Transition #2

Transition #2 of 3 in 10 days!

This transition comes with a slew of mixed emotions. Basically, it’s an emotional roller coaster.  I feel the utmost gratitude, joy and happiness mixed in with frustration and disappointment. 

This weekend B and I spent our last weekend at Camp Ramah in New England. This week he will finish his full time job with them. Even though I left my job there a year and a half ago, this weekend I officially said good-bye, or until we meet again. For the past 10 years I have summered in Palmer at Camp Ramah in New England and in my 7 years with B one of us has always been working at Camp. It is a place that brings out so much emotion in me – a place I owe an awful lot of thankfulness both professionally and personally.

B and I met at camp, many of my best friends are from camp, and much of my professional career has been with Camp Ramah. While this transition is ultimately incredibly positive as B is starting law school in the fall it was certainly came with a great deal of sadness and even confusion. I thought I was ready to leave to when we were at camp this weekend and yet when I was over come with sadness, I have to say I was surprised.

We spent this past weekend at family camp. Many of the families who joined us for the weekend have been there since B worked on family camp 3 years ago, many are parents I have spent many hours speaking with, and the staff are all young adults I (we) have watched grow up – everyone provided words of support and encouragement to B and I as we said goodbye to camp and hello to the next steps.

One family told us they can’t imagine Palmer with out us, to them we are the camp mom and dad. Another parent let me know that it was because of me that they sent their first kid to camp and they are about to send their 3 child. All of these words pulled on my heartstring and made saying good-bye a little bit harder.  The heaviness I felt during havdallah was so hard. As we welcomed the new week as a community with song and love,  I wondered if and when I would ever have this incredible spiritual experience again.

With all this in mind- I can’t imagine spending another summer at camp. Each summer I left my home and when I came back I had to rebuild my community.  It is very hard to be adults who leave each summer. I often felt like when I returned to Boston (or wherever I was living) I had to start over again as though we had just moved.  I am excited for the continuity of being in Boston through the summer and the new adventures that it will bring.

I love camp – I think it is the most significant and important decision any parent can make for their child. Jewish camp provides the foundation for a strong future Jewish commitment; there is no equivalent experience.  I hope that the mixed emotions I feel towards camp today will fizzle and what will remain will be the most positive memories and pictures of the happiness, joy, and love it brought into my life.

For now I say so long. I know we will meet again. Maybe when B and I have kids of our own, maybe sooner. For now I am taking a much-needed time out! 

Transition #1

Tomorrow begins the first of many transitions that the husband and I are going to have over the next couple of weeks.  Tomorrow is my last day at the Museum of Science. It is an incredibly bitter sweet transition for me. 

Just hanging with the Myth Busters! 

When I started at the Museum of Science I was looking for part time work doing event planning while working to complete my Master’s degree. This job was perfect for that! The flexibility it provided was amazing and everyone was always helpful when it came to shifting my hours in order to get school work done, make group meetings, or just needing a self-imposed time out.  

Being an event planner was something I wanted to do for so long and while it was part of my previous job at Ramah my time at the Museum really allowed me to explore that profession more as well as expand my horizon working outside the Jewish nonprofit world.  I have learned a lot here and I know I will take all of these lessons into my new position. 

Additionally, I have made some amazing friends here who I am sad I will not see every day.  The group of “the young and restless” are some of the most hardworking and inspirational people I have ever worked with. Their dedication to the Museum is invaluable and I know that as we all grow in our own professional careers we will make positive changes and impact the non-profit (and for profit) world for the better.  The future is bright!

So while I am sad about leaving, this my new position at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston is an amazing opportunity for me.  Professionally it will allow me to take on greater leadership opportunities.  Personally going back into the Jewish non-profit world just feels right. 

Transition 1… up next the Husband leaves his job (yep we both leave our jobs within the same week!)

#6 Finish my Masters Degree

Well I did it. I finished my Masters degree in Communications Management at Simmons College. It was quite the experience. I am not sure I ever thought I would finish high school let alone get an undergraduate degree. For me, getting a Masters degree was something I never would have imagined for myself – I am not sure it was ever even a path I would have thought possible.

I struggled in school my entire life. I guess I had a hard time prioritizing it and I never

believed that I could be successful in an academic environment. Throughout my academic career I believed that my learning disabilities would hinder my ability to be successful and felt that I would find other ways to create a successful professional career. I have always believed that hands on experiences are more valuable then being in a classroom learning theory. While I still strongly believe that experiences are the best teaching tool, supplementing my experiences with a Master’s degree will allow with to think critically and strategically in a way I was not able to do before.

To all the teachers who believed in me along the way – thank you for trusting that I had it in me. To all the teachers who said I couldn’t do it – well I did it and I did it despite your inability to believe in me and I took your discouraging words and turned them into my own positive reality.

But mostly, I have to thank my husband. Without his encouraging words, his late night ice cream runs, and his ability to manage me even when I was overly stressed out I would have never finished my undergraduate degree let alone my Masters!

It was a long two years but I made great friends along the way, I laughed, I cried, I drank some wine and learned a lot in the process!

Another one 30 before 30 done! 

#17 Write a Business Plan for my Future Event Planning Company

Well folks, I am back. I have so many updates to share I am not sure where to begin. 

 

I thought I would start with my labor of love! I completed #17 on my list and wrote a business plan for my future Event Management and Design Company. It was my FINAL grad school project (yes this means there is a post coming your way about #6 FINISH my Master’s program)

The companies name is LC Events (The L for my first name and the C for my middle name that shall not be named). Writing the business plan was a really eye opening experience. It made me think not only about my long term goals, but how long the company would need to be a “side business” before becoming a viable full time option with the ability to provide a salary I could live off of. With B starting law school in September, I quickly realized I would still need full time work and this would have to be on the side until further notice. HOWEVER I do feel like I have a great plan to put in action whenever the timing is right.

My final business plan...don't I look tired

…oh and on that note, I accepted full time work at Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Boston. While I hope one day to be able to manage my own event planning company right now I want to work full time in an organization that has amazing mentors, serves a cause I am connected to and fosters an environment of creativity and innovation. I found it all! I am sad to leave my amazing group of friends at the Museum of Science but know that I will keep in touch with many of them. I am excited for this next adventure and know it holds a lot of opportunities for me. 

This weekend I am having a “retreat” weekend with two of my best lady friends. B is coming to cheer me on at graduation on Friday and he will be joined by Robyn and Tammy (who is coming all the way from Montreal). Finishing my master’s program is a huge relief and once I am an official graduate I will write all about it since it is #6 on my list. 

I promise to be better about the blogging. I have a lot to cross off the list and time is ticking!