Looking to better times ahead....

     Well I knew it would happen eventually, but it looks like my days working in the Civil Engineering department at the University of Toledo are limited. I was told yesterday that they have FINALLY approved my department to have a part time secretary, paid thru the university instead of a temp agency. This is something I have known they were trying to do for over a year now. It was not hidden from me that the department wanted to hire someone, they just ran into a few snags over the course of the last year (hiring freeze, waiting for approvals, etc.). I knew about it and am okay with it.

     One of the things I am very grateful for is the open communication I have with my boss. He has been open with me and the faculty that they are trying to get someone in the office who can be here more than I can.  He knows I am attending college and that the path I am on will eventually mean that I will not be able to work for him in the coming months. I am extremely grateful for the job and the flexibility that has come with working for the same university I have been attending. This time next year I will be finishing my student teaching and graduating with my Bachelor's degree as an Intervention Specialist, something I have been working toward for many years. This job came at a great time; 1 month after I was abruptly let go from a place I really didn't like to begin with. (that's a whole other blog post that I may post about someday just to let go of the bitter feeling I've had since.)

         

 

 No, I did not get the privilege to work in this building. It's reserved for the President and his peeps.

     I've worked at UT for nearly 2 years, starting in August 2012 as a temp who was only supposed to be a fill in for a few weeks while we awaited the original secretary's return from medical leave...which never happened. I ended up sticking around through multiple medical leave extensions and even after the secretary retired, I have continued to "hold down the fort", even if I didn't always know what I was doing, or did it as well as a unionized secretary might have. Up until the beginning of this school year (end of August 2013), I'd been working about 40 hours per week. As of August, I went down to part-time as I had reached a point in my program where I needed to take a full-time course load of classes that met primarily during work hours. And my boss and coworker not only understood, they allowed me to do so, letting me come in on my days off and after my classes to get work done. I know they, and many others in my building, wish I were in the office more, but they have been completely supportive of me going to school. After all, every person in my department are professors at UT as well as parents and they understand the struggle students have to work while trying to earn a degree.

     
     When I came into the office yesterday, after spending my morning with my 3rd graders and a class full of preschool students, my boss came out of his office to break the news. He wanted to make sure I new about this turn of events before HR posted the position for internal persons. (I appreciate the heads up.) I could have about 3 weeks left (if it goes to someone internal), or I could go into June or July. (if they have to post it in the newspaper). I always have the opportunity to apply, and I know the benefits would be decent. (50-80% increase in pay, probably get tuition benefit, etc) but I know I will be doing my student teaching in the Spring. I knew when I was going to do my student teaching, I would not really be able to work during the day. I also don't think it would be fair to my department to get hired on for this position, only to leave in 7 months to do my student teaching. I know I don't want to be a secretary forever (hence the going back to school thing), but I wasn't really anticipating this to happen so soon. 

     I still have not really gotten upset at this turn of events. Sometimes it takes me a few hours to really process what someone says. While my boss was telling me, I really was fine with it. However, a few hours later, as I was thinking about it, I realized that I would again have to find another job to do while I put myself through school. The idea of that just annoys me. However, the quote above has brought me great comfort and peace of mind as I tackle this new path. I know that I am working toward something great, and that in the process, I will have to leave behind some good things in order to receive some great things.