When I was younger, I never understood the appeal many people have towards journaling. The young mind is still quite malleable, so the need to express one's thoughts in the written form is not necessitated quite as much as when you are older.
All that to say: I have so much in my mind, and I need to write it down to help sort it all out!!
So, a bit about myself to start for those random folks who have made their way here to read about my musings. I am Dustin, and currently I am working in retail operations but that is about to ALL change!! Recently (literally, yesterday) I have accepted a position with a local retirement community as their Human Resources Manager. This is such an exciting time, and also one that was highly unexpected at this point in my life.
You see, I am a full time student, still pursing my MBA with a concentration in HR. This opportunity presented itself through a friend when I posted on Facebook one day:
"I have no idea how I am going to get any experience for my MBA. Most prospective jobs/employers want anywhere from 2-5 years on the job experience. I realize I do not graduate until a year from now but I need some way to gain experience."
I posted this because my current retail job has no way to move into an HR role with regards to a logical movement. When discussing this with one of my managers, they stated that I would have to go through a process of Asst. Manager, General Manager, and then just "hold my breath" that the market-level HR position becomes vacated. Frustrated with this I posted the above on Facebook, and one of my friends from college contacted me letting me know that the company she was hired on with in the past year is looking for an HR Manager. Subsequently, this company was one I had worked for in a different capacity: as a Nurse Aide.
You see, I have had a crazy past as far as careers and aspirations.
Out of high school, I was on track to becoming a music educator. I attained my Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Music Performance degrees from Appalachian State University and taught in the North Carolina Public Schools for a few years. Ultimately this was a goal I achieved, but was not happy with the state of such a broken system.
I left education in pursuit of a new goal: nursing. Healthcare had so many opportunities with it, and I truly enjoyed assisting people in their daily care and making their lives better. I went to school for my Nurse Aide Certification and was employed with the company I currently accepted the HR position. I subsequently attained my Medication Aide and even became Board Certified as a Hospice Nurse Aide.
Leaving healthcare was difficult, as I had to admit to myself my learning capacity was not that of an RN which was my ultimate goal. Anatomy and physiology is a difficult course, and I learned in that class that it was beyond my capabilities.
I moved to retail at a time of more self-discovery, and found myself excited with a new pathway I had never considered: Business. There are so many avenues with business, and when I began reading on what all Human Resources entailed, I was immediately drawn to that concentration. Working in retail I bridged the knowledge gap between my Bachelors and the admittance requirements for my MBA. I learned a ton both on the job and during my time through school; however I was so discouraged that I had nowhere to move up for the Human Resources concentration with this company!!
Remember I said my friend from college commented on that Facebook post? She was my saving grace. I was passed up for a promotion at my store, and my predictions were correct that it was "just the kick in the hind-end" that I needed!
My friend informed me of the position, and I was so elated that I was given the opportunity to interview. I gave it my all, asked so many questions I probably made everyone's head spin, and in the end they chose me to lead the HR department for my facility!
Elation! Success! Happiness!
....worry....fear....anxiety
I am so happy, yet so crazily swimming in a million thoughts a minute.
I have school still, and this is the most compact semester I will have until the end of school. This always happens with summer sessions: 4 months of work in just over 2 months of time.
I welcome the challenge with open arms, yet I fear I may be punched in the gut a few thousand times and have to stand strong in this new endeavor.
I can make it. I am strong. I am determined.
I wanted this, I earned it, now I'm going to make it great!
Come on this journey with me, who knows...it might be fun!!
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you."
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