well well.. internship news to share! Advice needed.. Sorry this is long..
#253767 - 03/22/06 01:02 PM
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Hello Everyone!
As some of you may know I'm in school @ Tufts studying to become a school psychologist. I already have my masters in school psych and I am currently working towards my advanced degree. Classes end this summer, and after that I need to finish a full year internship to attain my advanced graduate degree and obtain licensure.
Anyways.. I have been frantically searching for an internship site over the last two months. There are tons of opportunities in Massachusetts, however, many of them are unpaid (which isn't that appealing, considering I'm not Houdini and working and living on nothing isn't that fabulous). There are three fabulous school pscyh programs in Boston, so they don't need to pay, people will always take them unpaid.
I have been offered an internship at my current site (unpaid), and I have two more interviews next week in this area (one unpaid, and one 4,000 a year). I have also been searching other areas (PA and VA primarily bc I'm from PA, and my parents live in DC). Anyways, I randomly went out on a limb and contacted someone in Maryland about internships. She informed me that most had already been filled but there was two that she knew of with openings. One lady from Anne Arundel county (Annapolis) emailed me. Anyways, I ended up being really interested in the program (despite the fact I didn't really think i'd end up in maryland). We had a phone interview earlier this week and she was VERY impressed with me. Plus, I am quite impressed with the opporunity, and it truly is very close what i'm looking for (and trust me thats hard to find in an internship).
Anyways.. she called me today and offered me the position! They employ three interns for the county and she offered me a salary of 18,000 dollars for the year. This is great considering my options in MA (also people in PA and VA never replied back to me).
My dilemma is that she needs to know what I want to do by Monday (bc this is a very competitive opportunity and they have others wanting to intern there). Also, random sidenote, two former tufts students are currently employed in the district which is also quite cool. Anyways.. my heart is saying that this was probably FATE considering I wasn't even considering maryland and that this fell right into my lap and sounds appealing! The only thing holding me back is the fact that I don't want to have to pack up and move, and i've lived in Boston for 7 years and have grown familiar with it.
My mom wants me to go for it bc she's in DC. I've looked up stuff about the area and it seems great and is voted one of the top ten most desireable places to live in the US. Amandapanda thinks I should do it as well.. bc despite living in boston for so long, i've got no man to hold me down, and really dont'have many friends here at all (which is true, and two out of the three I do have are also leaving next year). So she also thinks I have nothing to lose by packing up and trying out something new.
I'm only a little nervous bc I'll be going there all alone and will need to make new friends etc. Its not like I haven't done it before.. I've done it here when I moved to boston two years ago (I went to UMASS for undergrad though so i've lived in Mass for 7 years).
Anyways.. what do you think about the opportunity.. too good to be true, or too good to pass up?!??
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I think you should go for it! And I'm not just saying that because I'm from Maryland. It sounds like a great opportunity, so why not? Annapolis is a great city and while I don't really know you, I think you'd like it.
Avidan
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Why'd you have to go and make me so constipated?
--'Weird' Al Yankovic, "A Complicated Song"
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I think you should go for it. It sounds like a great opportunity.
I am going to assume school psychology is a competitive field. Working in a competive field myself, I fully believe one must go where the jobs are. Especially early in your career, that very likely means moving.
You go, Dr. Spice!!
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WOO HOO! I would DEFINITELY go for it. You'll get paid a decent amount and it's ONLY a year!
Oh go for it!!!! I'm proud of you, this is quite an accomplishment Ash! 
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Do it!
#253781 - 03/22/06 01:56 PM
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epa_ginger
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1158
Loc: Chicago, IL
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The one time I've gone off on my one for academic reasons I ended up meeting 2 of my best friends, and that school led to my internship at EPA, which led to my current career at EPA. AND I didn't even WANT to go to this school, it was my second choice.
So don't be afraid of the move, like you said, what is holding you back. The money sounds good---ok, well, not GOOD, but better than $4,000 for pete's sake!---and you may even meet the man of your dreams, ha ha. No seriously, you should do this just because you like the program and it will be a good change for you. And it's only a year right? So if it's not your idea of heaven at least you'll have a clear end date.
This sounds really exciting to me!
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Thanks guys!
I'm getting more and more excited about it by the minute.
when she called to offer me the position I asked her to ask some of the current interns to contact me (basically just to gain a better perspective of the area and to gather some more info). Within an hour, five people contacted me about places to live, info about the distict and they all said that they absolutely love the experience.
I think I may just have to grab the proverbial bull by the horns and do it. One girl even said that other interns from her program are so jealous of her opportunities within the district! Sounds good...
plus, youre right. Maybe i'll make some great friends and find a nice Navy man! 
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There you go! All thr proof you need! 
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I agree, GO FOR IT!!! 
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Taking it one day at a time.....
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Who knows if such a great opportunity will present itself again and you can always move back when you're done. After all, no offense to anybody, I have no interest in being in Texas but this is where the school was...
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I just have to start off by saying that I can definitely relate to your current situation since it is quite similar to mine. It is hard to make such a huge decision in a short time like that, especially when you have to really start over, but I think you're right that it seems like fate that such an opportinity would come by and be so close to what you were looking for. It seems like you're pretty into too which is great and you've done your research to know that it wouldn't be a bad move. I was just saying the other day that it's reasons like this that I'm not tied down to a guy right now because there's no way I'd be able to make such a big decision with that weighing in on it, so I think the same goes for you that right now you are in the perfect position to pick up and do this, espeicially considering how great of an offer it is. So that's my opinion on it. Isn't it hard to be young and have almost TOO many options? Well good luck deciding...and look at it this way-either way you can't go wrong, it's just a fork in the road with 2 different paths and they'll both take somewhere a little different, one's a little more familiar and the other is new but neither is wrong. Haha...did that clear things up for you as much as it did for me??
By the way, did you see the movie Annapolis?? What a great place for cute single girl I may have to move up there too...just so you can have friends of course 
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Congratulations on all that you have accomplished. I live 15 mins from Annapolis. Annapolis is a great city to live in and a wonderful atmosphere. We also have the naval academy (hint hint guys in uniform:)) Granted there are some no so great areas but for the most part is is a very nice place to live. My brother actually lives in a condo in Annapolis and he loves it. Let me know if there is anything else I can help you with. Good Luck!
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Carol
nós somos o que nós somos e o descanso é merda
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I agree with everyone! Go for it! You are young and you have no commitments. I think it is a great opportunity. Plus you will be close to your mom and dad right? Good luck with whatever you decide Ashly. You deserve the best!
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really.. thanks! what are the not so nice areas around there so I know to avoid them when looking for a place?
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You really dont want to live down around West Street (which is like the main street with everything on it)and there are a few bad places on Forest Drive, Spa Road. I would recommend looking at the apartments/condos before you decide you want to live there. Defintely take a look at the neighborhood. Check with the others who live and intern in Annapolis to see where they live. There is some awesome information on the web on the city of annapolis.Good luck and let me know if I can help in any way.
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Congrats on the offer! I vote for Maryland, too. It's gotta be warmer down there, too, right?
If you're still unsure, go out for Chinese food this weekend and get a fortune cookie. Maybe you will get a fortune with something like "A change is in your future" and you will know it really is fate. Though most likely it will be something crappy like "The world will always be happy if you want it to" or "Little children are the joy in life". But oh well, at least you won't have to cook.
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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Thanks for the info.. one of the interns actually recommended a complex on spa rd. haha.. she lives there and loves it. Avalon complex or something along those lines.. do you think thats a no no? how bad are the bad parts?
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hahaha oooh I love chinese! although my fortunes usually suck too
and it will be warmer, thats a plus!
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I think it sounds like an excellent opportunity. I think it's just the uncertainty of living in a new place that's got you hesitant. You're a wonderful person so I'm sure you'll meet new friends very quickly and, speaking from someone who's over the "hill of 30 years" - take these cool opportunities while you're young. Spread your wings and go. New experiences always seem scary - but most are worth it!
Congratulations on the job offer, too!!!!
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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I just found out that not only do they pay well for an internship.. they also pay me 45 cents for every mile I drive from home to work every single day! Additionally, they give their interns free laptops. It just seems to be getting better and better the more I hear about it. Everyone that I've talked to seems really friendly as well.. I think I may just be able to make some friends in the area.
I have moved 13 times throughout my life, and I generally never have trouble making new friends. However, since living in boston, I really haven't been able to make many at all, and don't really have the social life a 24 year old girl should. Maybe its just the area.. but I was beginning to think it was me 
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It could be the area. You seem super friendly!
Those perks rock!!!
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haha thanks tina! i'm hoping its just that people in boston aren't all that friendly!
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It all sounds great Ashley...good luck
BTW you had me at crabcakes!
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S.
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You're still so young, and it might well be the last move you ever make.
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Keep on keepin' on...
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Are you leaning towards one way yet? Just something I thought of....Is it better to do the internship for an area that you would want to live in permanently? There's a girl I know who is doing substitute teaching in the schools she wants to work in permanently because that's the best way to get "in"...by networking and getting her name out there.
Don't know if that's the same thing with School Psychology.
Good luck with your decisions. I hate making decisions! 
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~ Beth
Constipation, pain prodominent,cramps, spasms and bloat!
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yeah it is better to intern where I want to live, however, i'm not 100% sure where I want to end up. I've lived so many places in my life that i'm pretty flexible as long as its near the ocean and preferably on the east coast. Other than that I don't have any real ideas either way. I think maybe living there for good could be a good idea.
I think i'm going to do it, and call her in about an hour.
I'll let ya'll know how it goes!! I'm nervous though!
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that you say that wherever you live you want it to be on the east coast and near the ocean. Those are definitely top of my list of criteria as well. It's funny to hear someone else say that too - I was thinking about it the other day, but somehow I think growing up always near the water, I feel strangely trapped in if I'm somewhere where the ocean is not less that like 20 miles away.
Haha okay that's all I wanted to say. And I hope you call her!! Let us know!
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I know.. actually, the only place i'd really want to live not too close to the water is in Pittsburgh Pa. I loved it there and it was my fave place to live. Unfortunately, school psych internships there suck.
Basically this is my timeline..
I was born in Western, Ma
moved to Memphis Tennesee
moved to Chicago Illinios
moved to Trumbell Connecticut
moved to Manhattan NYC
moved to Denver Colorado
moved to Enfield, CT
moved to Greenwich CT
moved to Pittsburgh PA
moved to western Ma for college
moved to Marthas Vineyard for three summers
parents moved to DC
I moved to Boston
and now i'm moving again! YIIIKES. luckily I don't mind moving bc I was brought up that way.
My fave places were def Pittsburgh and those on the Coast. Although, I do have a southern thing going on in my voice. I think its cause I learned to talk in Memphis. Everyone I meet thinks i'm from NC or Texas bc of my voice.
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well I just made the call and accepted the position!
looks like i'm moving to maryland afterall!!
The only stressful bit is that I have to start there with orientation on the 15th, and summer session here at tufts ends on the 10th. (not to mention that my 25th bday is on the 13th!!) So i'll probably have a very stressful few days over my birthday moving in and stuff! yiikes!
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How exciting!
Congrats!! 
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That is a lot of moving - and all quite very different places too. Why all the moving? (I feel like this is already an Ashley fact that I've been told before but obviously cannot recall)
Funny about your voice too. People tell me I have an accent thing too, but like a Boston/northern kinda thing which is so odd seeing as I've never lived anywhere else really.
Hopefully you won't have "settling down" issues one day and feel like you need to keep moving. But maybe it will be the opposite - I know my mom moved around like 7 times before she got to high school and knew she never wanted to move her kids around like that. I can definitely see the positives and negatives of it.
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haha my dad is a senior VP of finance for a corporation that manages hotels across the US. However, when he was younger, he was a controller for individual hotels (they kept getting better and better so he was promoted). It was not until we moved to pittsburgh that he was awarded the job at HQ. So we thought we wouldn't need to move again. Well sure enough, a few yrs later the company moved to Georgetown and we had to move again!
I don't think i'll have settling down issues. Having to move again is why i'm so nervous about this internship!
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That's great Ashley, I'm delighted for you. Hope it all works out great. The rush of adrenalin will get you over those few yucky days moving!
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S.
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Now everybody must move to Maryland!! Just kidding.
CONGRATULATIONS, Ashley!!!
~nelly~
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I am so excited for you!! Wow though you have to start so soon - somehow when I was thinking all of this I envisioned you having the whole summer to get yourself ready. Well no doubt you can make it work though and it's nice that your family lives so close to you then.
Well big big congratulations!!! Good for you!
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Formerly HanSolo. IBS, OCD, Bipolar, PTSD times 3.
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Awesome!! It sounds like a great place.
Don't most places want you to begin a lease on the 1st of the month? If so, maybe you'll be able to do at least the bulk of the moving ahead of time.
(Which summer month, by the way? I'll be 25 on Aug 17th.)
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jen
"It's one of the most serious things that can possibly happen to one in a battle -- to get one's head cut off." -- LC
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YIPEE!!!!!!!! I think it will be well worth it!!
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yeah I assume i'll have to just start the lease at the first of the month.. however, I'm not sure how much moving I'll get done prior. I actually live in Boston and I'm moving to Maryland so its probably at least a 7 hour drive from here.
Oh.. and it is in August! I'll be 25 August 13th. I can't freaking believe it. It feels like yesterday that I turned 22. I'm not looking forward to mid twenty!
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I have a hunch that it will be a life-altering thing...maybe stay on that BCP after all,lol, prince charming might be waiting!
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Keep on keepin' on...
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hee hee, ashley's blushing.
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Keep on keepin' on...
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haha thanks! I never thought i'd end up in Maryland!
Well one bonus.. more people for the MD/NOVA/DC get togethers!
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Hey, who does? :D
#254418 - 03/25/06 03:15 PM
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Nelly
Reged: 08/06/04
Posts: 4381
Loc: Within stray mortar fire of DC
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Hey we had 5 people last time! (4 with actual IBS ). We always have a fun time when we're out. It's always great seeing the look on the waitress's face after we order our 5th round with water, no ice.
(Course when I meet up with Mindy in DC, it's drinky-drinks! Ssshhhh!)
~nelly~
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Thanks Everyone!!
I appreciate your support. You are all fabulous!
Hopefully all the good vibes will make this move worthwhile!
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Annapolis!
#254533 - 03/26/06 08:20 AM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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You lucky gal! Annapolis is GORGEOUS! You'll be right on the water, surrounded by hunky navy guys. Ooooh, baby!
Maryland is an absolutely beautiful state, with rolling green hills and beautiful homes. It used to be all cow pastures before the Metro was built; now you can get anywhere in the metropolitan area by jumping on the Metro. My brother and his wife live there.
Don't your parents live in Reston? Seems I recall our discussion about this; I used to work for Reston back in 1963 when they were first building the city. My mother lives there.
Yes, I can understand why your parents would want you back there; this is very exciting for you.
What will you do with your Boston condo? Didn't you buy it? I recall your fixing it up and making it your own. Have you put it on the market yet?
Well, Dr.S., I couldn't be happier for you. I KNOW you'll love Annapolis. Great rowing there. I'm envious.
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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You are getting closer and closer to me here in PA! What part of Maryland are you moving to? Do you still have any family left in PA cause you said you are originally from PA. Where in PA?
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~~~Lisa~~~
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lisa...
#254547 - 03/26/06 10:15 AM
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thanks! I'm probably gonna move to annapolis.. maybe baltimore if I don't like annapolis. I will def be closer to ya'll in philly. I am from pittsburgh PA.. hence my steelers love! however, since high school my family moved to northern virginia.
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Thanks Bev.. I'm getting more and more excited about it all by the day. The hunky navy guys are a plus... I'm hoping males in annapolis outnumber the females!
I've never actually been to annapolis, but I've been to other areas in maryland many many times. The beach and slightly warmer weather are definitly great pluses about the whole deal.
My parents do live in Reston! Good memory. They are beyond happy that I am going to be closer to them.. especially since I've been so far for the last few years. It is a little sad though bc most of my extended family lives in Ma, CT, RI and NY. I'll miss seeing my little cousins as much as I can now.
As for the boston condo.. we did buy it! So we'll have to put that on the market soon. I can't move out until August, so we'll probably be putting it on the market within the next month or so. I am sad to leave my condo.. I absolutely love it, and love that I could paint and everything. In annapolis, I'll probably have to rent, bc it *may* only be for one year that i'm there. If I like it, i'll def stay.. but its not worth buying a place for a year. Hopefully I will make some money from this condo though.. making it a bit easier to survive in annpolis. But those were the two reaasons I was hesitant about moving.. my lovely first home, and seeing my cousins a lot. HOpefully the benefits will outweigh what I lost. My parents helped buy the condo (I put down about some, but they put down a lot more to help me out since i'm paying for grad school on my own).. so they were going to have to probably sell it soon anyways, because boston house prices aren't inflating that much in the last few years, and they want to get rid of it before it ends up losing value. That makes me feel better about losing it.. because I'll have to lose it anyways in the near future.
Anyways.. thanks for the info about annapolis. Its making me feel better and better about moving. The plus is that most of my friends in highschool (from pittsburgh) currently live in the DC metro, Baltimore and Philly areas. I'll be closer to all them now!
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Love it!!!
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S.
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