Just wanted to update quickly and say that I moved into my new apartment in Lexington on Sunday the 18th. I started working the following day, and finally finished unpacking boxes Thursday night. It was an incredibly stressful first week of work. I have so much to learn, but the bigger stress was at home. Just about everything that could go wrong with the apartment did. I will share the details about all of that soon. It's funny now, but at the time all I wanted to do was run home to Blacksburg and forget this new career and new place.
Last Friday, my parents and Dori picked me up and we headed to Maine for a week. It was nice to just relax and read on the beach. We also got in a hike, some crazy boating, and more lobster than we wanted. :) I just got back this afternoon so once I unpack all of that stuff and get the apartment clean again I will take some pictures and post them. I'm beginning my church hunt tomorrow.....I hate this part of moving....
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Show Us Your Life
I feel so strange doing this, but really, why not? I have been reading Kelly's Korner for a long time but I've never participated in one of her "Show Us Your Life" posts.
While this entire blog will tell you about me, here's a short bio. I'm Allison, turning 26 in a week, and I live in Lexington, VA, just two blocks away from Stonewall Jackson's old house. I've lived here for a year and a half and I work as a school counselor at a local high school.
I am the oldest of five kids, four girls and one lonely boy, and I love spending time with my family. I grew up in Blacksburg, VA, so I am a huge Virginia Tech sports fan, but Clemson is growing on me because my sister goes there now. I played volleyball and basketball in high school and in college (intramural). I also love to sing (my dad is a worship leader), hike, camp....you name it.
Most importantly, I love the Lord and hope to spend my whole life making Him known. That desire led me to attend a Christian college, Grove City College, in Pennsylvania, so that I could take as many classes about Christianity and the Bible as I could. I love teaching others about God's Word. I became a school counselor for two main reasons - I have a passion for high school students (especially girls) and wanted to be "where they are" and I wanted to be able to have summers off so that I could do ministry. So far I have gone on mission trips to Mexico, Belize, South Africa, and Taiwan.
What kind of man am I looking for? Well, I have an incredible father so I tend to be picky, but a heart for God is number one. I guess there are a lot of qualities that most girls want - smart, funny, athletic, but most importantly, I want someone dependable, trustworthy, and able to accomplish his goals. An adventurous spirit and a love of travel don't hurt, either :)
Here are some pictures of me.
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| With my college roommates - I'm on the far right |
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| With all of my siblings (reverse age order...again on the far right) |
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| Sisters (far right...hmmm I should change it up) |
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| This time I'm on the left! I don't always dress like that - our sorority was performing in Greek Sing |
Friday, July 2, 2010
It's Not About Me
I love Tenth Avenue North. Their new album "The Light Meets the Dark" is one of the best Christian albums I've heard in a while.
In this video, lead singer Mike Donehey explains the inspiration behind the song "Strong Enough to Save," and it reminded me of many moments on summer mission trips -- moments when I realized that the only good in me is Jesus. Only HE is strong enough to save. I can't. But He lets me join Him.
Anyway, Mike says it better. Watch the video.
In this video, lead singer Mike Donehey explains the inspiration behind the song "Strong Enough to Save," and it reminded me of many moments on summer mission trips -- moments when I realized that the only good in me is Jesus. Only HE is strong enough to save. I can't. But He lets me join Him.
Anyway, Mike says it better. Watch the video.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Here Am I, Send Me
Tim Black, visiting from South Africa, showed this video in church on Sunday.
So many questions...
So much hurt...
So many things that just don't -- cannot ever -- make sense.
"Be still and know that I am God."
So many questions...
So much hurt...
So many things that just don't -- cannot ever -- make sense.
"Be still and know that I am God."
This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
My Next Adventure
I've been planning to write this entry for quite a while because I want to share with all three of my readers the amazing way that God has orchestrated these "next steps" for me (although, all three readers probably know this already). Maybe I'm actually writing this for me, so in the days to come I remember that I am right where He wants me to be.
Anyway, the story begins in February. Over Christmas break I polished my resume and started researching school divisions. I eventually made a list of everywhere I wanted to apply, and wrote thirty-seven unique cover letters. Yes, I did. Thirty-seven.
During the months of February and March I sent in applications to those 37 school divisions and this was not a simple task. I still think the Commonwealth of Virginia needs to develop a single online application for public school jobs and then let applicants check a box next to those divisions to which they want their application sent. Maybe someday...
The time between then and the middle of May is a bit of a blur. I was busy with school, so I didn't have time to become that discouraged by the fact that not much was happening with regard to those applications. I did have a few screening interviews and received positive feedback from those, but later found out that screening interviews have VERY little to do with hiring decisions. By the time I figured this , it was the first week of May. I had completed all my grad school work, and I finally had the opportunity to invest all my energy into Operation Get a Job.
I must say that the realization that graduation was upon me and I still had no "real" leads on a job led to a bit of panic. So what did I do? I pulled out a map of Virginia's school divisions, and starting with the Grundy, systematically worked my way through each division from the far west to the eastern shore. I looked up every district on the web and decided then and there that no matter how awful the location, I would apply everywhere that had an opening posted. What a horrific list. Seriously. I wanted to cry as I filled out [PAPER!] applications to some of Virginia's most rural and unappealing areas, trying to convince myself that it wouldn't be so bad to live there. I prayed a lot while I filled out those applications. You see, more than anything, I wanted to be in Northern Virginia. It seemed the best choice for a single person and many of my Grove City friends now live there. Many of my screening interviews were for districts in NOVA and, as I said before, those interviews went quite well. Unfortunately, I knew that there were no guarantees. Some divisions told me right away that they weren't going to post their list of openings until July 1 and a principal in another division let me know that over 100 people had contacted him about an anticipated opening at his school. I knew it was going to be a long shot, and it was likely that even if I got an offer from a school up there it wouldn't be before mid-August.
So I mailed all those applications on Monday, May 10. On Thursday I got a phone call from one of those horrid divisions. They don't even have internet at school....well, they have dial-up. Their goal for the next two years is to get a broadband connection. Um, WHAT? I was seriously depressed. Then later that day another school in a more populated area gave me a call and asked for an interview. I signed up for Thursday, May 20. I was pretty excited about the sound of that one. It was a city I would be happy to live in, and the school looked nice even though it was an elementary school. Then on Friday I got another phone call, this one from Rockbridge County High School. I scheduled it for Tuesday the 18th.
I graduated the Sunday and drove home to Blacksburg on Monday. While I was driving home, I got another call from a school in the Winchester area. That interview was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Tuesday's interview went very well, although at the time I didn't know how well. It was unlike any of the interviews I had had up to the point - it lasted over an hour and I felt quite comfortable talking with the other counselors and the principal.
On Wednesday I drove up to Winchester for my next interview. This one was nothing like the RCHS. When I arrived at the end of the school day I learned that the principal wasn't even on site. I sat in the conference room with the assistant principal and five teachers (and the principal on speakerphone). I don't want to say bad things about the school, but this interview frustrated me. First of all, I drove almost four hours for a 20 minute long interview and the person who would ultimately be making the hiring decision wasn't even there. Secondly, while the teachers were friendly, they clearly had no idea what a school counselor was supposed to do and they did not like the one who was leaving. Finally, the questions they asked me were read from a list and did nothing to help me understand the school better. I also didn't have a chance to ask any questions because the next interview was set to begin (the guy got there before mine started and they didn't want to get behind). Before I left I did manage to ask what the process would be from here on out, and the assistant principal told me they would make their final decision by the end of next week and would let me know by telephone if they were offering me the position.
Thursday, May 20, was quite a day. I was staying at Aunt Lisa and Uncle Bucky's house in Herndon because it made more sense to say in NoVa before driving to Charlottesville for the next interview instead of going all the way back to Blacksburg. I was packing up my stuff around 10am when my phone rang. I will always remember sitting in the guest room at the Ray's house listening to Jennifer Weaver offer me the job at RCHS. I can't remember much about the conversation, but I do remember the overwhelming sense of relief that I felt in that moment. Although I didn't accept the job immediately, I knew right then that no matter what happened with the rest of my interviews, I would be employed in September.
Later that day I had my interview with the Charlottesville elementary school. Honestly, it wasn't that great. I think I answered questions well, but as soon as I walked into the building and met the principal I knew I didn't want to work there. That, coupled with the job offer already on the table, helped me not be nervous at all, but I probably looked like I didn't care very much....and I didn't. Then, as I drove back to Blacksburg, the secretary from the Winchester school called and asked if I could come back the next day for a final interview. My response...."Ummmmmm that's not going to work." Then I told her I had another offer that I was going to accept.
Seriously though? I drive four hours for a twenty minute PHONE interview (essentially)....you tell me that this interview is the only interview....then you change your mind and want me to come again 48 hours later???? Praise God that I already had an offer. The way the school handled the interview process made it clear that it would not be a good place to work.
To try to keep an already extremely long story from getting even longer, I will end here. In three weeks I will be moving to Lexington to be the 9th grade counselor at RCHS. I have met many staff members already and I think I am going to love this job. God clearly had His hand in the job search, and while I never prayed to be in Lexington and there are still things about it that worry me, I know that it is where I am supposed to be.
Once I move in I will post about the way God was faithful in finding me a place to live and all the amazing details of THAT journey. It's a TINY apartment, but it'll work for me. I'll try to post pics when it finally starts looking homey.
Anyway, the story begins in February. Over Christmas break I polished my resume and started researching school divisions. I eventually made a list of everywhere I wanted to apply, and wrote thirty-seven unique cover letters. Yes, I did. Thirty-seven.
During the months of February and March I sent in applications to those 37 school divisions and this was not a simple task. I still think the Commonwealth of Virginia needs to develop a single online application for public school jobs and then let applicants check a box next to those divisions to which they want their application sent. Maybe someday...
The time between then and the middle of May is a bit of a blur. I was busy with school, so I didn't have time to become that discouraged by the fact that not much was happening with regard to those applications. I did have a few screening interviews and received positive feedback from those, but later found out that screening interviews have VERY little to do with hiring decisions. By the time I figured this , it was the first week of May. I had completed all my grad school work, and I finally had the opportunity to invest all my energy into Operation Get a Job.
I must say that the realization that graduation was upon me and I still had no "real" leads on a job led to a bit of panic. So what did I do? I pulled out a map of Virginia's school divisions, and starting with the Grundy, systematically worked my way through each division from the far west to the eastern shore. I looked up every district on the web and decided then and there that no matter how awful the location, I would apply everywhere that had an opening posted. What a horrific list. Seriously. I wanted to cry as I filled out [PAPER!] applications to some of Virginia's most rural and unappealing areas, trying to convince myself that it wouldn't be so bad to live there. I prayed a lot while I filled out those applications. You see, more than anything, I wanted to be in Northern Virginia. It seemed the best choice for a single person and many of my Grove City friends now live there. Many of my screening interviews were for districts in NOVA and, as I said before, those interviews went quite well. Unfortunately, I knew that there were no guarantees. Some divisions told me right away that they weren't going to post their list of openings until July 1 and a principal in another division let me know that over 100 people had contacted him about an anticipated opening at his school. I knew it was going to be a long shot, and it was likely that even if I got an offer from a school up there it wouldn't be before mid-August.
So I mailed all those applications on Monday, May 10. On Thursday I got a phone call from one of those horrid divisions. They don't even have internet at school....well, they have dial-up. Their goal for the next two years is to get a broadband connection. Um, WHAT? I was seriously depressed. Then later that day another school in a more populated area gave me a call and asked for an interview. I signed up for Thursday, May 20. I was pretty excited about the sound of that one. It was a city I would be happy to live in, and the school looked nice even though it was an elementary school. Then on Friday I got another phone call, this one from Rockbridge County High School. I scheduled it for Tuesday the 18th.
I graduated the Sunday and drove home to Blacksburg on Monday. While I was driving home, I got another call from a school in the Winchester area. That interview was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Tuesday's interview went very well, although at the time I didn't know how well. It was unlike any of the interviews I had had up to the point - it lasted over an hour and I felt quite comfortable talking with the other counselors and the principal.
On Wednesday I drove up to Winchester for my next interview. This one was nothing like the RCHS. When I arrived at the end of the school day I learned that the principal wasn't even on site. I sat in the conference room with the assistant principal and five teachers (and the principal on speakerphone). I don't want to say bad things about the school, but this interview frustrated me. First of all, I drove almost four hours for a 20 minute long interview and the person who would ultimately be making the hiring decision wasn't even there. Secondly, while the teachers were friendly, they clearly had no idea what a school counselor was supposed to do and they did not like the one who was leaving. Finally, the questions they asked me were read from a list and did nothing to help me understand the school better. I also didn't have a chance to ask any questions because the next interview was set to begin (the guy got there before mine started and they didn't want to get behind). Before I left I did manage to ask what the process would be from here on out, and the assistant principal told me they would make their final decision by the end of next week and would let me know by telephone if they were offering me the position.
Thursday, May 20, was quite a day. I was staying at Aunt Lisa and Uncle Bucky's house in Herndon because it made more sense to say in NoVa before driving to Charlottesville for the next interview instead of going all the way back to Blacksburg. I was packing up my stuff around 10am when my phone rang. I will always remember sitting in the guest room at the Ray's house listening to Jennifer Weaver offer me the job at RCHS. I can't remember much about the conversation, but I do remember the overwhelming sense of relief that I felt in that moment. Although I didn't accept the job immediately, I knew right then that no matter what happened with the rest of my interviews, I would be employed in September.
Later that day I had my interview with the Charlottesville elementary school. Honestly, it wasn't that great. I think I answered questions well, but as soon as I walked into the building and met the principal I knew I didn't want to work there. That, coupled with the job offer already on the table, helped me not be nervous at all, but I probably looked like I didn't care very much....and I didn't. Then, as I drove back to Blacksburg, the secretary from the Winchester school called and asked if I could come back the next day for a final interview. My response...."Ummmmmm that's not going to work." Then I told her I had another offer that I was going to accept.
Seriously though? I drive four hours for a twenty minute PHONE interview (essentially)....you tell me that this interview is the only interview....then you change your mind and want me to come again 48 hours later???? Praise God that I already had an offer. The way the school handled the interview process made it clear that it would not be a good place to work.
To try to keep an already extremely long story from getting even longer, I will end here. In three weeks I will be moving to Lexington to be the 9th grade counselor at RCHS. I have met many staff members already and I think I am going to love this job. God clearly had His hand in the job search, and while I never prayed to be in Lexington and there are still things about it that worry me, I know that it is where I am supposed to be.
Once I move in I will post about the way God was faithful in finding me a place to live and all the amazing details of THAT journey. It's a TINY apartment, but it'll work for me. I'll try to post pics when it finally starts looking homey.
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