Well, things took a bit of an upturn today in Chris Poulin’s world. All of my SCA paperwork is officially though for my 17 week extension, I got an offer to help plan a $4,000 interpretation project at the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and I have discovered the most delicious breakfast – in the world.
Eggs in a basket with two hunks of two year old cheddar, pan fried in the “basket” portion before the eggs are added. Google it!
As previously mentioned, Great Meadows just opened up a new visitor’s center near Assabet River in Sudbury, Ma. While I was there I dropped them my resume and offered to volunteer and less than a week later they are already talking about ways I can get involved. This is probably one of the few jobs that I would be willing to relocate for. Working as an interpreter at this refuge (and getting paid for it) is not only my most recent wish list item, but unlike many things that get onto my wish list it is actually achievable! Opportunities like this make me forget that I won’t be hiking the Appalachian Trail, fighting zombies or time-hopping with Dr. Who in the TARDIS any time in the near future.
I have a couple of media projects that I am working on right now including an article for River Day 2010 with state representative Niki Tsongas, a video of the same, an educational video game on the regional website and….
DUN dun DUNN!!!
A new section of the Region 5 website with content created and gathered by Chris Poulin and made live by our fabulous webmaster. The same webmaster, in fact, who will be starring in an upcoming horror movie about an insane, blind and highly murderous dog-creature.
My co-workers are great.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Something Positive
The Assabet River National Wildlife refuge has a new visitor center and it is absolutely amazing. From the outside it doesn’t look like much, until you notice the swanky solar panels that are flush with the roof, the paved bike trail and the congresswoman with her entourage of assistants.
Wait… congresswoman?
I had the chance to zip down to this shiny new facility on Sunday after a pleasant weekend with a friend of mine in New York. Normally I wouldn’t have cut my weekend short for work, but the opportunity to interview a state representative was too cool to pass up.
Of course, when I got there I realized that I didn’t want anything to do with the politicians and spent my time interviewing a bunch of kids who had been raising turtles over the summer - a much cooler story.
What really impressed me about this visitor center was that it came with cool sounds effects, a simulated bear cave and a clean environmental conscience. The whole building is constructed with green materials, has lots of natural light and is entirely controllable via pocket transmitter. While I was there I witnessed lightning storms and goose migrations summoned up with the touch of a button. Not to mention the people that staff the refuge seem like very positive and kind individuals making the space feel really homey to an aspiring USFWS employee.
So, the good news is that after covering this event and dropping my resume off with the refuge staff I was informed of a GS -5 to 7 position opening up in October ($26,000 - $33,000ish a year). In the mean time it looks like I’ll be volunteering as an environmental educator and hopefully making a good impression with the refuge staff. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Although I don't personally have any photos that I can share with you, David Griffen, a professional photographer who was at the event does. Check out his gallery at: http://community.dmg-photography.com/2010-tsongas-riverday/
Wait… congresswoman?
I had the chance to zip down to this shiny new facility on Sunday after a pleasant weekend with a friend of mine in New York. Normally I wouldn’t have cut my weekend short for work, but the opportunity to interview a state representative was too cool to pass up.
Of course, when I got there I realized that I didn’t want anything to do with the politicians and spent my time interviewing a bunch of kids who had been raising turtles over the summer - a much cooler story.
What really impressed me about this visitor center was that it came with cool sounds effects, a simulated bear cave and a clean environmental conscience. The whole building is constructed with green materials, has lots of natural light and is entirely controllable via pocket transmitter. While I was there I witnessed lightning storms and goose migrations summoned up with the touch of a button. Not to mention the people that staff the refuge seem like very positive and kind individuals making the space feel really homey to an aspiring USFWS employee.
So, the good news is that after covering this event and dropping my resume off with the refuge staff I was informed of a GS -5 to 7 position opening up in October ($26,000 - $33,000ish a year). In the mean time it looks like I’ll be volunteering as an environmental educator and hopefully making a good impression with the refuge staff. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Although I don't personally have any photos that I can share with you, David Griffen, a professional photographer who was at the event does. Check out his gallery at: http://community.dmg-photography.com/2010-tsongas-riverday/
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
I have recently come to the conclusion that I would like to pursue a career in visitor services. Thus far, working with the Service has been a fantastic experience and External Affairs in particular has proven to be a challenging and stimulating environment in which to cut my teeth. I have been working to develop myself as a writer, videographer and photographer while also picking up some new software skills in Photoshop, Final cut pro and Adobe Indesign. The longer I stay here the more interested I become in these computer-based skills but the more I miss the social aspects of work that is anchored in a community. Now of course there is community here in the office, but that is different. Working for a small community allows me to see the effects of my work, how people are reacting to it and the difference that it makes in someone or something’s life. I don’t get a lot of that here, which has brought me to Career Goal Conclusion #2. Here is the current list:
Goal #1: I want to find full time work with an environmental agency
Goal #2: I would prefer to work in a visitor services position.
Most of my career experience thus far sets me up to be some sort of interpreter or environmental educator – so why not roll with that? Well… a recent exploration of this option has shown me that even with five years of relevant experience, a BA in wildlife Conservation and top scores on government employment questionnaires I am still not competitive for the positions I want. Why?
Veterans.
I am all for supporting our troops and making sure that they have the opportunity to reintegrate after their term of service – that is a good thing. Unfortunately for me they receive preference on government job applications which is apparently why I didn’t make the cut on my last job application. Oh, and my Unity College degree doesn't have enough zoology hours to qualify me for the biotech positions I am interested in.
So, what does this mean? Maybe I need to redefine success. It would be nice to have a cushy government job, especially with an agency with as little evil in it as the U.S. fish and Wildlife Service, but if I want to stay in the Valley that may not be an option for me. In the short term, I need a job with a decent salary and a comprehensive benefits package. So, as hard as it is to swallow it looks like I’ll be taking that from wherever I can, be it in internships, field work or retail and in the meantime I’ll start volunteering at local refuges in hopes that I impress the right people.
On the upside I officially have a 17 week, part time extension to my internship. Hopefully more opportunities will open up as a result.
Success right now needs to be meeting my basic needs and enjoying my life. Post college dream-career may be further off than I thought. The biggest lesson here is that four years of deans list work in the top 10% of your class doesn’t entitle you to a job – it just lets you apply for them.
Goal #1: I want to find full time work with an environmental agency
Goal #2: I would prefer to work in a visitor services position.
Most of my career experience thus far sets me up to be some sort of interpreter or environmental educator – so why not roll with that? Well… a recent exploration of this option has shown me that even with five years of relevant experience, a BA in wildlife Conservation and top scores on government employment questionnaires I am still not competitive for the positions I want. Why?
Veterans.
I am all for supporting our troops and making sure that they have the opportunity to reintegrate after their term of service – that is a good thing. Unfortunately for me they receive preference on government job applications which is apparently why I didn’t make the cut on my last job application. Oh, and my Unity College degree doesn't have enough zoology hours to qualify me for the biotech positions I am interested in.
So, what does this mean? Maybe I need to redefine success. It would be nice to have a cushy government job, especially with an agency with as little evil in it as the U.S. fish and Wildlife Service, but if I want to stay in the Valley that may not be an option for me. In the short term, I need a job with a decent salary and a comprehensive benefits package. So, as hard as it is to swallow it looks like I’ll be taking that from wherever I can, be it in internships, field work or retail and in the meantime I’ll start volunteering at local refuges in hopes that I impress the right people.
On the upside I officially have a 17 week, part time extension to my internship. Hopefully more opportunities will open up as a result.
Success right now needs to be meeting my basic needs and enjoying my life. Post college dream-career may be further off than I thought. The biggest lesson here is that four years of deans list work in the top 10% of your class doesn’t entitle you to a job – it just lets you apply for them.
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