Two years ago, I got another email: Time to apply to PTLA Cohort 2. According to the email, the first group was having tremendous success in their internships thus far, and with only 2 more years left on the grant, now would be the perfect time to apply. Fortunately, I happened to be working in a school with one of Cohort 1's interns, and I was truly impressed. I was already a leader of sorts, but maybe I could be doing more for kids and teachers, so after more careful consideration, I submitted another application packet. I still wasn't quite convinced, but the program really was the opportunity of a lifetime, so I put a lot of myself into the essay...and I got an interview. Of the 50+ applicants, they interviewed 14 people, and I was one of them! I didn't make it into my district's final 7; in fact, I was told that I was number 8. Ouch! Talk about reflection time. What was it that made me not quite make the mark?
Last year, when the email announced that it was time to consider applying for what might be the last cohort of the Piedmont Triad Leadership Academy, I felt ready to take the step. I had worked in all three levels of public school (elementary, middle, and high), and I had worked with enough administrators to know pretty much what I was getting myself into, and I had taken this entire year to grow personally and professionally. I felt it; I was ready! Yeah, not so much when you can't get your mind centered enough to write an essay. Or maybe you get a friend/colleague to sit down, talk you through it, and help you get started only to have your supervisor read it and ask what in the hell you are thinking. All I kept telling myself was that I HAD to make it to the interview, had to. If I could just get through the essay and make it to the interview, I would be one of the top 7. So why was I scrapping everything I had written with less than a week before the due date? Crazy, that's what I am, just crazy! Why did I have to put so much of myself into last year's essay? Why couldn't I just turn the same thing in this year? Why am I stressing about this so much? The two days before the due date was a horrible time for me; I'm surprised I'm not bald from tearing my hair out, but I finally had an epiphany--use elements of last year's essay combined with a reflection on how I grew professionally over the past year, and BOOM, I have an interview. Same questions as last year? Ok, no problem. Ready to create a killer video (the homework assignment after last year's interviews)...HALT! "This year we're doing something different. We want you to look at your schools School Improvement Plan and choose an area where you can improve performance, and then be prepared to present your plan to us next Friday." WHAT??? You have got to be kidding me! Must remember to breathe. Ok, I can do this...I think. Wait, what am I doing? How do I create a plan for improvement on something already in the plan for my school? If I come up with something completely new, won't my principal be mad that I didn't already share that idea? If I present on something we're already doing, although it's not quite working, am I meeting the requirement of the project while still towing the line in my school? What is it I really want from this? Oh yeah, I really want to make a difference for kids, or else I wouldn't be stressing myself out right now. Plan ready, Friday comes, presentation done...blew them away! And now we wait...tick tock, tick tock.
Monday: "Bobbie, have you heard anything?" No, but we just presented on Friday. Tuesday: "When do you think they'll let you know?" Last year we got a phone call early the next week. Wednesday: "Are you nervous?" Seriously, are you asking me that question??? Thursday: "I can't believe you haven't heard yet, surely it shouldn't take that long." You people are not making this waiting any easier! Friday morning: "Still haven't heard anything?" Please stop asking! Later that morning: "Congratulations!" For what? "Didn't you get your letter?" What letter? "Oh, I got a letter yesterday saying you got into the program." Are you kidding me, you found out yesterday, and I still don't have a letter?? (Goes and checks her mailbox...oops)
*Ring* "Good morning, how may I help you?" Yes, I am applying to your post-Master's Certificate program, and most of my application materials are already on site, but they are attached to another application. Will they be automatically transferred to my new application, or do I have to send requests for transcripts to all of my schools again? We only have two weeks to do this in, and one of those transcripts is from Mexico. "They'll be redirected to your new application, but you'll need to send in your final transcript from where you completed your Master's program." Ok, thank you. Three weeks later...*Ring* "Good morning, how may I help you?" I've had my application completed for over two weeks now, but I notice that my final transcript is not included. "Ma'am, we haven't received your final transcript." Are you serious? You can't be serious. (Contact transcript company AGAIN to have it resent) Two more weeks later...*Ring* "Good morning, how may I help you?" Yes, I'm wondering if you know when we should expect to hear something about whether or not we've been accepted in the post-Master's program, as our applications were due three weeks ago. "Ma'am a decision was made on your application two weeks ago." What do you mean? "I'm sorry, I can't tell you that decision over the phone, but you should be getting a letter hopefully very soon." Hopefully? Just keep breathing. Later that evening, the acceptance letter was in the mailbox.
So, do I really want to do this? Definitely! After all of that, I'm ready to go!
Keep your head up and go for it. It's long overdue and l know you perform wonders where there are challenges. Hoping to pay you a visit as a principal.
ReplyDeleteVery proud of you friend. You've got this!
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