Future Reflections

As of November 8th, I will be a Business & Financial Analyst for Mitre Corporation in Aberdeen, Maryland. I'm really excited about it! Apparently there's already buzz going around about my arrival, which I'm guessing is a good sign. I'll be moving down to Maryland a day or two before my first day of the new job.

All things go, all things go.

Deciding to work for Mitre instead of the government job wasn't an easy choice to make. I spent countless hours weighing the pros and cons of each position, made a handful of charts and budgets to get a grasp on what my financial situation might be with each job opportunity, and lost a lot of sleep because, well, life-altering decisions tend to be stressful. But I eventually came to the conclusion that the type of work I'd do on a daily basis, in addition to the people I'd work with and the culture of the organization, make Mitre a better fit for me than the government job. And they made me a really good offer, which leverages the fact that I'd be leaving a government position and all of its perks and benefits. I felt so relieved after making my decision! It's just crazy to think about how all of this is actually happening. Just a little while ago, I was complaining about my post-college life and how I didn't want to grow up; now I'm relocating for a job and I've got a new outlook on life.

All things grow, all things grow.

It's hard to explain exactly how I feel about the move. I suppose I'm somewhere between excited and nervous. I'm looking forward to the freedom of living on my own, but I'm worried about living in a new location. After all, I've lived in New Jersey for as long as I can remember and it's all I know. But I also know that I need to be optimistic about this next phase of my life.

All things know, all things know.

I still remember where I was when I started considering Maryland as a definite possibility. I was at a family friend's house with my parents, floating on a raft in the pool by myself. I was floating there for hours, and was deep in thought the entire time (that's when an epiphany hit me, which I referenced in another blog post titled "Real Life"). When nobody else was around, one family friend asked me (as if she read my mind) if I had any idea as to what I'd be doing with my post-college life. And hence, she became the first person I told about the realistic possibility of moving. She was shocked, and replied, "Maryland?!"

"...you'd have to start a whole new life there."

All things go, all things go.

Time Flies

It's crazy to think about how I got to where I am today.

Finding happiness. Working various jobs. Graduating college. Maturing, in some ways more than others. Considering the significance of people I've met and the people I've met through those people. Friendships created, and some lost. Being a collective effort of everyone I've ever known. Laughs shared. Memories made. Lessons learned.

I never would've predicted things would turn out this way.

And, for the record, I'm not complaning; this is really just my limitless gratitude.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!

Stranger

If there's one thing I'm concerned about when it comes to my move to Maryland, it's staying in touch with all of my friends. I don't want to become a stranger. Granted I'll try to visit New Jersey as often as I can, but I want to stay in contact with people on days I'm in Maryland too. And quite frankly, mediums such as facebook, tumblr, and blogger don't count becuase they're not at all personal. Text messaging, skype, and AIM are atleast geared more towards one-on-one interactions, but I've never been good at texting, I rarely skype, and I'm barely on AIM ever. This is something that needs to change.

I've been trying to get on AIM more recently and, I must say, it's been nice. Granted AIM consists of mostly small talk or laughing about youtube links, but it's good to keep in touch with friends in any ways I can. And when people send me an IM, I imagine their voice saying what they type, so it's as if we are essentially hanging out via the internet. Okay, so maybe not... but it's still cool. I always tell people I'll go on AIM more, but I actually mean it this time!

Speaking of keeping in touch, Corey sent me the longest email the other day and I really, really enjoyed reading it. I received the email on my phone around midnight when I was just about to go to sleep. I read the whole thing while lying in bed and I had the biggest smile on my face the whole time. It was great to read her feedback on all the stories I wrote to her about, and to hear how things have been going in London so far. I also recently wrote a lengthy email to the three interns I used to work with at Fort Monmouth (they've since moved on, and one of them lives in Texas now), and I've enjoyed hearing back from all of them (although it makes me miss them a whole lot). And I received a birthday card in the mail from Casey today! She's always been know for giving people birthday cards with writing all over it, and this time was no exception. It's comforting to know that, even when there's distance between friends, certain traditions can carry on.

Real Life

I'm currently tasked with making one of the biggest decisions of my life: "should I stay, or should I go?"

In case I haven't personally filled you in with recent developments in my life, the afforementioned question is referring to which job I should pursue.

The first job I could take is a position as a Contract Specialist with the US Army CECOM Contracting Center. Essentially, it's the organization I've been employed with over the last two years as a Student Trainee (it's based out of Fort Monmouth, but President Bush mandated the base be closed by 2011 and, hence, it is moving to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland). After initially resigning from the position (because September 30th was to be my last day), I had an epiphany (more on that later) and un-resigned (apparently that's possible) upon receiving an offer to enter an accelerated program that would ensure steady promotions over the next two years. Essentially, I'd be a GS-11 in just two years, which is not a rank you typically achieve in such short time. I could then transfer to different government agencies while keeping my rank, which puts me on track with my potential long-term goal of working in the accounting or business department of a federal agency such as the GAO, FBI, or NASA. But of course, because Fort Monmouth is moving, I would have to move to Maryland for this position.

The second job I could take is a position as a Business and Financial Analyst with Mitre Corporation, which is a non-profit organization operating federally-funded research and development centers that work closely with the Department of Defense, the IRS, Homeland Security, etc. My position would involve working on budgets for Army-related projects (but I would not technically be a government employee). I first heard about the job through Emily Zupkus's friend James (thanks to countless drunken nights this summer, he's become my friend as well), who referred me since he's employed there. I got a call back rather quickly, and my phone interview went... okay. A week later, I was called back for an in-person interview at the Mitre office in New Jersey. I interviewed four individuals over a period of two hours, and honestly, I couldn't possibly imagine it going any better than it actually did. It went extremely well; they felt the same way, as made clear when they asked to initiate a background check only a few hours later. And just today, I received a formal offer from them. That job would require moving to Maryland as well.

So there's a 100% chance that I'll be moving to Maryland.

Before you ask why I'm pondering to "stay" or "go" if both jobs are clearly in Maryland (and hence, I'm clearly going), I should explain that I already took the government job as a Contract Specialist. I'm actually a Maryland employee right now... but working at Fort Monmouth on "travel" until November. So when I ask if I should "stay" or "go," the "stay" refers to sticking with the government and the "go" refers to leaving the government for Mitre.

I guess now is a good time to elaborate on that epiphany I referenced earlier. Around labor day weekend, it dawned on me that just because I majored in accounting does not mean my job has to be in accounting. Granted I enjoy accounting, but if other business-oriented positions come my way, I should consider them for what they're worth. That's when I first started considering Maryland realistically. It was disheartening to think that I'd be leaving everything I've ever known, but the concept of moving was actually somewhat exciting to me. I wanted change. I couldn't continue living this post-college life of never wanting to grow up. I knew that I needed to step out of my comfort zone and, for the first time in my life, I gained the courage to do just that.

Now that I'm Maryland-bound, the possibilities for growth are endless. Regardless which job I pursue, I can be paid in full to get a masters degree in business administration or accounting. Both jobs offer a great salary and benefits, as well as opportunities to travel. And since both jobs are government-related, I can still ultimately satisfy my long-term goals.

I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a big change. This is a massive change.

I actually received a variety of feedback from friends I previously told this news to. Some got upset and begged me to stay, and others thought I was making the right decision and offered their support, and some offered responses that were in-between (for example, Michelle Fried made me a list of pros and cons). In one instance, I was told to "shut the fuck up," and in another instance, I was slapped across the face, without hesitation. Regardless which response I received, I appreciated seeing how much my friends truly do care. But rest assured, there's no need to say goodbye. Maryland is only two hours away, and I intend to be in New Jersey every other weekend, atleast. There are many of you who I want to remain in my life, and as long as you reciprocate, then I promise we'll make that happen.

This is not the end. It's a new beginning.