The Waiting: Over Analyze This

So I am still trying to rank my preferences for the PMI program I interviewed for last week in Albany. I think this is because I am still going over (and over and over) the interviews I had and trying to figure out which one should be my top choice. I have pretty much decided the bottom two mostly based on the other positions interest me more.

Of the two of which will be my first and second choice I keep going back and forth on which one I have a better chance of getting vs. which one would I want the most.

Case in Point:
The agency I would really like to work for was the shortest interview I had. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing. First, I arrived about 10 minutes prior to the scheduled interview time and started early and finished about 20 mins. before the alloted time was completed. We had a good discussion and I hit the points I feel I needed to hit for the most part (see below) and even got some extra bits of information in the process. As I said I feel I got most of the important points in the interview but (and this is an example of my over analyzation) I was driving in the car and think about this particular interview and it hit me. The question that was asked was about if I felt comfortable getting up and given presentations and such to groups. I replied I had no problem with this since I had to do this with my fraternity involvement. It hit me that duh! I am a substitute teacher I get up in front of strangers everytime I work and have no problems. Now we did talk about my being a substitute and things I learned from doing that. I would hope that they would realize that along with talking about my responsibilites as a sub. teacher that this would be a part of it but it is just one little thing that keeps nagging me like a scratch that can't be reached.

OH well... I will probably rank them tomorrow and then continue to replay each interview looking for that one small sign that they were interested and gauge my chances for that position and if I ranked it correctly.

The Waiting (is the Hardest Part)

Yeah I used a Tom Petty lyric as a title...but it is the truth.

I am waiting to hear back from the NY Public Managemnt Institute on a Fellowship that I applied for back in October. This is the same fellowship that I had to go to Albany in Feb. and posted the infamous blog about my massive intake of caffiene and the lack of sleep that followed. I traveled to Albany on Tuesday which is an 8 hour trip from Morgantown. Wednesday I had two interviews with the Human Resources division of Civil Service and DMV. Then later that day I attended the reception and pressed the flesh with the people I interviewed that day and some of the other candidates. Thursday I had my last two interviews with the Civil Service Division of Planning and Development.

I think that they went well and its going to be hard ranking my preferences. I think they said that 77 people were interviewing for the 50 availible positions. I am still very nervous. I have been looking for a job for 2 years now and if I don't get a position I am going to be VERY upset. I liked Albany...sizewise it reminds me of Pittsburgh or Cleveland. I have to wait and will find out the first week of May which while not that far off it seems like forever.

I've Been Typecast

Since I was in high school (10 years ago) I have taken part in the Easter choir/drama presentation at church. The first year I was one of the disciples...and yes I was Judas. The next year I said that I did not want to be Judas so what do they make me? A Roman soldier, which I thought was cool because I don't have to kiss Jesus and the character doesn't kill himself.

So as I said I have been doing this for awhile now and every year I get to be a Roman soldier. Over hte years we have had 5 different people play the part of Jesus and I have got to beat and crucify them all. I would say its been fun but that sounds a bit sadistic. Some years the performance has been very elaborate (involving lifting the cross with Jesus on it) to the very basic (having a blackout and Jesus stepping onto the cross). Now the reason I think that I have been tapped into being a soldier is due to the fact that when Jesus comes off the cross they need someone to catch him (slumps onto my shoulder) and hold him till the other soldiers are in position to help lower him into the shroud to be carried to the tomb. I don't mind, but I'm not sure how the audience feels looking at my backside.

Doing the same part does have its advantages... for instance I don't have to show up for practice until a week or so before the performance. Also this year I was not happy with the cross, since it has been modified over the years to accomendate the different actors who played Jesus. So I suggested that they should get a new cross and instead of it being one piece of wood (which makes it akward not only to lift but also for the guy playing Jesus to bring on stage) I suggested that a new cross should be 2 parts the long part which would stand in the base and the second would be the short piece which could be more easily carried in and less bulky. Well, they made a new cross and used my idea...it totally rocked and was way better. I guess when you have years and years of experience people listen to you and defer any questions or problems to you about what would work best.

I don't mind being in the role every year I try to push for more creative control over the role which keeps it from getting boring. The best part of all is I don't have to dress up for Easter service and get to wear gym shorts and a t-shirt.

The following are actual things said to me this year:
"So Chad, you've been a solider since I can remember...does the role come with some type of retirement plan?'

"Chad, I don't think I could see you as any other role in the Easter production since you've been a soldier for so long."

"Chad, I think you have been typecast."

What A Weekend

Haven't posted in awhile becasue I have been pretty busy. Between substitute teaching and playing take the car to the dealership because the "check engine" light is still coming on(but that is another post for later this week).

This weekend I went to Indianapolis, IN for the Sigma Theta Epsilon National Conclave. It was an awesome weekend. Going to Conclave is always alot of fun even though I hardly get any sleep at all. Highlights of the weekend include going to the Hard Rock Cafe twice, getting to hangout with an awesome group of guys, and being elected to my 3rd term as National President.