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.