I can't believe summer is already half over and it is the middle of July! So many changes have happened in the past few months that is has flown by. When I graduated from seminary a year ago, I didn't quite know what to expect for the beginning of my career. I had hoped to start a job as a community organizer or working for immigrant justice in some way, since that is how I spent the last three years of my time in seminary. However, looking for this specific job in Goshen proved more difficult than I expected. I accepted the job working with homeless as a way to continue in the human rights field. I do not regret this choice, as it taught me so much about the hardships of life and the reality that many people live in. I met some beautiful people and learned a lot. I received so much positive feedback from my supervisor, my clients, and other nonprofits I worked with. However, as I alluded to in my last blog post, the job was took its toll on me emotionally as I over-empathized with my clients and took on their pain and stress. I came home crying so many days and felt myself go into a deep depression. I found myself a good therapist and worked on learning skills of leaving work at work and self-care. But this did not seem to be enough. As much as I wanted to continue in my job and help my clients, I had to recognize that this job was not a good fit for me. I now have so much respect for social workers, but I am not one. I left the job, my first full-time job, in the middle of May without a plan for what was next.
The first couple of weeks being unemployed were great, while at the same time a little unnerving. Immediately after turning in my two week notice, I was able to sleep better and found my depression lifting. I was able to spend time painting the upstairs of our house and spending lots of time with my pet bunny and hedgehog. I didn't put pressure on myself to find a job right away, but began putting out applications and cover letters. I did not get a couple of jobs I applied for and wondered if I would have to go to my back-up plan of working at Aldi for a time. However, it was just a short time until I had two interviews for part-time jobs. The first was at the Center for Healing and Hope, a local nonprofit that provides medical care for people without insurance, as well as advocacy for immigrants. I was offered and accepted the part-time position of Immigrant Resource Coordinator, helping to run the Goshen Resident ID program, as well as providing other resources to immigrants in my community. I knew of the organization already through my work in immigration and it has been an easy transition to work there with an amazing team!
The second job I was hired at was as an intern at Flowers by Phoebe, a local floral shop that uses local flowers in a CSA, market bunches, as well as weddings, funerals, and more. I had met Phoebe while working at Maple City Market when she used to come every Friday night for CSA pick up there. Shortly after I resigned from my position, I was in her shop during a First Friday and thought I would ask about possible employment. Phoebe and I had a conversation and she told me to come back after Mother's Day to talk further. The flower shop is going through a transition and it actuarlly turned out to be a perfect time for me to come on as an intern this summer to learn to be a floral designer, then be hired on more permanently in the fall after my training is over. If you have read my blog for years, you will know that I am very interested in art and so floral designing has come naturally to me as it is just another form of art. So far, I absolutely love it! I cannot wait for the days that I am in the flower shop! I have learned so much so far and love the chance to design and learn all about the different flowers that we use! Just as art has been a kind of therapy for me, this job is proving to be so good for my soul. It uses my creative side and gives me an outlet away from the heavy side of life.
Since both the Center for Healing and Hope and floral designing were part-time, I was still looking for another job. After a couple more weeks of searching and interviewing, I accepted a half time position at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, my alma mater. The Church Leadership Center there had been given a large grant by the Lily Foundation to create new programs for pastors. I am now working as the Program Administrator for the new programs as well as other programs in the Church Leadership Center. I will be working with new pastors as they transition into ministry, as well as seasoned pastors who are experiencing other transitions. It feels so good to be back at the school that I love so much, taking on new responsibility and working with people I respect and enjoy being around. It is a great community and I am so glad to be back as an employee!
This might seem like a lot, but it has been so good so far! I love the variety of work that I do and all the different people I work with. Most of my days are spent working with other women, which has been so refreshing! I like the pace and the fact that my days are different. I am using my seminary degree as well as my creative side. I get to continue my work for immigrant justice and be paid for it. I find myself enjoying my time at home a lot more now that I am not carrying my stress home with me. I find myself being with friends more, spending more quality time with my husband, and able to work on projects that I want to do, but didn't have the energy before. My new career is definitely not what I expected upon graduating from seminary, but I am so happy and excited for this next phase of life and career!
The first couple of weeks being unemployed were great, while at the same time a little unnerving. Immediately after turning in my two week notice, I was able to sleep better and found my depression lifting. I was able to spend time painting the upstairs of our house and spending lots of time with my pet bunny and hedgehog. I didn't put pressure on myself to find a job right away, but began putting out applications and cover letters. I did not get a couple of jobs I applied for and wondered if I would have to go to my back-up plan of working at Aldi for a time. However, it was just a short time until I had two interviews for part-time jobs. The first was at the Center for Healing and Hope, a local nonprofit that provides medical care for people without insurance, as well as advocacy for immigrants. I was offered and accepted the part-time position of Immigrant Resource Coordinator, helping to run the Goshen Resident ID program, as well as providing other resources to immigrants in my community. I knew of the organization already through my work in immigration and it has been an easy transition to work there with an amazing team!
The second job I was hired at was as an intern at Flowers by Phoebe, a local floral shop that uses local flowers in a CSA, market bunches, as well as weddings, funerals, and more. I had met Phoebe while working at Maple City Market when she used to come every Friday night for CSA pick up there. Shortly after I resigned from my position, I was in her shop during a First Friday and thought I would ask about possible employment. Phoebe and I had a conversation and she told me to come back after Mother's Day to talk further. The flower shop is going through a transition and it actuarlly turned out to be a perfect time for me to come on as an intern this summer to learn to be a floral designer, then be hired on more permanently in the fall after my training is over. If you have read my blog for years, you will know that I am very interested in art and so floral designing has come naturally to me as it is just another form of art. So far, I absolutely love it! I cannot wait for the days that I am in the flower shop! I have learned so much so far and love the chance to design and learn all about the different flowers that we use! Just as art has been a kind of therapy for me, this job is proving to be so good for my soul. It uses my creative side and gives me an outlet away from the heavy side of life.
Since both the Center for Healing and Hope and floral designing were part-time, I was still looking for another job. After a couple more weeks of searching and interviewing, I accepted a half time position at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, my alma mater. The Church Leadership Center there had been given a large grant by the Lily Foundation to create new programs for pastors. I am now working as the Program Administrator for the new programs as well as other programs in the Church Leadership Center. I will be working with new pastors as they transition into ministry, as well as seasoned pastors who are experiencing other transitions. It feels so good to be back at the school that I love so much, taking on new responsibility and working with people I respect and enjoy being around. It is a great community and I am so glad to be back as an employee!
This might seem like a lot, but it has been so good so far! I love the variety of work that I do and all the different people I work with. Most of my days are spent working with other women, which has been so refreshing! I like the pace and the fact that my days are different. I am using my seminary degree as well as my creative side. I get to continue my work for immigrant justice and be paid for it. I find myself enjoying my time at home a lot more now that I am not carrying my stress home with me. I find myself being with friends more, spending more quality time with my husband, and able to work on projects that I want to do, but didn't have the energy before. My new career is definitely not what I expected upon graduating from seminary, but I am so happy and excited for this next phase of life and career!
