twilight zone

[intertribal]

I was selected by the State Department for an internship.  I really don't know what to think.  I don't know my assignment yet - I anxiously await it, and cross my fingers - but at least it begins the optional route of Foreign Service Officer.  Wow, that sounds so weird.  Especially after contemplating going straight to grad school after this.  I really need to have a talk with certain people. 

And get myself to a police station to be fingerprinted.  So ends what little privacy I thought I had.

Now if only I could get published.  Ha.  My life would be complete. 

Edit:  on the downside, I may be out of a job.  And a research position!  What a day.

Comments

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

Congrats! I knew you'd get it...

Foreign Service Officer?

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, FSO is a potential career path for me.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

I...don't really know what they are/do.

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Well, there's five "tracks", you can specialize in various fields. I would choose the political track, obviously, even though it's the most popular one. Basically you keep tabs on the domestic politics of the country you're posted in and be a diplomat, and report back to Washington.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

...freaky.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

And, I know I am a huge advocate of grad school or at least I know that's what I need to do, but I really hope you decide what's best for you, as cliched as that might sound

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. I'm just trying to figure out what IS best for me.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

good luck.

what do/would you love doing?

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

Sadly, that's another thing I don't know. I love learning and doing research, but on the other hand sometimes I feel like I need to be out of the academic environment and be in the real world.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

well, i don't think you have to (or should?) do one or the other forever. timing, however, i don't know much about. personally, i'd say more education can't hurt, and the real world can be very frustrating.....

[intertribal.livejournal.com]

my junior class dean seemed to lean toward going out into the real world unless I "have a burning desire" to go to grad school. I don't know though, I have my professors to consult next week, and I trust their opinions a little more because they're in my field.

[royinpink.livejournal.com]

well, yeah, I wouldn't recommend that anyone go beyond a master's degree without a real love for either their discipline or academics or intellectual endeavors in general, something of that sort. that's my translation of "burning desire," i guess. a life passion sort of thing. But a master's degree takes less time, doesn't require a dissertation, and is often more useful than a liberal arts degree, or so I hear from recent graduates.

but yeah, profs will know more about opportunities in your field, obviously. hopefully they can give some good advice.