Quote of the day/week

Respect me as an individual, and you will be surprised by my intellegence. I expect to be respected. Is that too much to ask for? It doesn't matter what people think about you. Bc even if you were to please everyone, there will always be someone to criticize you. Just live for yourself. You're all you've got.

 ~ Author:Alyshia Merchant~

Informal interview update

So I had the informal interview with the VISTA in that current position today. Everything went very well. She was really helpful and gave me a lot of good advice. I got my supervisor at my current job to look over my questions this morning and she helped me reword and modify what I was going to ask the VISTA, and the questions that she helped me create were actually better than the one I had originally created. lol. So special thank you goes to her. I cant remember how long I was on the phone with her, I wanna say maybe 30 mins or so. She told me that the room that I would be living in was pretty big and the apartment is actually over top of a food bank. She told me that there is large roof that a lot of them go on top at night that as a gr8 view. She told me that my closet space was pretty large too, so that made me feel better. She told me about the city and I love the fact that its a lot of free stuff to do and the cost of living in St. Louis is cheap. She discussed the pros and cons to her job. That was very helpful. A pro would def be working with the elderly population and she really enjoys her coworkers. Which is good because I feel like having a good work environment and having a good staff that you enjoy to be around is always a plus. She stated that a con would be if you had a fair where no one came, or not being able to find a driver for an elderly person. She also broke down a typical day at the job and her thoughts of the city of St. Louis. We had a lot of similarity, mainly because neither one of us is from St.Louis, and we both became VISTAs right after college. After getting off the phone with her it really sealed the deal for me. The other position that the VISTA Supervisor suggested that I look at was the Social Engagement. I personally feel like that position would be super easy. Basically I would plan all the fun activities for the elderly ie winery, eagle watching etc. That job itself seems fun too but my question is: Which one would look better on my resume; the HEALTH PROMOTION/TRANSPORTATON OR THE SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT? I emailed the VISTA supervisor and I told her that I would be happy with either position that they gave me and that I would put in 110% in either job.  I personally believe that the Health Promotion/Transportation position would look better on my resume. Both positions will allow me to network with various professionals. Since I am interested in the mental health, substance abuse, and helping the elderly population on a social worker perspective, I feel as though this would be more beneficial to my career goals. What are your thoughts? If you had to chose between these two which would you suggest? And which do you think would help me in the long run as far my career goes?  (SN I want to get my Masters in Social Work with a concentration in clinical with a focus in gerontology and mental health or substance abuse.)

INTERVIEW: FINAL ROUND

GR8 NEWS!!!! I Made it to the final round of the job..I have an informal interview with the VISTA in the position tomorrow at 9am!!! They also informed me of another position. So now I get to choose between 2 jobs instead of 1! God is so good!! What a humbling experience & a blessing. Special thank you goes to everyone for their prayers, kind words, and suggestions. This last interview is informal and I can ask the current VISTA whatever I want. I am going to ask both VISTAs in both positions these questions. I am very honored to have been offered two different positions.But I am still leaning more so toward the original position that I applied for. Below I have compiled a list of questions that I would like to ask the current VISTA in that position. If you have any other suggestions, please free to tell me.
1. How long have you been a VISTA?
2. What do you like most about your job?
3. What do you find most challenging about your job?
4. Describe a typical day at the office, if there is a typical day?
5. How is the social scene in St. Louis? cost of living?
6. How do I transfer my benefits?
7. What is your plan after VISTA?
8. Do you live in the apartments that they provide?
if yes, a. What is the apartment like?
          b. Is the apartment and the rooms furnished?
          c. Have you encountered any challenges living there?
          d. The apartment and bedroom big or small?
          e. What do you like most about the apartment
9. Do you have any suggestions or advice for the VISTA(ie me) in your position?
10. Crime rate?
11. How far is the apartment from the job?
12. How much is the stipend for this job?

 Have a blessed and gr8 evening!!! thanks for reading!!!

I AM FEATURED ON A NATURAL HAIR BLOG

Yep you read it correctly, I was just recently featured on a natural hair blog spot!!! how cool is that!?! I am very honored that people like my hair and natural hairstyles.  Anywho the website is  http://naturalsunshine.ning.com/  also check out my profile while you are there. it is http://naturalsunshine.ning.com/profile/latoyaedwards I have uploaded over 40 different pictures of my natural hair journey. There is no real order to the pictures. I tried to put dates with most of the pictures though. Happy Monday and I hope everyone has a blessed and successful week!

Busy Bee

Yesterday was Good Friday and I decided to play with the kiddies at the my job. Below are some pictures of my customs. Hey if you don't know how to have fun and laugh at yourself, your a dull baby. I hope every one has a good Easter!!!
sn. i don't have any rolls or a big stomach. i just put the costume over my regular clothes.

SKYPE INTERVIEW UPDATE

Hello readers! I just wanted to give you guys an update on my skype interview I had with the Executive Director and the VISTA Supervisor for the job in St. Louis. First off, this was my first time ever in life skype interview. (Man you gotta love technology.) The interview was about 25 mins. and I really think they liked me. I tried to smile the whole time and I thought before I answered each questions. The interview started out wonderful. The first thing that the ED said when the interview began was she was very impressed with my resume and she loved my drive to help others. They asked me some really interesting questions and I feel like I answered them all very well. A couple of questions that I answered they told me that those were the best responses that they had ever heard. At the end of the interview the ED told me that I nailed the interview and this was one of the best interviews that she has ever had. She stated that she loved my confident and my bubbly personality. A interesting fact that she told me was that ST.Louis had a lot of free entertainment and the cost of living isn't bad. They smiled the whole time during the interviews and they appeared to be impressed.A second interesting fact was that the ED is an adjunct teacher at Washington University in St. Louis. A school that I was looking at. So I was thinking in my head and I jokingly said to them. "A possible Letter of Recommendation" I said it in a joking fashion, but I was serious. Washington University in St. Louis school of Social Work is the number one social work program in the United States and they have the gerontology track that I am interested in. I don't want to get excited until I know for sure if I got the job or not. This whole experience is still very humbling and I am very thankful to even make it to the second interview. After chatting with one of my big sisters, I emailed both the ED and the VISTA Supervisor thanking them for interviewing me. They informed me that I will be notified by the end of next week if I received the job or not. I will also interview with the VISTA that is currently in that position now. But I am unclear as to if that is before I am notified if I got the job or not or after they notified me if I got the job or not. Keep me in your prayers and once again thanks for reading!!

Happy 2nd DELTAVERSERY TO MY LINE SPR 09 OWT 2 GET '3M

me at my probate..can't you tell.lol.

2 years ago today 23 women began a journey that changed my life forever. All on different paths to greatness, we have proved that we are women to be reckoned with. My love for you all goes so much deeper than people could possibly begin to understand. Watch out world for Spring 09 Owt 2 Get '3m. From the outside looking in you can NEVER understand it, from the inside looking OWT you can NEVER explain it! Happy 2nd Deltaversay to some of the most outspoken, hilarious ,dynamic, beautiful, and intelligent women I  know! Every since our Bigs let us loose we have truly been OWT 2 GET '3M - as in everybody!

OWT 2 GET '3M...Missing one LS in this picture. I LOVE MY LINESISTERS!

Natural Hair Meet Up in Hampton Roads Area

April 23, 2011 from 12pm-3pm
Bd's Mongolian Grill
Peninsula Town Center
3530 Von Shilling Dr.
Hampton, Va. 23666

May 21 from 11am-6pm
Embracing YOUR Beauty Natural Hair Extravaganza
Ted Constant Convocation Center "Big Blue Room"
Vendors, info sessions, entertainment, hair show, giveaways
Sponsors include: Giovanni, Karens Body Beautiful, Beautiful Curls, Jane Carter, Thank God I'm Natural, Hair Therapy Wrap...just to name a few
$10 Entry fee
For more info, go to the Embracing YOUR Beauty page on Facebook or email embracingyourbeauty@gmail.com.