I don't generally post diaries because I don't generally have much to say. I like to hang back in the comments and comment on the news that I read here. That being said, I just felt like I needed to tell someone else this besides my mom and fiancee. I am so happy right now I feel like I could be flying. As some of you know (not many, I don't know who remembers some of the diaries I have posted in the past) I am currently enrolled in Chemeketa Community College. Well, today I got some wonderful news. For quite some time now I have been going through the application process to become the ASC (Associated Students of Chemeketa) Civil Engagement Representative. I felt that I had enough political (having worked on and contributed to Barack Obama's Campaign) and academic experience to represent the students of Chemeketa to the Oregon State Legislature. Unfortunately I didn't get that job, though. I got something better.
More below the fold :)
Like I said in the intro, today I feel like flying. Today I feel as if I can do pretty much anything I put my mind to. I never thought that I was made to be a leader. I always thought that I was the guy who hung in the back, and followed orders. I never thought that I had enough moxy lead anyone anywhere, but as of recently that opinion has changed.
Around March, one of the guidance counselors at Chemeketa sent me a link about applying for student government (which, I found out later, is the ASC). I kind of blew it off for a couple of days, knowing that I was NOT the leadership type of guy. I mean, sure, my GPA is alright, and I think I am intelligent, but qualified for student government? Naaaw. At that time, I didn't want the responsibilities of being in charge. I didn't want to be the douche bag who bosses everyone around, sits on his ass, and watches everyone do all of his work for him. I am not that type of person, so I thought the ASC wasn't for me. I was wrong.
In May I got my financial aid award letter for 2010 that included work study. I decided to sign up for federal work study because my fiancee Ellie and I are kind of poor at the moment. I thought it would be a nice way to give back to Chemeketa for giving me an opportunity to be a student there. So I went to the Student Life office to apply for a job in their office. I got the application and began filling it out, when a position caught my eye. The civil engagement representative position is a member of the Legislative committee at Chemeketa and deals with all the student lobbying. That sounded like something I could do. I am pretty good a schmoozing, I can certainly talk politics with the rest of them, and I would not have any power over anyone. It sounded like the gig for me. So I applied.
About 3 weeks later I called the Student Life office to see what the status was on my application. They said that they wanted to see me for an interview. I, of course, was ecstatic, being out of work for almost a year, but there was a problem. See, I got really ill for 3 weeks during spring term, and I missed a bunch of class. In my psych 202 class, I thought my final would be on Thursday. As it turns out, it was on the Wednesday of finals week and I missed the final. The final was worth exactly 50 percent of our grade, and it was too late to drop the class without a grade. I tried to get ahold of the professor, but it was futile, because final grades had already come out. So, I failed my psych 202 class.
Normally, I would have given up and not went to the interview, citing the complete hopelessness of the situation. I knew that we were not supposed to have any F's on our transcript. So I told Ellie that I would not be going to the interview. In one of Ellies awe inspiring moments of wisdom told me that not trying would be WORSE than not getting the job. That quitting was not an option, and that I was smart enough to go into that interview and wow the job out of them. After the pep talk, I felt better, and I emailed the guy in charge of the Student life office. He said he would give me a shot.
The interview went exceedingly well. The interviewers were pleasant, and asked very intelligent questions pertaining to my background in working in diverse work environments and representing people without bias. I felt like I could keep up with the level of intelligence pretty well, and walking out of the interview I knew I had the job. I was pretty confident.
Yesterday, the guy in charge of the Student life office (now my boss) called me to set up an "appointment". He didn't tell me what it was about, so I was extremely nervous. I thought he was calling me in to say that I didn't get the job but go ahead and apply next year, we wanna see you! You know, one of those things. So at 2:30 pm today (the time of our appointment) my stomach was in knots. Finally my boss called me in and said "Adam, you know, you didnt get the job you wanted", I felt like I was crushed. But then he told me the good news.
Today I found out that I would be the ASC Chairperson in charge of Public Relations at Chemeketa Community College. That is the third highest ranking position in the ASC hierarchy of students. He said that I qualified for the Civil Engagement representative position, but my talents were needed in a leadership position. Unfortunately he couldn't offer me any talent grants (damn you Oregon Economy) but my FWS hours are going to be filled every term. But more than the money, I have a chance to change my school for the better.
I want to leave my mark on Chemeketa Community College. I want to be a good leader, and I want to represent the students of Chemeketa to the best of my abilities. I want to help get the legislation needed to keep Chemeketa running smoothly, because frankly, it is one of the best community colleges in Oregon. It gives thousands of students hope, where there would be none in its absence. It provides the bootstraps that the repubs are always ranting and raving about. It gave me hope for a new future with my beautiful fiancee Ellie, and I want to make sure it continues to do that. I am floating on air right now Dkos. I CAN DO ANYTHING, yes I can!
Thanks
rexymeteorite