of the year. It was that message that really touched me. Tami is such a strong woman. I can't even begin to imagine how I would cope if I were in the same position. Would I just retreat into my cave and hide from the world, or would I be able to face life, and embrace the little things that are still going on despite my sorrow? Would I be able to function for my children's sake, if not my own? I don't know how I would deal with it.
Dee, thank you for your service to our country. Tami, I thank you also for your service and your greatest sacrifice. I admire your strength, and am deeply sorry for your loss.
But then you get news that makes all of your troubles seem so insignificant.
Last week, Dee Imlay, a fellow Lancer from a few classes below mine, was killed while serving our county. I knew him, not well, but I knew him. He left behind a wife and two beautiful children, ages 2 and 4. His wife was a Lancer also.
A mutual friend of ours posted an update Tami had posted about making the final arrangements, and how in the midst of all she has to deal with she was going to take a day off to go to her 4 year old's first soccer game of the year. It was that message that really touched me. Tami is such a strong woman. I can't even begin to imagine how I would cope if I were in the same position. Would I just retreat into my cave and hide from the world, or would I be able to face life, and embrace the little things that are still going on despite my sorrow? Would I be able to function for my children's sake, if not my own? I don't know how I would deal with it.
Dee, thank you for your service to our country. Tami, I thank you also for your service and your greatest sacrifice. I admire your strength, and am deeply sorry for your loss.
Monday, February 06, 2012
Busy life
I want to apologize upfront about only posting when I have down days. It seems like the times I need to put words on paper are those that I have seen, read or heard about something terrible happening.
I have been incredibly cranky lately. I wonder if I have some sort of imbalance or mild depression. I snap at the littlest things, and I end up yelling at my kids (and husband) far more than necessary. I have been really tired, apathetic and generally disinterested in things. I think I am going to try upping my vitamin intake and see if that helps.
Now, in an unrelated subject, I want to write about something I heard about today about an old friend's family. Something that makes me very thankful for a kind and loving husband.
Today I learned of the death of my friend's nephews. Unfortunately, this family is no stranger to loss. Just over two years ago my friend's sister Susan disappeared. Nobody knows what really happened to her, at least nobody who was talking about it. The whole situation was pretty suspicious. It is a pretty high profile case. The police have been investigating it since her disappearance. This past weekend, her husband, who was "a person of interest" in the case, killed her two small children and himself.
I am having trouble grasping the thought of this whole situation. Susan's sister was my best friend in Junior high. Her family lived down the street from us (they still do in fact) I used to play at their house all the time There were many times when all of us girls would play in the yard together.
We are not close anymore, but I still grieve for my friends and neighbors. Not only have they lost their sister and daughter, but now these two precious children have been taken from them. Children that have been through a lot, way more than a 5 and 7 year old should have to, who were just starting to adjust to a somewhat happy life living with their grandparents.
Today I pray for this family who has been through so much already. I pray for them to have the strength to get through this. I pray for the Child Protective Services officer who witnessed the explosion first hand. I pray for Susan and her boys, who may already have been reunited in death. I pray for Chuck and Judy, Mary and the whole family, who have to shoulder the burden of loss yet again. I pray for the investigators on the case, that they can bring justice to this family and the truth to light. Only God knows what has really happened to Susan. I feel sure that He has already judged those responsible.
I have been incredibly cranky lately. I wonder if I have some sort of imbalance or mild depression. I snap at the littlest things, and I end up yelling at my kids (and husband) far more than necessary. I have been really tired, apathetic and generally disinterested in things. I think I am going to try upping my vitamin intake and see if that helps.
Now, in an unrelated subject, I want to write about something I heard about today about an old friend's family. Something that makes me very thankful for a kind and loving husband.
Today I learned of the death of my friend's nephews. Unfortunately, this family is no stranger to loss. Just over two years ago my friend's sister Susan disappeared. Nobody knows what really happened to her, at least nobody who was talking about it. The whole situation was pretty suspicious. It is a pretty high profile case. The police have been investigating it since her disappearance. This past weekend, her husband, who was "a person of interest" in the case, killed her two small children and himself.
I am having trouble grasping the thought of this whole situation. Susan's sister was my best friend in Junior high. Her family lived down the street from us (they still do in fact) I used to play at their house all the time There were many times when all of us girls would play in the yard together.
We are not close anymore, but I still grieve for my friends and neighbors. Not only have they lost their sister and daughter, but now these two precious children have been taken from them. Children that have been through a lot, way more than a 5 and 7 year old should have to, who were just starting to adjust to a somewhat happy life living with their grandparents.
Today I pray for this family who has been through so much already. I pray for them to have the strength to get through this. I pray for the Child Protective Services officer who witnessed the explosion first hand. I pray for Susan and her boys, who may already have been reunited in death. I pray for Chuck and Judy, Mary and the whole family, who have to shoulder the burden of loss yet again. I pray for the investigators on the case, that they can bring justice to this family and the truth to light. Only God knows what has really happened to Susan. I feel sure that He has already judged those responsible.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Thankful November
Today, I am thankful for having today. (Monday, Nov 7, 2011)
"Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. " James 4:13-15Yesterday my Uncle Jerry was killed in a car accident in South Carolina. We weren't close, really. He was my mom's stepbrother, and we never lived near Jerry and Nancy, so I never really got to know him.
One of the regrets I have from my childhood is that I wasn't close to my extended family. One of the downfalls of being a military child I suppose. My cousins all pretty much lived in the same place, and my brother and I were just around for the occasional holiday. Facebook has helped bring me in touch with a lot of my cousins, but it still isn't the same. I don't want my kids to feel like they don't know their cousins or Aunts and Uncles. We do our best to travel to Nebraska as often as possible, so that we can have that relationship with Cory's family, but it is a lot more difficult to do with my family, as it requires a lot more planning and money to see them.
Jerry's death comes in the wake of the death of my friends' sister just over a week ago, and that verse from James has been rolling around in my head for the past week or so. (Although, I didn't know it was from James, that I had to look up)
RIP Uncle Jerry. The world has lost a great man, God has gained an angel.
"Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. " James 4:13-15Yesterday my Uncle Jerry was killed in a car accident in South Carolina. We weren't close, really. He was my mom's stepbrother, and we never lived near Jerry and Nancy, so I never really got to know him.
One of the regrets I have from my childhood is that I wasn't close to my extended family. One of the downfalls of being a military child I suppose. My cousins all pretty much lived in the same place, and my brother and I were just around for the occasional holiday. Facebook has helped bring me in touch with a lot of my cousins, but it still isn't the same. I don't want my kids to feel like they don't know their cousins or Aunts and Uncles. We do our best to travel to Nebraska as often as possible, so that we can have that relationship with Cory's family, but it is a lot more difficult to do with my family, as it requires a lot more planning and money to see them.
Jerry's death comes in the wake of the death of my friends' sister just over a week ago, and that verse from James has been rolling around in my head for the past week or so. (Although, I didn't know it was from James, that I had to look up)
RIP Uncle Jerry. The world has lost a great man, God has gained an angel.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Saturday, November 05, 2011
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