Hello again!
I know I just posted a couple days ago, but it's better to have multiple posts instead of too few, right?
I have some good news for you all. I know I alluded to this in my last post, but I can actually confirm that I am preparing to take the Louisiana notary exam on December 2. I'm really excited about this journey. I am a big advocate for continuing education and enhancing skills. This, however, may be my biggest challenge to date. Now yes, I am taking an online class to prepare, but that doesn't mean this process won't be difficult. Yesterday was day one and already I'm mind blown. But I am set on doing this and I have a strong desire to succeed. I've only been out of school for a little over a year and goodness, how quickly I have forgotten about the daily routine I established. It's going to be quite an adjustment because the live stream of the class is on Tuesdays from 6-9 p.m. I don't have to watch it live, but I believe that will give me the classroom experience I'm used to and will help me stay focused and on task.
Before working at the law firm, I never gave becoming a notary a thought. But seeing the other attorneys with the notarial power drew me to the profession. I truly believe this is something that will be beneficial not only to me, but for my future, my career, and I want to be even more of an asset to my job. I want my work to stand out and remind my employer of why he hired me.
As the journey progresses, I'll be sure to keep you all in the loop. I'm learning about the process as I go along as well. Wish me luck!!
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
Monday, August 21, 2017
Two years later
Type, type, type.
Delete everything.
Type, type, type.
Delete everything again.
So much to tell.
But it's easier to quit.
Writers don't quit.
I'm not a quitter.
I may be the world's greatest procrastinator, but I am NOT a quitter.
There have been major milestones and revelations for me in the past two years.
I've done more in the past two years than I could have ever imagined.
So instead of making excuses or feeling bad for not doing what I said I was going to do, I'm just going to do it.
Since July 2015, I did more than I ever thought was possible for me to accomplish. These things may be simple to most people, but for me, these things were dreams made a reality.
I became president of my school's Literary Club. Knowing someone had so much faith in me and my abilities made me feel competent. People believed in me. I had a vision. And with support from students and faculty, I accomplished my goals.
I once again became the student editor of my school's student newspaper. I took a different approach this go around. I had the opportunity to pay students for the top stories and photographs they submitted. Instead of a four-page typical newspaper, because of the several contributions I received, I was able to extend the year's edition to five pages. A first. The first of many firsts I intended to accomplish my senior year.
I wrote a thirty page creative thesis. A fiction story, specifically. I had the option to write a critical or creative thesis, but I chose the latter. I could have written nonfiction, which would have been second nature for me. But the whole point of the experience was to challenge myself as a writer. And what better way to do so than by choosing the genre that was the most difficult for me? In December 2016, I successfully defended my thesis. People attended. They wanted to hear what I had to say. My written words became permeated in my school's history.
I applied for several internships at local television news stations, local newspapers, and anywhere I thought would be useful since I planned on concentrating in the journalism field. Hell, I was the student newspaper editor for a year and a half already at this point. I wanted to be in the news field. I wanted to write stories that people would want to read about and want to see on television. I wanted to make a difference. But that proved to be more difficult than I possibly imagined. I was turned down for all but one. I heard one reason or another. No positions available. Not qualified. Or--even better--no response at all. But ultimately our local Raycom station accepted me into its program. Boy, was I in for a surprise. News reporters and anchors do an excellent job of making their jobs look effortless and glamorous. What viewers don't see are the long hours and tireless efforts of producers and reporters. I have a whole different level of respect for these hard workers. The main thing I learned? The journalism field is not for me. If I was a single twenty-something who didn't have a family and so much at risk, I would have pursued that field because I did love it and felt that I had something to give to the profession. But I couldn't give that field the dedication it needs and deserves.
Which brings me to May 2016. The culmination of six academic years came to an end. In the span of one weekend, I was no longer a student; I was a college graduate. The afternoon before graduation, I received the University Service Award and the Outstanding Student in English Award. What honors! It was more proof that I busted my ass during my college years to finish. I proved it to myself that I did it. And on May 15, 2016, I heard the words I'd longed to hear: "Alane Katherine Templet, Bachelor of Arts, English."
Next step: what to do with this glorious piece of paper I earned...?
This is what the job hunting process was like (summed up, of course) for me.
Update resume.
Proofread resume.
Pray I don't sound like a dumbass.
Search endlessly in the classified ads for jobs.
Apply for damn near everything.
Hope someone has mercy on me.
Go on several interviews.
Pray I don't sound like a dumbass again.
Bomb all but one.
Receive offer.
ACCEPT THE BEST OPPORTUNITY THAT COULD HAVE EVER CAME MY WAY.
But this meant leaving behind the job I held for almost ten years...leaving co-workers that became family...leaving everything that was familiar and safe for me...and going into a field that I knew absolutely nothing about.
I almost didn't take the new job. Working in the New Orleans business district was like entering a whole different world from Belle Chasse. Regardless, I swallowed my fears, took the job, breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Which brings me to where I am today. One year later, I couldn't be happier working at a law firm. I have learned more in the short year I have worked at the firm than I've learned at any job. You can't teach people how to handle telephone conversations. Or what to do when an attorney calls your office screaming because something didn't go right. Only experience can teach that. And that's something I'm gaining each and every day.
When I graduated high school in 2003 (wow, so long ago, right?), I wrote a note in my senior book in the "Ten Years Later" section. The section gave seniors a chance to predict where they would be in ten years. Career-wise, I wrote "legal secretary/paralegal." It might have taken me thirteen years instead of ten, but I was spot on.
I've been given more opportunities in this past year than in the past ten years. I've been in predicaments that forced me to test my short term memory in ways it has never been tested before (that part I need lots of improvement).
Tomorrow I begin classes to prepare for the Louisiana notary examination in December. Wish me luck.
Delete everything.
Type, type, type.
Delete everything again.
So much to tell.
But it's easier to quit.
Writers don't quit.
I'm not a quitter.
I may be the world's greatest procrastinator, but I am NOT a quitter.
There have been major milestones and revelations for me in the past two years.
I've done more in the past two years than I could have ever imagined.
So instead of making excuses or feeling bad for not doing what I said I was going to do, I'm just going to do it.
Since July 2015, I did more than I ever thought was possible for me to accomplish. These things may be simple to most people, but for me, these things were dreams made a reality.
I became president of my school's Literary Club. Knowing someone had so much faith in me and my abilities made me feel competent. People believed in me. I had a vision. And with support from students and faculty, I accomplished my goals.
I once again became the student editor of my school's student newspaper. I took a different approach this go around. I had the opportunity to pay students for the top stories and photographs they submitted. Instead of a four-page typical newspaper, because of the several contributions I received, I was able to extend the year's edition to five pages. A first. The first of many firsts I intended to accomplish my senior year.
I wrote a thirty page creative thesis. A fiction story, specifically. I had the option to write a critical or creative thesis, but I chose the latter. I could have written nonfiction, which would have been second nature for me. But the whole point of the experience was to challenge myself as a writer. And what better way to do so than by choosing the genre that was the most difficult for me? In December 2016, I successfully defended my thesis. People attended. They wanted to hear what I had to say. My written words became permeated in my school's history.
I applied for several internships at local television news stations, local newspapers, and anywhere I thought would be useful since I planned on concentrating in the journalism field. Hell, I was the student newspaper editor for a year and a half already at this point. I wanted to be in the news field. I wanted to write stories that people would want to read about and want to see on television. I wanted to make a difference. But that proved to be more difficult than I possibly imagined. I was turned down for all but one. I heard one reason or another. No positions available. Not qualified. Or--even better--no response at all. But ultimately our local Raycom station accepted me into its program. Boy, was I in for a surprise. News reporters and anchors do an excellent job of making their jobs look effortless and glamorous. What viewers don't see are the long hours and tireless efforts of producers and reporters. I have a whole different level of respect for these hard workers. The main thing I learned? The journalism field is not for me. If I was a single twenty-something who didn't have a family and so much at risk, I would have pursued that field because I did love it and felt that I had something to give to the profession. But I couldn't give that field the dedication it needs and deserves.
Which brings me to May 2016. The culmination of six academic years came to an end. In the span of one weekend, I was no longer a student; I was a college graduate. The afternoon before graduation, I received the University Service Award and the Outstanding Student in English Award. What honors! It was more proof that I busted my ass during my college years to finish. I proved it to myself that I did it. And on May 15, 2016, I heard the words I'd longed to hear: "Alane Katherine Templet, Bachelor of Arts, English."
Next step: what to do with this glorious piece of paper I earned...?
This is what the job hunting process was like (summed up, of course) for me.
Update resume.
Proofread resume.
Pray I don't sound like a dumbass.
Search endlessly in the classified ads for jobs.
Apply for damn near everything.
Hope someone has mercy on me.
Go on several interviews.
Pray I don't sound like a dumbass again.
Bomb all but one.
Receive offer.
ACCEPT THE BEST OPPORTUNITY THAT COULD HAVE EVER CAME MY WAY.
But this meant leaving behind the job I held for almost ten years...leaving co-workers that became family...leaving everything that was familiar and safe for me...and going into a field that I knew absolutely nothing about.
I almost didn't take the new job. Working in the New Orleans business district was like entering a whole different world from Belle Chasse. Regardless, I swallowed my fears, took the job, breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Which brings me to where I am today. One year later, I couldn't be happier working at a law firm. I have learned more in the short year I have worked at the firm than I've learned at any job. You can't teach people how to handle telephone conversations. Or what to do when an attorney calls your office screaming because something didn't go right. Only experience can teach that. And that's something I'm gaining each and every day.
When I graduated high school in 2003 (wow, so long ago, right?), I wrote a note in my senior book in the "Ten Years Later" section. The section gave seniors a chance to predict where they would be in ten years. Career-wise, I wrote "legal secretary/paralegal." It might have taken me thirteen years instead of ten, but I was spot on.
I've been given more opportunities in this past year than in the past ten years. I've been in predicaments that forced me to test my short term memory in ways it has never been tested before (that part I need lots of improvement).
Tomorrow I begin classes to prepare for the Louisiana notary examination in December. Wish me luck.
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