Today I've been inspired by several things to start a new blog. Earlier I was reading a blog that I kept from junior high through freshman year of college, and it was really nice to go back and read old posts. I would have continued writing in that blog, except that I can't remember the user name, password, or email that I used to create that account. Alas, I am starting anew. A second reason is that I'm going through some pretty major changes in life right now, and it would be nice to write things down in a place that I can go back and look at later when my life is possibly a little more boring. A third reason relates to the aforementioned life changes - I'm moving overseas. During the first go-round of living in Germany, it didn't occur to me to keep a journal or a blog, so since I am doing it again, I will try to keep track of my adventures. Also, I just wanted to start blogging again.
So, a quick summary of things going right now and in the near future. I finish my last undergraduate final in exactly 5 days from now. I graduate from college in 10 days. Like any graduating senior who only has a vague outline of what she wants from life, I'm very anxious. I've got plenty of goals, I just am a little intimidated about the ways to go about reaching these goals. I could always settle with something - I'm not worried about finding a way to get by - but I expect more from myself.
I'm actually pretty bummed to be done with school. UT probably wasn't the perfect match for me school-wise, but I've met a lot of amazing people here, and I have learned a lot about the world and myself - inside and outside of the classroom. In retrospect, I would have preferred majoring in Political Science and German and French, but I'm not disappointed with my History degree. I'm really regretting not starting French earlier, because I'm loving it. Plus multilingual people are always in demand in almost every sector and job market around the world. One of my best decisions of my college career was to major in German because: firstly, I am passionate about the language, and secondly, I've received my internship opportunity as well as many other job opportunities and scholarship money as a direct result of studying German.
Anyway, I'm moving to Germany on July 28th. I'll be working at the Thüringer Landtag in Erfurt, and I'm very excited about the experiences I will have there. I think I will grow professionally and it will definitely be a step in the right direction as far as preparing me for a career in the public sector. I'll be working with a politician from Die Linke directly. No matter what happens, I know this will be a very good experience. (For those of you who don't know what the Landtag is - the best comparison would be a U.S. state government, but with more involvement in the federal government).
I have also applied to the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy to get a Master in Public Policy. I'm still waiting to hear back from this program. As I sent my application in on April 30th, I'll probably hear back within the next 2 months or so (hopefully sooner!). I'm anxiously awaiting to see if I've gotten accepted into the program or not. If I do get in, this will put me in Erfurt, Germany until August 2012. The program will also connect me with various internship opportunities in the Middle East, EU parliament, and Germany's federal government. If I don't get in, I will probably be coming back to the states in October, look for a job state-side, and apply to the Fulbright teach abroad program for 2011 as well as the Peace Corps.
Until July 28th I'll be working at the Austin Nature and Science Center summer adventure camp again! I'm very excited for camp. I've worked there for the past 2 summers, and although it's a lot of work and responsibility it's also a lot of fun. Getting to work 9 hour days outside in beautiful Austin definitely beats sitting in an office.
All in all, these past four years at UT have been very good to me. I've been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to study here, to meet the wonderful people I have met, and to be successful in my ventures thus far. I'm very excited to see what the summer brings, and what awaits for me in Germany. I plan to update this blog sporadically throughout the summer but more regularly once beginning my internship on August 2nd.
