by Jennie
2013 was one of the most challenging years for me. In May, I finished my final year of grad school, graduating with a Master’s of Social Work degree. After casually looking for a job from March through June with no success, I returned to work at a 9-week summer therapeutic program for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Throughout the summer, I continued my job search, which also included applying to internal positions at the agency where I was working my seasonal job, but to no avail, I couldn’t seem to find a job in the Philadelphia area, where I had called home for the last 8 years. I even interviewed at a temp agency in hopes I could find something through them!
At the end of September, I received a call from a recruiter based out of Colorado who fills positions for medical/mental health agencies looking for employers. She asked me how my job search was going and what type of job offers, if any I had received. I explained to her my current situation at the time, and she asked if I had considered re-locating. She had a job she thought I would be a perfect fit, but there was a catch. It was 2-1/2 hours west of Philadelphia. I was in complete shock, unsure how to answer her, but long story short, I agreed to interview.
On my 2-1/2 hour drive to the interview, I was a complete ball of anxiety! I had no clue what to expect, but God was in control. At the interview, I met the behavior analyst first. She had relocated from northern Michigan for her position back in September. She took me on a tour of the facility while the program director was in a meeting. I was still a nervous-wreck, but I managed to carry on a decent conversation and ask her questions about relocating. Halfway through the tour, the program director came out to meet us. We finished up the tour and I went back in for my interview. It was one of the EASIEST interviews I had ever been in! We sat down, and he asked me if I had any questions, so I proceeded to ask multiple questions about the work I’d be doing, the program, and population I’d be working with. Ten minutes into the interview, I felt a complete peace, my anxiety was completely gone, and I knew this is where God was calling me. If I was offered the job, I would go. I wasn’t even halfway home when I received a call from the recruiter saying they were offering me the job, but negotiations were still in the works. I received the call with the final offer by Friday afternoon. They had given me two weeks. I had less than 2 weeks to find a place to live, pack up all my belongings, and move to start my new position in mid-October!
Even though I knew this is where God wanted me to go, I still struggled with the fact that I had to pick up the life I knew for the last 9 years and move to Central PA in less than two weeks.
The song “I Will Follow” by Chris Tomlin became my never-ending prayer those last two weeks as I prepared to pick up the life I knew and was comfortable with, the life I had expected to continue living, but God had different plans, a different direction for me, and I am blessed to be called His. I leave you with the chorus of “I Will Follow.” You can listen to the song in its entirety here.
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At the end of September, I received a call from a recruiter based out of Colorado who fills positions for medical/mental health agencies looking for employers. She asked me how my job search was going and what type of job offers, if any I had received. I explained to her my current situation at the time, and she asked if I had considered re-locating. She had a job she thought I would be a perfect fit, but there was a catch. It was 2-1/2 hours west of Philadelphia. I was in complete shock, unsure how to answer her, but long story short, I agreed to interview.
On my 2-1/2 hour drive to the interview, I was a complete ball of anxiety! I had no clue what to expect, but God was in control. At the interview, I met the behavior analyst first. She had relocated from northern Michigan for her position back in September. She took me on a tour of the facility while the program director was in a meeting. I was still a nervous-wreck, but I managed to carry on a decent conversation and ask her questions about relocating. Halfway through the tour, the program director came out to meet us. We finished up the tour and I went back in for my interview. It was one of the EASIEST interviews I had ever been in! We sat down, and he asked me if I had any questions, so I proceeded to ask multiple questions about the work I’d be doing, the program, and population I’d be working with. Ten minutes into the interview, I felt a complete peace, my anxiety was completely gone, and I knew this is where God was calling me. If I was offered the job, I would go. I wasn’t even halfway home when I received a call from the recruiter saying they were offering me the job, but negotiations were still in the works. I received the call with the final offer by Friday afternoon. They had given me two weeks. I had less than 2 weeks to find a place to live, pack up all my belongings, and move to start my new position in mid-October!
Even though I knew this is where God wanted me to go, I still struggled with the fact that I had to pick up the life I knew for the last 9 years and move to Central PA in less than two weeks.
The song “I Will Follow” by Chris Tomlin became my never-ending prayer those last two weeks as I prepared to pick up the life I knew and was comfortable with, the life I had expected to continue living, but God had different plans, a different direction for me, and I am blessed to be called His. I leave you with the chorus of “I Will Follow.” You can listen to the song in its entirety here.
“Where you go, I'll go
Where you stay, I'll stay
When you move, I'll move
I will follow you
Who you love, I'll love
How you serve, I'll serve
If this life I lose, I will follow you
I will follow you”
See you in the round!
Jennie
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