redbirdseven

Yes, you get shafted financially and it’s ridiculous that you have to pay taxes on what isn’t even (currently) federal minimum wage if you only work 40 hours a week. And I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it if my dad didn’t help me with car insurance. That being said…I really lucked out on the organization I chose to serve with. I decided to serve a year as a VISTA because I wanted to get my feet wet and explore the nonprofit world without too much commitment. Not only did I get a great job (with a great organization and great coworkers) out of the deal, I got what I wanted in terms of exploring a career path in the nonprofit world along with exposure to different aspects of nonprofit management (a plus to working at a small organization). So if money is not the most important thing, and you are able to spend a year not earning much and willing to work hard and just see what’s out there. This is a great way to do it. At the end, if you don’t like it, it’s only a year and it’s over before you know it. Of course, a lot depends on the organization you work with as well. Don’t just accept the position before you know what you’ll be doing (and if it’s something you’re actually interested in exploring) and before you have a sense of the work environment and whether or not you’re going to have any support. I interviewed for one position where they couldn’t even give me any concrete projects I’d be working on! I know things change and such is the nature of small organizations, and I’m not opposed to wearing many hats and doing tasks outside my job description—however, the complete lack thereof suggests more widespread organizational chaos than I’d want to dive headfirst into…

I’ve given up on the clarinet. I’m really not very musically talented, and the clarinet doesn’t lend itself to improvisation and playing by ear the same way other instruments do. It just became more frustrating than enjoyable.

44.) getting my hair cut
45.) massages (giving and getting)
46.) getting dressed up
47.) did someone say clearance?
48.) getting into a tight parking space
49.) solving problems
50.) people playing with my hair
51.) kisses!
52.) hugs
53.) letters from friends
54.) giving people presents