God Can!

So, I promised a posting on my new job. Here goes! Beware...I included a lot of detail so that I can always remember the journey.

On Tuesday, July 21, I was really "down in the dumps" about not being able to find a job. On this day, I had followed up on several leads and even took my resume and cover letter to those places...just to basically be brushed off and told, "sorry, we are not hiring right now". I do not know why that upset me so much that particular day because I had heard it over and over again ever since I graduated last December (mind you I did have a part-time, temporary job at an insurance company for six months). I think I was just beginning to hit rock bottom and was really becoming discouraged and quite depressed over not being able to find a job. I wanted ANY job that was halfway descent and had benefits. I let go of all hope of finding a teaching job back in June and July due to the fact that (1) every opening I found for Business Education turned out to be a kick in the face. By that, I mean that all of the postings were basically not legit because they had already been filled from within. Oh well, how can you compete with that? You can't...and that is partly why I felt so hopeless. (2) The openings were all far away (except for one in Oglethorpe County) and were practically impossible to commute from day to day. (3) Due to the poor economy, the funding for classes such as Business Education was being cut left and right and schools were not adding new teachers in this area. So, after filling out several (more than I can really count) applications and not getting any word back, I was beginning to feel like the Lord didn't want me to be a teacher. Then, I started thinking to myself...well why did He lead me to stay in school an extra year and a half to be a teacher if He isn't going to help me get a job?? I know these were negative thoughts but it is almost impossible to keep your head up when you are getting smacked in the face every time you try a different avenue! I just kept praying!

The very next day, Wednesday, I had checked the website where teaching jobs are posted in the state of Georgia and there were not any new postings. This was at around 11:00 a.m. Then, I checked again at exactly 3:00 p.m and as my eyes scrolled to the bottom of the postings I just stared screaming and starring at the screen like it must be a misprint! It read, "Stephens County"!! I was so excited because Stephens County is practically in our backyard. Then, I settled down and reminded myself not to get too excited because I had gotten my hopes up before just to find out that those jobs were already filled from within by the time they were posted. So, I called Brooks. I was hysterical and I could barely talk. He was excited, too and he said, "Well, hang up with me and call the principal!” Ha Ha. Duh! Right? First of all, I called the HR department to make sure the posting was legit. The HR guy told me that it had just been posted that day and that it may be a situation where they fill the job from within but he was unsure if that would be the case. My heart sank (literally)! At this point, I figured that I did not have anything else to lose, so I called the Principal at SCHS and asked him if I could drop off my portfolio for him to look at. Surprisingly, he said, "can you stop by tomorrow?" With shock and enthusiasm in my voice, I immediately said, "sure". This was the first time that I actually felt hopeful! The next morning, I went to the HR department first to drop of my application, resume, and cover letter. Then, I headed to the high school to meet with the principal and give him all my application materials plus my portfolio. When I arrived, the principal greeted me and took me into his office. I was so very nervous because I know how important first impressions can be. He looked over my materials for a few minutes before he began paging a lady by the name of Mrs. Wilson to his office. He said that she was the head of the CTAE department and he usually lets her make the hiring recommendations for that department. He asked if I would mind letting her look over my application and portfolio in her office. Of course, I said that was just fine! So, Mrs. Wilson and I went to her office and chatted about a little of everything. She took me on a school tour and showed me all of the Business Education classrooms. She was really nice and so thoughtful. Then, we went back to her office and she glanced at my portfolio before asking, "would you like to schedule an interview for Monday?" My face must have been gleaming because I was so excited I almost could not stand myself! I replied, "yes, ma'am!" It was set...an interview on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. Simple as that! I was so excited and more nervous than anyone could ever imagine.

My entire weekend was centered on this one interview. I debated over what to wear and I even went shopping for something new (but didn't buy anything). I also looked up possible interview questions and I copied them down on note cards and then I began rehearsing and memorizing my answers. I did this all day on Sunday!! Sunday night I was really sick to my stomach and actually got sick one time. I was not nervous about interviewing...I was nervous because I wanted them to like me and I wanted them to see that I would be a good contribution to their school district. In a nutshell, I just wanted this job worse than I had wanted anything in a REALLY, REALLY long time! So, that did not help the nerves. On Monday morning I was raring to go and was sitting in the parking lot at 8:30 a.m. I reviewed my answers and then I put on my "interview face" and walked in to what I hoped would be my first and last interview for a really long time.

I was interviewed by a panel of four people (AP for curriculum, the Principal, the Assistant Principal, and one Business Education teacher). I know this sounds really scary, but it wasn't at all. The atmosphere was so relaxed and everyone was so nice and light-hearted. In fact, the guy who is the AP for curriculum was cutting up the whole time and making jokes. The others just laughed at him and sometimes shot back with their own humorous remarks. I felt at home. I also felt like I answered most of the questions well and felt like the interview was a success. Now, I just had to worry about whether or not it was enough! At the end of the interview, I was told that they would make a decision by Friday of that week. Well, it was only Monday! I had a long week to wait if they weren't going to decide until Friday. So, I left feeling like I had done all I could with the exception of getting down on my hands and knees and just begging! And trust me, I would have done it if I would have thought I could have walked away right then and there with the job. The next morning (Tuesday) I got a call from the principal at 10:45 a.m. I had been shopping at Ross and was just walking back to my car when the phone rang. I recognized the number and knew exactly who was calling. I was nervous because I had been told that they would contact me either way. The exact words had been, "we will let you know one way or the other...we will not leave you hanging". So, I was about to hear, "you have the job or sorry, someone else has been chosen". I was so nervous that I almost didn't answer before the phone quit ringing. Luckily I answered it before it quit ringing. I answered in a peppy voice and said, "hello". On the other end I heard, "hello, is this Cindy Dobbs?" I replied, "yes, sir". Then the principal gave his name and asked how I was doing. I thought the news was bad because he was so monotone. Then he said, "I just wanted to let you know that I have submitted your name to the board for approval". I was smiling immediately and all I could think to say was thank you over and over again. He then told me that he did not foresee a problem with the board approving my contract because he had already spoken with the Superintendent about my contract. Last, he said that he would give me a call sometime on Wednesday to confirm the approval. I was beside myself!! Wow, I thought-this is really happening! I was so happy. Well, a really funny thing happened that night. Brooks and I went to check on our cows and we were chatting about the likelihood of the board approving my contract and Brooks said, "wouldn't it be nice if he just called you back tonight after the board meeting to let you know how it went". I replied, "yeah, right. I am sure that would not happen". Well, guess what?? It did. Yep, when Brooks and I got home from checking the cows I had two missed calls from the Principal. The second time he called he had left a voice mail stating that my contract had, in fact, been approved! Yippee!! We were hysterical and oh so happy!!

So, that is how it all happened. The title of this blog, "God Can", is so important and dear to my heart because this is what I kept saying all along. Yes, I was discouraged at times and even a little depressed over the fact that I was having a hard time even getting an interview and much less landing a job, but I think that it is in those times that we lean on God even more and pray for His plan for our lives and not our own plans. Over the past several months, I would pray time and time again for His plan for my career and not my plans. It ailed me to think I went to college an extra year to be a teacher and that I may not even find a job in that area...but when I took that worry to the Lord that was when I got peace...and a job! During the jobless months, I would constantly tell Brooks that we have to trust that God has a better plan which was why no other job leads were seeming to come together...in the end.God's plan was much better than I had hoped for...a great school in a great location and really great co-workers! So, when you are ever in doubt and think "I can't", remember that GOD CAN!