I AM actually worth something!

So, after the past 3 weeks of patiently waiting to hear from the Insight Fellowship, I heard today that I am invited to the 2 day (or maybe 1.5 day, it’s not clear yet to me) Selection Day in DC! I have been feeling acutely worthless over the past few weeks. Sometimes it feels like my dreams and qualifications don’t make me appear to be anything special. Especially when you are waiting patiently for an adjudication process like this one to complete itself. Next steps: Book travel plans, check on start and end times, and continue doing more research in preparation.

I also had my phone screening with JOI today, as well. I chatted with Catharine Bell about the program and told her my story and what has brought me to being interested in social justice. In talking with her, I came to realize that I have a strong interest in the areas that are personally and emotionally closest to me. I am sure this is an asset in most settings, but if I want to be a fully effective social justice activist, I need to find ways and skills to connect to issues which do not directly affect me. Especially if I am going to be matched at an organization which is not Jewishly or queer related. I feel like this is what I am trying to say: “Sometimes we don’t get to choose the change we make, sometimes the change chooses us.”

In other news: My parents are in Israel right now, and I am super jealous! More to come later…

Back from NYC

So, it is the morning after I got back from New York City for my interviews and visiting friends. The trip could not have come at a better time for me, emotionally and professionally. My informational interviews with Brent Sudduth and Leisha went GREAT! I really felt like I had a good chat with both of them, but because we weren’t able to speak about any specifics related to particular positions it was hard to gauge how they were feeling. Brent gave me some really good advice about how to navigate the hiring website, and how best to use it as a tool to focus my interests into a possible department or position, and Leisha suggested that I look into The N, as their team seemed like a “good fit” personality wise.

I got through to the second part of the Schusterman Fellowship!! YAY! Now, I have very little time to collect recommendations from people who I haven’t asked for recommendations before: an employer (Idit Klein), a friend (either Kelsey or Beebe), and a colleague from a volunteer/community project (Dona, probably). I also have essays of my won to write for the second part of the application.

In other news: my Williamstown Theater Festival application made it to New York while I was there. I asked at what point I would know that I wasn’t a viable candidate, and waiting to hear back from them. I am going to work on the JOI application tonight and try to get that done sooner than later.

I had a fantastic time in New York. It was not as intimidating and overwhelming as I would have thought. Living in Brooklyn is like living in Somerville, and the walk from where Beebe lives to the subway is about the same as the walk from Davis to my house. Navigating the subway, with its expresses and such, takes anyone time to learn. But, I did it myself a few times and I didn’t get too lost. I really really like the Williamsburg area of Brooklyn, and Beebe said that if I moved to New York she would live with me (warmed my heart beyond belief) and that the Burg, as they call it, would be her ideal place to live. I came home and looked at the price of living there, and its within my price ranges, but I am not sure that it will be for Beebe. Discussions to have AFTER I have a job secured. I really liked her friends, and they all told her that they really liked me as well! All of this worry about living in NYC seems so dumb now, and I definitely could see myself there in the next few years, even if its not next year.