It's been a done deal for a while, but I was waiting for an official word (such as posting of a job description) before writing (here) that I'm leaving my job at the end of June.
Why? It became real evident last fall that it was time to go do something else. I have been hanging around for 16 years, including my time as a student, and it's time for change, for an early mid-life crisis, for uprooting. I'm really grateful for the things I've learned, for the places I've been, for the work I've done. I'll miss the academic schedule, the flexibility of being a one-person office, working on Lookout Mountain, and working with students. But I'm really excited about leaving. It'll be good for me and good for the institution.
What am I gonna do? I'll wait tables for a year and then go to law school. No, I don't know where I'll go to school, and I also don't know what kind of law I'll pursue. (It may be the case that I'll never practice, that a law degree would simply open a ton of doors.) Though I do sometimes think about moving to NY and working with and for the homeless community--you know, working on behalf of 'the least of these.' One of my long-time friends has said, "You should move to Nashville and do entertainment law."
I have a while to think about all that stuff.
Those of you who have envied and wanted my job--well, I need to say that there won't be a replacement for me next year. On July 1, various people will be taking over parts of my job for at least a year.
Last week I was talking to a volunteer coordinator that I work with once a year, and she said, "Well, is this all good news? Should I be happy for you?"
Yes, it is. Yes, you should.
Posted by mike at March 15, 2005 07:54 PMWell, Mike, I wish you the best! What a big step; it sounds like a great plan.
You know, New Orleans is a great city....like a giant St. Elmo....
Posted by: Jeannette at March 16, 2005 10:10 AMIt can be hard to uproot your life like this but I am excited for you! Covenant will not be the same without you. :)
Posted by: jlg at March 16, 2005 11:25 AMvery cool. if the world needs any more lawyers, they should be more like you.
Posted by: bobw at March 16, 2005 12:00 PMnashville sounds like a good option, but i'm biased. =)
i'm happy for you... and glad you'll be in chatta for a bit.
Posted by: amt at March 16, 2005 05:39 PMwell mike, i have envied and wanted your job, so i'll guess i'll wait till next year. ;)
it's pretty amazing to say "no" something without knowing exactly what you're saying "yes" to. it allows for doors of opportunity to be tested that you may have never seen before.
Posted by: charity at March 17, 2005 09:35 AMThat's great! Change can be such a breath of fresh air. Good luck getting the details all worked out!
Posted by: Shannon at March 17, 2005 07:40 PMOK, so it doesn't exactly apply to your life unless you think of waiting tables as a weekend after a 16 year workweek and you meet some girl after leaving your job, but it was the first song that came to mind:
This backbreakin', boneshakin', bellyachin',
Hardworkin', two more hours to go
Yes, it's keepin' me alive doin' nine to five
And I got nothin' to show
Pretty soon I'll be leavin', with the wages
I'm receiving, but I know it's gonna be alright
Come on, babe, and take me away
We got some money to spend tonight
Pick me up at the station, meet me at the train
Have a meal and a shower and a change of clothes
I can't afford a vacation, but I can take the strain
Long as I can be with you, find a way to burn it as quickly as I earn it
And it's backbreakin', boneshakin', bellyachin',
Hardworkin', two more hours to go
Seven long years for the same corporation and
I ain't got nothin' to show
And tonight when I'm leavin' I'll be just breakin'
Even but i know it's gonna be alright
I shake off my blues when you put on your shoes
We got some money to spend tonight
I don't wanna stand here and sound accusin'
Ev'rybody does their share of losin'
If I'm gonna lose it I might as well be doin' it right
And it's backbreakin', boneshakin', bellyachin',
Hardworkin', two more hours to go
It's keepin' me alive doin' nine to five
And I got nothin' to show
And tonight when I'm leavin' I'll be just breakin'
Even but I know it's gonna be alright
Come on, babe, and take me away
We got some money to spend tonight
Come on, babe, and take me away
Got some money to spend tonight
-- Billy Joel, 1974
Posted by: bob at March 30, 2005 09:18 AMHi Mike:
Welcome to the rapidly growing group of former Covenant employees! We're thinking of starting some kind of support group to help with re-entry.
I've experienced the truth behind one of my favorite Bagpipe quotes- "Covenant is like the Hotel California; you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave." (Bill Higgins).
Re: the comment from your volunteer coordinator--I lost count of how many people asked my wife or me in some round about way whether my departure was voluntary.
Not a sign of a healthy organization when an employee's departure is assumed to be another firing rather than a career move.
Drop me a line if you want a 6-months post-Covenant report.
Posted by: Denis at April 13, 2005 08:42 PMHey Denis! Good to hear from you!
Actually, my leaving is very voluntary. I've been here a long time and it is just time for me to go have different experiences. Right now it's the end of the semester and high stress time, and I'm trying to leave well without too many loose ends, but I'm also leaving very grateful all the things I've learned, grateful for all the students I've known, thankful for the home that CC has been, blessed and changed by people like Scott Raymond and Barb Schreur and the Haases, blessed in a different way by people like Josiah.
I've learned a lot and grown a lot, and I'll really miss working with students. But it's time. It'll be a good change for me and a good change for the college. And I'm looking forward to the new stuff.
Though I do wonder what's gonna happen in my heart when I drive off campus on June 30. Maybe it'll be like I'm really graduating. There is a party planned and it'll be a celebration of old stuff and new stuff, there'll be thanksgiving for 16 years and anticipation of the future.
I can hardly wait. It'll be good.
Posted by: jeep at April 13, 2005 09:55 PM