November 11, 2002 was the day I found out my mother had multiple sclerosis. It was back in the time when any medical issue with her was scary and limitless. Her body was entirely numb on one side; the doctors were guessing she had had either a stroke or a brain tumor. Like I always, I was preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.

My cell phone rang as I was on my way to run an interview at the Ginsberg Center. I was walking down the street in front of the business school, across from my previous home of East Quad. When she told me, my heart stopped. I sat down on the ledge, just in case. She sounded relieved and as she told me what it meant, I became more and more upset and scared. I don't know how I made it home. I cried the whole way and for someone who doesn't cry, crying in the middle of Ann Arbor for five blocks is impressive. It was a beautifully sunny November day, but cool. I couldn't get over how beautiful the world seemed when so much was changing. I watched how . . . Read More..

I graduated from U of M in December of 2004, hoping that being a December graduate might make me more marketable for finding a full-time teaching job. No such luck. In January, I sent out over 50 applications, had 6 interviews, and was offered a charter school job, which fell through, long-term sub job teaching - of all things! - Spanish. I took it and hated it. Allen Park is not my kind of place. I later found out I was high on the list for other schools, but not high enough apparently.
That summer, I went back to work at Sunny Days, the best camp ever. I sent out an interview to Romulus because a friend had told me it was my kind of place. I remembered to apply because I drove through it one day on the way back from Allen Park and thought to myself it looked a lot more real than AP.
So late June they called me for an interview, for an 8th grade language arts position. It was the first interview of the summer and I was nervous as all get out. I abandoned the suit attire and didn't take out my nose ring. I made a list of 3 things I wanted them to know about me, even if they didn't ask. The interview was amazing. I felt on top of my game and excited. It went over 15 minutes, which also felt great. All good signs but good signs in interviews don't always matter - the other interviews I had went great but nothing came of them. I expected nothing.
In the middle of camp chaos, I got a phone call from Romulus' human resources. They were offering me the job! And the starting salary was extremely generous. I remember screaming up and down in the parking lot after the phone call, after I attempted to be mature in my conversation but found myself blubbering things like, "You just made my summer!" (He still reminds me I said that.) I called everyone in my family, literally. My mom in Germany (pricey call from a cell!), Ryan's mom, my grandparents, my aunt, etc. I was still hopping up and down. Remembering that moment still brings a smile to my face. I really love my job. It was in the stars for me, I guess.