Networking

I never thought I was quiet until I started teaching.

Now that I know that I am actually not all that outgoing, especially compared to my students, I realize that the ability to network is not my strongest attribute.  It's really one that I should develop, too, because as people say, sometimes it's all about who you know.  In fact, according to the highly reliable source Yahoo HotJobs (in this article, "Networking Tips for Shy People"), 58% of poll respondents said networking helped them land their job.  Though math is not one of my particular strengths either, I can tell you that's more than half!

So what's a shy girl to do?  According to the aforementioned article: attend big events, set goals of talking to five new people at said events, etc. etc.  Can do.  Lucky for me, in some cases, parents will also network for you!  Thanks, Mom and Dad, for knowing cool people to hook me up with even though you live far away.  The District of Columbia is a well-connected place, and getting one's foot in the proverbial or literal door can be a highly profitable exercise.

Really, I just want to say that I am grateful for the opportunities that my friends and family are helping me find, and I am excited for whatever comes next.  A few people pointed out to me that I sounded sad in yesterday's post; be reassured, my friends.  Today is a brighter day, though the weather here is dreary...after all, it's my birthday!  And the last day of school!  Email me if you want to celebrate.