My 2013 Reality

 Don't Stop

For the past 9 months of 2013 I have actively been seeking gainful employment. This mission was triggered by my desire to explore the world of International Development through my decision to move to the Washington DC Metro Area from Los Angeles, California. Now, 9 months later, I am still unemployed and still seeking opportunities that will warrant me sustainable income. 2013 has taught me that when you are in the midst of a struggle to not give up and that it is okay to ask for help every now and then. Most importantly no matter what keep striving and working towards what you desire.

As for living in DC, let’s just say this is a city where the best of the best social capital are working towards fueling the economic engine that runs America. So then, with that said, how does one attain an entry level opportunity into International Development? Over and over this year I have networked, hustled, and written resumes and cover letter to express my desire to tap into the world of international development. And 9 months later I am prepared to outsource myself and move aboard to volunteer in some developing nation. If you are not a returned Peace Corps Volunteer or have multiple degrees or have had some field experience somewhere access to jobs in International Development are scarce or not at all. So I am writing this post because I believe I have used every tactic, brain muscle and theory to score points in trying to get employed. Shucks, at one point I even decided to settle for a food service job so that I may have some money in my pocket to get by. Early in my venture I did not assume this would be a cake walk, but I also did not imagine this would be as difficult as it has been. So to all the professionals in development, how did you break into the field of international development? What was your first International Development job? How old were you or when was it that you knew you wanted to work in Development? Aside from volunteering abroad and or during the Peace Corps or attaining a Master’s Degree in what other ways can one attain a job in Development?

Lastly, I’m tired of this struggle but I am not stopping till I get to where I need to be and where I am wanted.

Side Note: 

In what capacity do I want to work in International Development?

I want and highly desire an entry level opportunity in International Development that will enable me to work in youth development and or social enterprise. I enjoy working with youth and want to help others create small business through sustainable efforts that will create income generation and job creation. 

Song of this Post:  She by Laura Mvula

 

Sincerely, 

The Burgeoning Turtle

You Can Dance!

You can dance if you want to

When we were kids we were told not to talk to strangers, to look both ways before crossing the street and to ALWAYS say please and thank you. As we grow old and become adults those same rules apply but now we have the freedom to choose whether we apply them or not. As a child your not fully aware why your parents' are instilling values and moral into your character, you simply do what they say and in the midst of that, they are teaching us to be cautious with our words, kind with our actions and hesitant in taking risks. Now, as an adult I find myself with those same values that my mother instilled in me but along with that are also some of her fears that she instilled through her ways and perspective on life. The older I get I find it amazing how similar I am to my mother and how I carry some of her characteristics and manners. But I digress, I was moved to write this blog post because I want to share and express the importance of taking risk and believing in chance. I've stepped out on faith and believed in chance multiple times which has benefited me greatly. Sometimes it's feast and sometimes its famine and its always a lesson to be learned. I believe we all must go through a trail and error phase where we discover what we like and where exactly our passion will direct us. And with the risk of taking a chance and stepping out on faith, one must also believe that pursuing anything will always have some sort of risk. The beautiful part of it all, is that when you make the decision to act on intuition and go for your goals its you simply deciding to dance to your own tune. For some, this may take a lifetime to learn and for others its second nature. I call it dancing with life, sometimes you will have a partner, sometimes you will be alone, sometimes your steps are organized and most of the time you are dancing by chance. Be daring, be brave and be willing to dance in risk believing that at the end of it all you will come out on top!

Song of this post: The Safety Dance by Sleeping at Last


Sincerely,

The Burgeoning Turtle

What's Important?

What's Important? 

Ever since I turned 25, my view of life has transformed into this more sincere, decisive and genuine perspective. I suppose its me finally taking life seriously and concluding I must make more decisive choices as it pertains to my well being. Simply put, for me its been the first hump in my maturation and for that I am grateful. After all not everyone is blessed to see their 25th birthday. Now, at 26 I've narrowed down what I must do to sustain my peace of mind and stay sane is this chaotic world that we live in. Below I have outlined 6 things that I believe are imperative for one to prosper, succeed and most importantly sustain peace of mind. This year I finally realized that my sanity is just that.. "my sanity" and I must not let others cripple my thought process or my self esteem, it took me 26 years to finally say no and not put someone elses happiness over mine. Can you imagine living a life pleasing others while you are dying inside? Yup, that was me for a long time. It took  breaking up from my first love, a crippling mother daughter relationship and failing graduate school for me to realize that my happiness is just as important as others.

6 Things to Prioritize to Sustain Peace of Mind

1. Keeping God First

If  and when you feel alone and think there is no one else by your side, there is ALWAYS God. I have not always been religious, prayerful or a strong dedicated Christian but this year I rededicated my life to Christ and actually joined a church. And for those that know me, this was a life changing experience to say the least and I am super excited! I still am growing in the word of Christ but I now realize having a relationship with God will ultimately sustain my peace of mind. I am not where I want to be yet but I am not who and where I used to be! Amen!

2. Maintaining Friendships

I struggle with this daily. Its not often I pick up the phone and call a friend to ask how they are doing but the older I get the more I realize how important it is to maintain friendships and have a inner circle of friends that support you. So the next time you think about a friend you have not heard from in a while, pick up the phone and call him or her. After all it only takes a few minutes to make a phone call and  ask how are you doing?

3. Family is Foundation

I grew up in a single parent household  as an only child and from that I am naturally comfortable with being alone. Recently, I've been labeled as self alienating myself which is practically a recluse. But I digress, family is Important and they serve as your foundation! This year has brought about some tough times for me and my family heard about my troubles because I was too proud to admit I needed help. When there is just you and God there is also  family to depend on. In addition to maintaining friendship, maintaining family relationships should be priority too. 

4. Education is Unending

I over heard my mother once say, Courtney will be in school forever. And the truth is she may be right! As my mother and perhaps others have observed I am a student of the world and with that mindset I believe education is unending. I believe there is always time to feed my mind and perhaps earn another degree, certificate or license. With the economy we live in now and as we proceed, the demand for highly skilled and talented human capital is increasing. However, for me education is a treat! I first discovered my passion for learning as a student of the illustrious Spelman College. 

5.  Love is a Gift

For the past two years, I've made my mistakes and have learned that love is a gift. A gift that should be cherished and nurtured. To find someone who loves you with your flaws is a unique blessing. I believe sex can fool you into love and that some of us can mistake lust for love. For the ladies, remember to always be true to yourself and not think having sex with a man will keep him in your life. Hold true to your values and love shall find you. 

6.  Life is for the Living

All to often I've heard this cliche quote life is for the living but the older I get the more it reigns true. Life is for the Living! And I have not been doing enough living. So, always remember to set aside some time to have fun. Too often I work and stress myself to the brink and forget that life is also to have fun. Yes, I am definitely guilty for not having enough fun and maintaining a balance of work and fun in my life. So in addition to all that I've already mentioned also set aside some time to have some fun and live your life. It's never too late to do what you have always wanted to do.

Song of this post: Those Who Wait by Daley

Sincerely,

The Burgeoning Turtle