Research Begets more Research

I am just overwhelmed today!! When I woke up this morning I did not feel like today was going to be stressful at all. Every Sunday, I map out a plan for the week of what I am going to do, when to start an activity and when I plan to finish it. I also put in all of the “extra” stuff that I do such as, volunteering at the homeless shelter, teaching interns in fashion design, and meeting with my networking group. Right now I am in the middle of a waiting game. I am trying to patiently wait for my admission answers from Winthrop and NC State. So while I am waiting, I have added new projects on to my list and I think they are driving me crazy!

PROJECT #1 – Research potential internship sites/info interview candidates

I had to put these two things in one category because both go hand in hand. So while trying to research potential candidates, I realized that Charlotte’s higher education opportunities are more abundant then I realized. I actually found a website that outlines all the colleges in the USA , which I am using as my jump-off point for finding candidates. However, as I started to delve deeper into the research I found a website that gives me a more distilled list of schools that have TRIO and Upward Bound programs (which services the population that I want to work with). Now I have to reformulate everything to fit hitting these schools up HARD!! Also, I have to keep researching more stuff to get the info I need about these government programs. That’s the point where I became overwhelmed. I need a nap, LOL!!

PROJECT #2 – Narrow down my job choices

So today was also supposed to be dedicated to re-doing my resume to fit changing careers and making a “Functional” resume. Well, I usually start this process looking at what requirements potential colleges want in a counselor. While I was looking, I realized that different higher learning institutions have different kinds of counseling and different counselors have different credentials. I was totally envious of this one woman’s background, which is now my new role-model. Her name is Mrs. Greason and she works as the Sr. Mental Health Counselor at the North Carolina School of the Arts. I must meet her…..she is definitely on my info interview list!! Anyway, this prompted me to really narrow down what I want to do and in what kind of setting. Here is a breakdown of what I came up with for my future:

1-5 year plan:
• Student Counselor/Advisor (Community College)
• Student Advisor (State College)
• TRIO/UPWARD BOUND Counselor (Community or State /College)
• Career Counselor (Community or State /College)

5- 22 year plan:
• Director of TRIO/UPWARD BOUND Services (Community or State /College)
• Director of Career Counselor Services (Community College)

***SIGH***I am overwhelmed again. I can’t wait until this grad school phase is over so I can work at helping people reach their goals. I am tired of think about me right now….I want to start thinking of others. I just need a break…that’s all.

My Interview at Winthrop University

If you are following my blog, ya’ll know that I have applied for graduate school at Winthrop University and North Carolina State University for a Med in Community Counseling.

Now for both universities, I will be interviewed by the faculty and staff before entrance into the program. On February 12th, 2010, I was sweating bullets from 8am – 2pm in the longest interview of my life at Winthrop University!!

Let me tell you what happened…..

INTRO SPEECH – So they eased your fears by giving you a nice PowerPoint about the program and how to get your state licensure to be a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). By the way, the process to getting this licensure is nothing short of cutting off your finger for admission. I mean, I will have to take 60 CREDIT HOURS (OMG that is a lot of classes with mean a lot of money), 2 years worth of 2000 counseling hours and you have to take a 5 hour test!! OMGeeee!!

ESSAY – Then after the soothing PowerPoint, they lead all 42 of us to a computer lab to type up a 300 word essay on the subject of counseling. In specific, they wanted you to write about if counseling is an ART or a SCIENCE or both. I mean can you imagine writing a paper in APA writing style for only 45 minutes!! Surprisingly, this activity was quite easy for me and enjoyable out of everything.

GROUP ACTIVITY – Then after feeling all overwhelmed, we had to go into a small room that was being videotaped by the faculty. In there you had to pretend to be the counselor and the client and act out a counseling session. That was the most embarrassing to endure because everyone was watching you. SIGH…I need a drink after that!!

GROUP INTERVIEW – This was a part that I wish I could have changed. The faculty then called each person and asked them one interview question. You had to answer in front of everyone. That format was a bit nerve wrecking but I made it through with my sanity still intact!

After all of that, I just want to crawl into bed and stay there for 2 days!! I don’t know what is going to happen at the NC STATE interview. I will let you know then.

Wish me luck on the next one!!

INFORMATION INTERVIEW #2

DATE: 1/28/2010
COMPANY: Central Piedmont Community College
TYPE: Community College
LOCATION: Charlotte, NC
TITLE: Student Counselor
EDUCATION: M.A in Marriage & Family Counseling from Appalachian State University
INTREST: Shopping

WHAT DID I LEARN OVERALL FROM THIS INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW?
I was under the impression that all higher education schools are set-up the same. Boy was I wrong!! This school has so many tiers of counselor help that I was starting to get confused. Apparently, there are Advisors, Career Counselors, Student counselors, Educational Psychologist all in the same school. So I can spend a whole month just interviews the different counselors in the CPCC organization!!

WHAT WERE THE POSITIVE’S AND NEGATIVE’S OF EACH INTERVIEWEE’S JOB?
The positive aspect that this counselor told me was that she loved working with the people and that she never meets the same “type” of student. She meets people from age 17 trying to get credits before going to a big school to a 60 year old who just want to learn a new skill.
For this counselor, the “new student rush” is the most challenging time. Around the months of June – August, so many new students go through a lot of anxiety when starting a new school and they all rush in for counseling which may cause limited counseling time with each person.

COULD I HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THIS INTERVIEW?
I think this interview could not have been more perfect however, afterwards may not have left a good impression. Usually, I send a gift card to the interviewee and for this counselor snail mail took too long and sent the letter back to me. I was furious!! So much time had passed by then that sending anything would have been ineffective. Bummer!!

ASSUMING THAT I STILL WANT TO PURSUE MY ORIGINAL CAREER DIRECTION, WHAT IS MY STRATEGY FOR SEEKING A JOB IN THIS FIELD?
After this interview, I really would like to work for CPCC. The community college is the best in the south east area according to a couple of sources and the organization’s structure is so different then anything I have seen. I really want to work for this school. I am not really sure how I can get into this school but I will use my info interview contacts as well as try to do my internship at CPCC. I think that may make me get into the school faster.

INFORMATION INTERVIEW #1

DATE: 1/28/2010
COMPANY: York Technical College
TYPE: Community College
LOCATION: Rock Hill, SC
TITLE: TRIO Student Counselor
EDUCATION: MEd in School Counseling from Winthrop University
INTREST: Jazz Music, Band, Instruments

WHAT DID I LEARN OVERALL FROM THIS INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW?
The most poignant lesson I have learned from this interview is that one has to be ready for anything when doing these info interviews. I sent this person a letter and they called me out-of-the-blue and wanted to conduct the interview the same day. I had only a little bit of time in order to prepare. Thank goodness that I had his information with me so that I did not sound completely stupid about his background.

WHAT WERE THE POSITIVE’S AND NEGATIVE’S OF EACH INTERVIEWEE’S JOB?
His main focus is to provide the student with the tools s/he needs to achieve goals related to the school and their education. This goal, when it is achieved, is the most rewarding for this interviewee.
During the months of July & August, are a counselor's busiest time because of the admission process. Because of the fast pace, a counselor is unable to give the best care and attention to each client. This is the most negative period for a counselor.

COULD I HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO IMPROVE THIS INTERVIEW?
An info interview is supposed to last 20 - 30 min and the interview I had with this counselor lasted for an hour. I was too scared to say anything because I thought that it would be rude. I need to figure out a way to gently remind the interviewee without making them feel bad.

ASSUMING THAT I STILL WANT TO PURSUE MY ORIGINAL CAREER DIRECTION, WHAT IS MY STRATEGY FOR SEEKING A JOB IN THIS FIELD?
After this interview, I knew that this field is right for me. I really feel that continuing to conduct these interviews and keeping in touch with the individuals that are working within the field will be my best job strategy. Since I am working on a graduate degree I know that I can build a relationship over a two year period and hopefully someone will inform me of a position.

I Have Been Soooooooo SICK!!!

Please forgive me for neglecting my blog...I have been sick with a sinus infection.  I am now back and ready to keep going towards my goals!!  So continue to check back.