(no subject)
This year, more then most, has changed my life a lot.
The first half of the year was still a bit of a whirlwind - as with many years before it, I was working full time and finishing school full time, and it all just blurs together. However, I had important moments. Late last year I began running training for the store, and in January I started administering it for the Washington State Market - something that will become key later in the year. Work became increasingly demanding, but similarly rewarding, and I just pushed through.
Additionally, in early March I began work on my thesis, finished in May - "Strength in Numbers, The Preclusion of Balance of Power Politics Through Economic Integration." I had chosen the most difficult professor of my university career to proctor in because I wanted a challenge, and when I received a 4.0 it was a very proud moment in my life, and another step toward an event later in the year.
In there, I also bought a brand new car - I'd always considered this to be the mark that I was a grown up, but I suppose I still don't quite feel that way. haha.
Shortly thereafter, I graduated from the University of Washington with my Bachelors degree. It was a long time coming, and I can't even explain the relief that I felt afterward. The idea that I didn't constantly have an assignment hanging over my head was like a new breath of life that I hadn't seen in a long, long time.
Right up until I picked up more responsibilities at work - we released the iPhone 3G, which brought a whole new thing to deal with. Shortly after that, I opened a new store in California, and began work on some new curricula for the dept. at work. Things were going very well...
And so I decided that I wanted to pursue it as a career - training and instructional development. It is such a joy to create materials that help others, and see that understanding and excitement from learning. I can't say that I've ever enjoyed work more then when I get to do these things, and I began the search for my next step - and found some masters programs, spurred on by my success in academia during my thesis, that are amazing.
For the last few months of 2008, I fervently worked on my applications to Stanford's Learning Design and Technology program, and Columbia's Instructional Media Technology program for the fall of 2009. Both are absolutely amazing, cutting edge programs, at the 1st and 3rd ranked schools of education in the world (respectively). I even had the opportunity to go down to Stanford for a few days and talk with the program director, a couple professors and students - and I am so incredibly excited (and nervous) about such an incredible opportunity.
I submitted the application on December 30th, but I still have a few months to worry about it. It's not my only path, but it's definitely the one that I think shows the most promise.
And with that, here's to 2009...