Hi everyone! I'm trying to get back to my normal routine of posting regularly-here's a recap of recent events.

Today I went to a conference put on by the Leadership Institute (LI) out of Arlington, Virginia. It. was an excellent day of workshops and training, and (honestly) covered about a semester's amount of information in 8 hours. It was held in Bloomington, and the facilitators were both from the deep south (Georgia & South Carolina), which made their "war stories" even funnier to listen to.

Now I'm exhausted, but I'd like to talk this opportunity to apologize to everyone (in particular, a few people close to me whom I talk to regularly-you know who you are) for my behavior for the past month. The past month has not been a particularly easy time for me. I can safely say that it's been one of the more difficult and stressful times of my entire life (you're probably thinking DANG Amy, you can't have had a lot of stress in your life if you're saying that). I'm in transition mode. In addition to dealing with the fact that I'm not longer a student, I have been sad and borderline pissy about finding a job.

Everyone knows that the job market in politics is always a competitive one, but add in the fact that Springfield is overrun with Democrats, and it's bad news. I've let other people make me think (no one close to me, mind you-not family, either) that my self-worth is determined only by a job, which I know is not the case. I will find a job. I've got the degree and I've got the experience, so I know it's only a matter of time. I draw strength and inspiration from those people who have worked long, hard years in the "business" in order to get where they are today-it didn't happen overnight for the, so I shouldn't be selfish or impatient with my expectations.

I've never been a down-and-out person, I've always been the one that lifts people up and makes them feel better about themselves-so it's high time I do just that-this time, for myself. I've always been a confident and positive person who loves life-and even though everyone is entitled to a little down-and-out time, this has gone on far enough. I find feeling sorry for myself PATHETIC, and I hate the fact that I've potentially become an emotional burden to family and dear friends. To those of you who were affected, I apologize deeply, and I'm thankful to all of you who have been there to listen to my drama, whatever it may be.

Life is far too short to spend nearly an entire month sad about things that may not even happen-so from this day forward-Amy is all smiles again.

I have another interview this Wednesday. Things are looking quite promising. I just need to be patient. Maybe everything DOES happen for a reason.......maybe.

Ok, the full sappy college recap is coming...I promise. I'll even include a few memories in this post. Until then I'll try to catch everyone up with what's been happening in my life.

First of all: I'm officially a college graduate (again). I received my master's degree on Saturday the 7th, along with many of my friends who graduated with either their Bachelor's or Master's. Exciting stuff. It's kind of hard to believe that I'm done...it just doesn't seem quite real yet. However, the fact I don't have a job yet remains a VERY real feeling-although I have a job interview next week, and I'm waiting to hear back on a few more. And I'm sending resumes out like a crazy woman...I'm not too worried, I suspect I'll have something with the next couple of weeks.

Being done with school: It's kind of a nice feeling, although I'm already planning my next degree-I want to puruse another Master's (in Public Administration) or a Ph.D. in the same field. I think the management and budgeting skills learned with an M.P.A. would only stand to help me in my chosen career. However, I won't be starting for at least a year-I need a bit of a break.

Graduation weekend was a lot of fun, although I definitely didn't get wild and crazy. However, it was nice to get together with my Springfield friends (one last time for some of us), in addition to Dan and Joe, who came down for the weekend. Despite their gift of a TACO BELL APPLICATION (those MONSTERS), I managed to forgive them and we had a good time-of course, they found it absolutely hillarious, but for someone like me, who doesn't have a job yet, it was hitting a bit below the belt (even though I know that they meant it in an entirely humorous manner).

So graduating and job hunting...that pretty much sums up what I have been up to lately. I'm relatively calmer about the job situation than I was a week ago, simply because I know I am doing ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING in my power to find something, and that it will only get easier as the summer goes along (right now, with legislative session wrapping up, it seems like absolutely no one is hiring, making it a very unfortunate time to graduate).

In other news, I have been thinking about the past a lot lately, more than one person usually really does. I suppose this is common in the event of significant milestones in one's life. I've been replaying college, high school, times with friends, family, love interests, significant others-and asking myself what it is that I have to show for my 24 years here on Planet Earth.

First of all, there's the obvious-I've finished an advanced college degree by the age of 24. I think that's pretty impressive, and that counts for something (although I'm not sure how much).

Second, there's relationships. First and foremost, friendships. I would like to think that I've meant something to the friends I've surrounded myself with for the past 20-something years. My friends mean the world to me (you know who you are), and they've always been there through thick, thin, and in between. Then, there's romantic relationships. I like to think that perhaps I've changed someone for the better (I definitely believe I have), or at least made them look at the world in a different way, and that I'm someone that is thought of fondly. Who knows. Then, there's relationships with family. I feel like I have a decent relationship with my family. I wish I was closer to my sisters, but thanks to college and changing interests/lives, some things can't be helped. I'm trying to change this. It's difficult when your life is wrapped up in school. As far as my parents, they're awesome and I hope they realize that every day. They'd do anything for me and that means everything to me. I truly feel like I inherited the best qualities from BOTH of my parents, something I'm grateful for. Ask me to elaborate on this later...

As far as memories, I find myself thinking back to both high school and college-when you had it sooooooooooo easy & good but didn't even realize it. Particularly in college. Wait, take that back, I think we did realize it-we just didn't appreciate it like a college graduate might appreciate it. I specifically remember a beautiful spring night during my senior year, walking back across the quad with Diller and Garrett, and thinking to myself, "My goodness, I am the luckiest girl alive-to have gone to school at this fabulous place, to be surrounded by such remarkably interesting and intelligent people, to have the BEST group of friends a girl could ever hope to have, and finally, just to live the life that I'm living."

It was a wonderful feeling, and I remember Diller looking over at me and saying, "Amy, you're smiling-what are you smiling about?" He thought it was some inside joke that I had yet to let him in on, but instead I just smiled more and shook my head, saying something like, "Life really can't get much better than this." I won't say life has gotten better OR worse, it's simply different-but those feelings I had in college aren't ones I'll soon forget. All I have to do is look at this picture I have setting on my shelf-me, with 5 of my best friends from U of I, and I'm instantly transported to another place, another time-even if it's only for a few seconds, it's nice to have had such powerful experiences that can be brought back in a single instant of looking at an old photograph.

After reading Diller’s blog, I got inspired to provide a recap of my college career, as it is rapidly coming to a close. 6 long years…and tomorrow, I will walk across the stage at the Prarie Capitol Convention Center and receive my Master of Arts degree…very scary. It’s been a long and winding road, but these past 6 years have been 6 of the most remarkable, memorable, stressful, hectic, wild & crazy and all-around wonderful years of my life. I've gotten in fights, fallen in love, cried, laughed, screamed, and in general, had a fabulous time. It hasn't always been easy, but I wouldn't change a second of it-any of it. (save one or two things) Over the course of the next few days, I'll look back and reminisce about the times past, the wonderful friends I've made, the lessons in and out of the classroom, the events that have had a remarkable impact on my life, and the memories I'll never forget.

Until then, I've got to get ready...this is going to be a LONG weekend!

Tonight
6 pm-Island Bay Yacht Club
POS End-of-the-year reception
After-party at Bootleggers

Tomorrow
GRADUATION: 2 p.m.
Dinner w/ the family
Celebrating w/ friends!

Well, it's been over a month since my last update, and now that I'm nearly finished with graduate school, it's time to get back to my routine of updating this thing on a regular basis.

The last time I wrote, the ILLINI were on their way to the FINAL 4 in St. Louis. On Saturday the 2nd, I met a bunch of my friends from Chambana at Al Hrobosky's (the ILLINI fan headquarters), where we watched the game on the big-screen televisions. The Illini won quite easily, and we all had a great time. The atmosphere was unlike anything I've ever seen before in my life! After a long day of screaming and excitement with a few thousand other ILLINI fans, I stuck around STL for dinner and watching the UNC/MSU game (UNC won, darnit). I headed back to Springfield around 1 a.m.

As you can imagine, Saturday was so much fun, I couldn't resist heading back down to STL for the championship game. A couple of my friends were lucky enough to snag tickets, so I ended up watching the game with Joe & Wally, who weren't quite so lucky to find tickets. ;o) Despite the lack of tickets, we got front row seats at Al Hrobosky's for game-watching. Unfortunately, the ILLINI's 3 point shooting wasn't there, and the refs were terrible, so it was quite difficult for the ILLINI to pull out a win. UNC ended up beating us 75-70, and needless to say, it was quite heartbreaking and pretty unbelievable. It was a sad drive home, but I made my way back to Springfield late that evening.

April was a pretty hectic month, in terms of schoolwork & other business. There was also the family Easter celebrations down in Tennessee, which are always fun. In addition, I made it over to Chambana for one last night of White Ho karaoke with my graduating pals, followed by sitting on the quad at 2 a.m. and remarking on how much I missed the quad. Ah memories....I love my Chambanites so much :o)

Other than that, I wrote about a MILLION papers, worked on my group project for my Campaigns & Elections Seminar, and went out w/ friends...it was a pretty uneventful month.....fun, but relatively uneventful.

That being said...IT WENT WAY TOO FAST!

It's May now, and I graduate in 5 days. I've been applying for jobs like crazy, and I've had a few interviews, and been turned down for a grand total of 1 job. I'm still waiting to hear back on everything else. SIGH. I know I shouldn't be freaking out so much, but if you know me, you know how impatient I am...I WANT A JOB NOW! Also, I'll be honest when I say that I like school and I don't want to give up the college environment just yet.

But alas, the time has come, and it's time for adulthood. However, I'll be celebrating my last weekend as an official college student this coming weekend, the night before and the night following my graduation. Fun times should be had by all...Friday night is the annual POS banquet, to be held at the Island Bay Yacht Club-if you've ever heard me talk about our POS gatherings, you know we'll have a great time. Graduation is at 2 p.m. on Saturday, and will be followed by an evening of celebration downtown w/ pretty much anyone I've ever called a friend here in Springfield, along with any of my out-of-towners who can make it.

So that's what's been going on in the last month...stay tuned for more details, as I will be posting regularly now that the college work (but mainly fun) is almost done. :o(