Jobs, Jobs, Jobs Part II

Well, I apparently have a very computer-savvy daughter, because she woke up while I was writing that last post and when I went to get her a diaper, in the blink of an eye she changed the title, deleted some of the info, posted it, and saved a copy of the page to my desktop. Oh, and she somehow turned something on that made my o come out as a 6 every time I typed it and made a few other letters do goofy things. But I think we have it all straightened out now, I won't leave her by the computer again for a while (it takes too long to figure out what she did and un-do it!), and I'm going to finish my story about Dave's job search.

Anyway, like I said before, he was contacted by someone about his application to the SMART Scholarship Program through the Department of Defense. The placement location interested in him is the something and something Air Force Base in southern California. Stop. Right. There. Enough said for my part, just the thought of living in California makes me want to move . . . . well, nowhere at all, but I'd rather go anywhere than there. But the story continues. Obviously, right?

So he was contacted by two different people, one via e-mail and the other via phone. He later found out that they were part of the same team, but they had both independently been interested in Dave's application. The phone call was to set up a phone interview for last Thursday or Friday. The e-mail was basically inquiring as to his interest. He responded to both and set up a phone interview for Friday and got an e-mail interview, basically, of questions to answer before Friday from the other guy.

When I initially found out, I cried. Granted, I had just spent over eight hours in the car, driving by myself to Boise with two infants who were testing their lung capacity and endurance, irrespective of mom's nerves. But -- still, I cried. California?!?!?!?!?! California. Enough. Said.

But then I realized how great this was for Dave. It's an incredibly competitive program. If accepted, you receive ALL of your education expenses paid for IN FULL and an additional living stipend that almost matches what I was making working full time. It's unbelievable. And they'll pay for you to attend any school, no matter the cost, for your bachelor degree through your doctorate degree, if you want to go that far. Dave does. So it's an unparalleled opportunity. Dave has been looking at MIT for grad school, which costs like $36,000 a year in tuition alone. So it would really pay off if he got into this program. The cost to the applicant/recipient? A year for year trade -- you work for the DOD for one year for every year that you take the scholarship award. So -- guaranteed employment sounding good to anyone? Oh, pick me, pick ME!!!!!

I also realized that Dave is only considering his masters degree right now, though he plans on doing his doctorate later down the road, after he gets some experience. So that means that we could finish his masters, work off the time he took the scholarship, and still be back in beautiful Moscow, Idaho to live out the rest of our dreams/plans before our kids really even realize they're in school. And I think I would look into a private school before I would send my kids to public school in California -- but that's another topic for another day. And I'm jumping way ahead of myself here, but I tend to do that when I'm faced with a potential decision -- so now that A to Z is explored in my head, back to pre-alphabet: the interview.

Friday morning, Dave called me and said that he had decided to call the guy and tell him that it just wasn't going to work for him to do the interview that morning and thanks anyway. I said, "What? Why?" He said that he would have to miss class and he was struggling enough just getting the material down and didn't think he could afford to miss it. As a side note, he had spent the night and day and night before studying for a test he had Friday afternoon. He was exhausted, and I think he was feeling overwhelmed by it all and just didn't want to deal with one. more. thing. I listened to him, then I said, "Dave, I have been thinking a lot about this these past few days. Really, the only reason that this would come through for you is if the Lord needs us somewhere other than Moscow for a while. And I realize that maybe we don't know where He wants us and what He needs us to do for Him, so I really feel like the only way to figure out if this is it or not is to see it through and see what happens, what comes of it. And you can't do that if you don't have that interview this morning. Do you know anyone in your class that you can get notes from?" Two people: one of whom is the reason he has the Schweitzer internship right now. So he said he would just get notes, and I suggested he e-mail his teacher and explain what was happening and that he was getting the notes from his classmates and wondered if there is anything else he needs to know. He said he would do that. Then I stopped and asked, "Dave, do you really feel like this is okay? Or are you just saying that because I talked you into. Because really, you know better than me what is right for you and what feels right to you; so if you really think you shouldn't miss this class, then forget everything I just said and follow your instincts on this." He said, "No, Melinda, I really think you are right. I think I was just feeling really overwhelmed; but I need to see this through and see where it leads." I agreed, told him how proud I am of him, and waited to hear back about the interview.

The interview went GREAT!!!! They really liked Dave. One tender mercy preparation for him is that the phone interview questions mirrored the e-mail interview questions he had just responded to in writing earlier that morning. So he had already had time to really think through and articulate his thoughts, intentions, goals, experience, etc. It was really good! They also asked him about his family and about his hobbies and talked about how both of those would fit in with the area and the program; one guy even talked about his family and kids a bit. So that was also really positive. They said they would be making their recommendations later that day and be back in touch with him. And then we waited.

But the wait wasn't long. Monday (yes, just two days ago -- I can't believe this all happened in less than a week!), he got a message from them saying that they had a few follow-up questions for him. He called them back as soon as he got out of class and left a message. That was at 4:30-ish. Before 5:00, he walked in the door, told me they had called and he had left a message, and sat down to talk about the day. Before long, the phone rang. It was them. He scooted into the office and found out that he was . . . . the alternate! :-O They had narrowed their selections to four people and only had clearance to offer three awards. Dave is number four. HOWEVER, they told him that they had already contacted the SMART program to see if they could have permission to offer four awards, because they were so impressed with Dave. If that happens or one of the other recipients bails, for whatever reason, Dave is in! Yay!!!! HOWEVER, even if that doesn't happen, they told Dave they would still be interested in having him come and work for them/with them for the next few summers (possibly longer), it just wouldn't be with the benefits of the SMART program. But still, an internship is an internship, right?

So -- we're waiting. This could really go in many directions for us. BUT there is one thing I am just as certain of now as I was going into it all: If this is where the Lord needs us, it will come together. It may be at the last minute; but it WILL come through. If not, it still speaks volumes about the amazing person Dave is and I have no doubt that something better, for him and for us, will come along when the time is right -- and not a minute sooner! Gotta love it! Se la vid! :-)