The nightmare of finding the practicum and internship to finish up my masters has been awful. Because I attend an online school with 40,000 students, they aren't able to help with placement at all really. When you live in the same city as one of the top medical centers in the nation, ANY job there, even an internship is hard to come by. All of my connections are at that medical center, so they were no help. Then you have three large universities who all have students looking as well. Clearly, it has been a struggle, but I think I know why. The place that God wanted me to work didn't open until October of 2011. Frustrated and exhausted I quit looking for the month of December 2011. I needed a break and to recharge for the disappointing process. So my first day back at work, post New Years, I started the search again. Having talked to the parents we had already decided that they were willing to let me stay at the beach house if I could find something down there. With that knowledge I hopped on Google and typed in "North Myrtle Beach counseling" and one of the links was to a site that anyone can use in any city to find a therapist. It said their were four in NMB; a short list but easy to weed through. Two of them worked together, one looked super old, and the third looked nice and like someone I could learn from. I did email one of the two that worked together, but I also looked up the last one to see where she worked. The center she is at is affiliated with a church that several people I know attend when they are down there on vacation. Knowing it was a Christian place did bring a level of comfort. I email her via a less than impressive "Contact Us" page for that generic therapy site. She emailed back in less than an hour!! This has been UNHEARD of in my quest for a practicum/internship. I promptly answered her questions and things rolled smoothly from there. NOTHING has been this smooth about the process. After a couple emails and a phone interview I let her know I'd be down for MLK weekend and would love to stop by. This happened and after one hour of chatting and a tour she took my paperwork to fill out! That's right, the light at the end of this LONG TUNNEL of my masters is now visible. Not only did she want me for my practicum, but barring some catastrophe between us all, I'll also be there for my internship!! This means that my degree could be conferred before 2013 and I can put that super expensive and stressful paper in its super expensive frame for all the world to see!
I must say that this degree has not been all bad. I've learned SO much and met some of the most amazing women in America. Thanks to Facebook (and Starbucks, where I am typing this from), we'll be friends forever =D. Not to mention the impressive counseling/psychology library I'm building and have no room for!
So in April, if LU is nice and approves everything, I'll leave my paying job and be moving back to the beach. And I'll be there until around December...don't you feel bad for me?! Haha. I know this post could illicit requests for visits and you're welcome to come.....if...1) The owners of the house (my parents) approve and 2) you're willing to pay a little something for the bills since I'll have to work a part time job to help out too. I promise to make it cheaper than a hotel =).
Anyway...I have a plan!!! It may only be through this year, but that's better than it has been! If you're itching to buy me a celebratory meal/drink I won't say no!!
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