Training is Fun

This week I taught my first true training course. It was on external referral certificates. The course lasted for 2 1/2 days and although I was physically and mentally exhausted at the end of each day, I loved it! At first, I was full of anxiety about presenting the material. After all, it was my first class and although I was given some guidance about what to train, it was all up to me about how to train. I was scared to death about what the students (my peers) would think of me and the materials I had prepared. Not to mention, that I was afraid of what they might ask especially because I was teaching a course about something I was familiar with but I hadn't actually been involved with on a regular basis for almost 3 years. You see, I recruit for positions that are open to the public which involves a different set of rules and procedures than positions that are limited to external candidates that fall under specific recruitment categories.

Anyway, the point is that although I was a little worried about how it would all go, I faced my fears head on and I loved being a trainer! Yes, it was challenging and exhausting, but in a very good way. It was almost as though I was back in school again! (Did I mention that I loved school, especially college?)
As a trainer, I was being challenged with random questions, I needed to think critically, I prepared activities and presentations, and I could adjust my training material as needed. It was great and now, I can catch up on my rest...before I finish responding to the list of questions they left me that I promised I would research for them. I really think training people is going to make me a happier and stronger HR Specialist. :)

Love What You Do

Over the last 6 months I've been seriously re-thinking my job and career choice. One thing I learned in grad school was that successful people find jobs that they love and are great in. Although I like my job and I am good at my job I don't think it's what I'm meant to do. Several years ago I started noticing something wasn't quite right between my job and me but I didn't know what it was because for the most part, I loved my organization's culture and people. Initially, I had thought it had something to do with the massive reorganization we underwent to "lean" our processes but over the last 2 years I started realizing that it was because I didn't love what I did and I wasn't "great" at what I did. Sure, I am good at my job but I don't think I'm great.


Despite feeling mismatched with my job, my supervisors have given me several opportunities to excel and find aspects of my job that I do absolutely love. For instance, about 3 years ago I started being tasked with briefing senior leaders about our HR systems. Although I have a lot of anxiety about presenting material in front of others, I quickly discovered that presenting briefings was something I got a "work high" from. Plus, I was briefing people about a favorite part of my job (the technical system stuff) and I received several comments about how well I presented material. Thus, I feel as though presenting briefings and learning new systems is something I am great at doing.


Now, although I finally found parts of my work that matched me, I am not able to brief people on a full-time basis nor do I want to; however, I think training others would enable me to do something I enjoy (present material) without overdoing it. Which brings me to why I am posting this blog.


At work, I applied for a training position in a different section. I discovered that the manager of the training position was interested in hiring me, but that my manager did not want to let me go. Basically, I was advised that in the best interest of the organization, I would not be able to leave my current area until I work in the area for 1 full year but that I could guest instruct on an as needed basis. As a result, thinking that my work situation was not that bad, I accepted the explanation and agreed to be a guest instructor instead of a full-time instructor. After all, I like everyone on my team and I still enjoy some parts of my job. Plus, I've learned that there are some battles not worth fighting, especially the ones I am most likely to lose. Although I initially accepted my fate without too much concern, over time, I started feeling as though I was being held back from reaching my potential and from doing something that I believe I would truly enjoy. Not to mention that being a trainer was part of my 5 year goal plan (7 years ago). As a result, I find myself not as excited about work as I used to be and I find myself fighting to make it to work in the morning and racing out of work in the afternoon.


However, I was recently asked to guest instruct a course and suddenly my excitement and motivation came back. It was amazing. I found myself naturally happy to be at work again and I look forward to going to work again, but only when I'm working on the training material. When I think of my other work I get a sinking feeling in stomach because I realize that it's only a matter of time before I will need to resume my normal workload again and be stuck behind my desk.


Yes, a desk is the last place I pictured myself ever working but it is where I have spent almost all of my professional career.


Although I understand why my supervisor did not want to let me go, I cannot understand why anyone would want to hold someone back from something that would make them happy. I have not given up hope that I will one day be working in a job that I love and that best fits me and in the mean time I am loving my current guest instructor assignment. Next week I will have my first guest instructor class and I will learn whether or not training is where I belong.

Helotes Elementary Cold Stone Night

Jacob serving Cold Stone ice cream

Ever since Jacob started working at Helotes Elementary, I've been looking forward to him working during one of their fundraiser nights and Jacob's been looking forward to achieving his "other" career dreams.

Tonight was one of those nights! Tonight, Jacob worked at Cold Stone Creamery. What more could I have asked for? I saw Jacob in action at an ice cream place (he looked so cute) and I got to eat Cold Stone ice cream! Plus, Jacob achieved one of his career dreams. You see, he's always dreamed of working at either Cold Stone or Marble Slab. (His other dream is to work at Subway, but we're still working on that one).

Jacob and his teacher friends worked hard behind the counter and raised a lot of money for his school. He enjoyed seeing his students and co-workers outside of class and his students loved seeing him! What a night! We're looking forward to their next Cold Stone night sometime in the spring.

Good Times with Good Friends

On Saturday, Rosanna, Neysa, Jacob and I went to Alamo Drafthouse for dinner and a movie. Jacob and I had heard of Alamo Drafthouse from a few of our friends but we never had an excuse to go there until Rosanna suggested it for our group night out. Although Westlakes Theater was one of our frequent hang-outs in highschool, Neysa, Jacob, and I hadn't been to Westlakes in years (Jacob and I think we were last there sometime during our freshman year in college). Needless to say, the 3 of us were "Drafthouse virgins" so the waitress (who happened to be Rosanna's cousin) gave us a crash course on Drafthouse procedures and etiquette.


After our crash course, we ordered our drinks and food. Much to our surprise, the food was really good! No, we didn't expect the food to be bad, but we were expecting bowling alley quality food and instead we got Friday's quality food. It was definitely a pleasant surprise. Jacob ordered the "Italian Job" Calzone and I ordered the "Wild at Artichoke Hearts" pizza. Both were delicious!


We enjoyed our dinner and caught up with everything that's going on in everyone's lives and then the movie began. The movie was hillarious! It was great to hang out and laugh with good friends from high school.


As Neysa put it, we feel blessed to have been able to keep in touch with such good people that we've known since high school (and one that Jacob has known since middle school). Hopefully, Brenda and Nick will be able to meet up with us next time (we missed you guys!).

Jen, Rosanna, & Neysa

Team Building Day

Today we spent the afternoon participating in team building activities at work and we had a blast!


At 11am we left the office and headed to the park for free hamburgers and hot dogs. As usual, the food was delicious. :)


Then we started the games. Tony, Greg, Elva, Carol and I represented our division in Family Feud. We kicked butt and placed 1st! It was a great way to start off the afternoon.


Then Tony payed volleyball while Greg, Elva, Carol, Janet and I played Guesstures. This game was a little more challenging for us and we were out during the first round...but we still had fun. :)


Next, Tony and I did the balloon toss. We were doing well up until there were 3 teams left (including us). I tossed the balloon a little too hard and not quite straight which resulted in it splattering on Tony. Sorry Tony, but at least we placed 3rd.


Then it was Mr. Harris, Camille, Woody, and me for the Dizzy Bat relay. Our team was doing great but in the home stretch, out of nowhere Mr. Harris and Maggie (from our neighboring team) were suddenly in the same spot and collided. The whole collision seemed to happen in slow motion yet still too quickly for any of us to react in time to prevent the collision. Fortunately after icing down one of the injuries, both of them were okay in the end.


Next, Tony, Elva, Carol, Dawn, and I competed in Taboo. We did great during the 1st round but the 2nd round did us in. Fortunately, we still placed 3rd.


Then during the final event of the day, Tony represented our division in the playground obstacle course and finished with the fastest and best performance at the slip-n-slide finish line which resulted in our division placing 1st for the obstacle course.


At the end of the day, they tallied all of the points and although our division didn't place 1st, we were content with our tie for 2nd place.


Go DPIA!

Mom's b-day

On Thursday, we celebrated my mom's birthday at Saltgrass Steakhouse.

It was nice to get together with her, my grandma, and my sister. We had a nice dinner and the food was delicious!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Halloween

This was the first Halloween in 4 years that I didn't have any school work to worry about and I was so excited about spending it with Jacob by sitting on our front porch to hand out candy together.

Our Skull Strobe light

In preparation, we bought several bags of candy: Twix, Snickers, a Wonka mix, a DoubleBubble mix, and a Twizzlers/Jolly Rancher mix. Jacob decorated the house (I helped a little), we played spooky holiday music and we strategically planned our seating arrangement so that the trick-or-treaters could easily reach us.

Our dangling spider

Sadly, after all of our preparation, we had much fewer trick-or-treaters than we expected and we were left with tons of candy. On the bright side, we did get to see some of our neighbors and we were able to spend 2 hours on our front porch relaxing together and listening to our music and the sounds of the high school football game in the distance.

View of our house from the front while I waited for the trick-or-treaters

Celeste's b-day

On Oct 18th we celebrated Jacob's cousin's (Celeste) 9th birthday at a neighborhood park. The theme was Rock-n-Roll. She had rock-n-roll music playing in the background and her cake was in the shape of a record. The fun activities included making personalized journals (where were these when I was a kid?) and a pinata.

Celeste & the pinata

Celeste & her Grandpa

As the main course, she had hot dogs and hamburgers with every topping you could possibly want: chili, cheese, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, and relish! Yum! It was nice to spend time with Jacob's family and a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Jacob's mom, aunt Liz, sister Monica, & cousin Jessica