Tue 20 Oct 2009
Constant Revisions, Samuel and Simon.
Posted by Lauren under Five Year Plan
[2] Comments
Ok, so a couple of weeks ago the five-year plan was 3 years of MES, 3 years Peace Corps = my future in nonprofit international development is set.
Problem is, I’m not sure if that’s where I’m headed. I mean, yes, the 3 years here at MES is pretty solid, but…I don’t know. I keep thinking about seminary. I keep thinking about how everyone is so inspiring and meeting their goals and making their dreams come true. Sarah G., Sarah D., Katelin, Morgan. and they’re not afraid to take the next step. Step out on faith, Danielle said. and I do.
However, I’m feeling out the path. I feel like Indiana Jones when he scatters dirt on an invisible stone bridge across a chasm. Although I don’t feel like I’m about to plunge off the side, I’m very cautious in being certain that this is the path I keep praying about. The one that is laid out for me. I know that I’ll know when the next door is opened because I’ve walked through it each time I feel it opening. Even if it seems backwards. I want to be like Samuel and pray constantly, “Here I am.” I am so thankful that I have walked through it each time, and I apologize if I am too hasty in looking for the next one, but Lord – people are dying! Not that he doesn’t know – why else would He ask us to feed His lambs? So yes, there is a sense of urgency, and maybe a little wild searching. I won’t stop searching. Today I’m going to an open house for prospective graduate students, an open house that only has those institutions with the degree programs I’m interested in. (www.apsia.org)
Which brings me to my next five-year plan. Keep working at MES and get a graduate degree. Once I am Lauren, M.A. (or whatever), I will apply for the Fulbright and GO! Sounds good, right? Haha, we’ll see what the next revision is in like, 2 weeks, probably.
One thing I wish I could do is just drop everything and run to NYC and volunteer for charity:water . Or maybe head south for blood:water mission. And that’s another thing. Charity:water’s website is so visually striking that I begin to think about my talents – don’t waste them, grow them, right? – specifically that of photography. So tonight I’m also looking into a Professional Photography Certificate Program that would give me a lot of professional training and improve my photography skillz. I won’t throw away photography like I kinda did my writing. (A seed-like talent I have allowed to fall into a rocky patch; and one which takes me down paths of rebuke when I try to grow it.)
So yeah, that’s the latest.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:50 am
Hey dear! Well, whatever you plan to do, I know you will go at it with a lot of passion and courage! It’s not a bad idea to go back to school – but it may not make it any easier to find the job you want. That said, in whatever you do, just remember to keep your eyes open for new opportunities. You’ll get to where you wanna be.
Bon courage!
p.s. I like that your 5-year plan involves 6 years of doing stuff.
I know that’s the expression, but it still made me chuckle.
p.p.s. Great, insightful blog entry, by the way. I had no idea you used to dream of writing. You’re good at it though!
October 21st, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Thanks, Sarah! I agree about school not equaling the path to the perfect job. In fact, tonight I was just thinking about looking into volunteer opportunities – there are a few organizations in Baltimore that do what I’m interested in and could possibly need some help – that way I could do what I want to do and not worry about the how of it.
Haha – in response to your comment about my 5/6-year plan, that is one of the things that kinda frustrates me. Because I set the clock ticking at about May-August ’08, and I feel like I lost about 10 months there job searching. Ack! Possibly it is not possible to acheive all in 5 years. After all, I do have the rest of my life. However, I’m pretty sure I’ll die early. (I don’t know why, I just kinda always thought I would – although this is apparently not uncommon because I’ve heard a peer or two express the same thing and I think that it could be attributed to all the ‘don’t do drugs – or you’ll DIE’ ‘don’t drive distracted – or you’ll DIE’ ‘don’t drink alcohol too much – or you’ll DIE’ etc they feed us as adolescents.) Haha. I keep trying to figure out how to squeeze it all into 5 years but sometimes I wonder if that’s really necessary. I’ve got a 5-year, vague-later-years, and retirement-years plan. Too much?