Thursday, June 01, 2006

Leaving on a Jet Plane.

I have been getting a lot of requests for close-ups on my face. So this is me. Don't I have such pretty teeth!? Not a single cavity. And look! You can see my spine through my mouth!! Right now I am taking a break from packing for my 4 day excursion to NYC. Putting clothes in a suitcase is the most arduous task that one can ask me to do.
The reason why I am going to NYC is because that is where my "upper management retreat" is going to be. Doesn't that sound exciting?? This is where all of the camp directors, assistant camp directors and activity supervisors (such as myself) get together and discuss how the intercamp communication is going to work. This is very important for two department, first one is mine, the graphics department, and second one is the gaming department. Graphics classes are going to be held in Smart Classrooms for the first time ever, and all of the classes all over America (about 24 classrooms) will be linked together for sharing and art critiques twice a week. It is my job to sit with all of the other graphics guys and discuss how we want to do this, when the best times would be, and how much we are going to involve the students with this activity.
This is the part that I think that I am going to have the most difficulty with. I have lots of input on this subject, because 90% of all of my classes have always been in Smart rooms. So I know a lot about them, their capabilities, and how they work with students that have never used them before. The problem is my age. People will automatically dismiss me because I am going to be atleast 7 years younger than the next youngest person there! To give you an idea of how old I look, I went to go see X-men at midnight over at City Walk in LA, and the curfew police made me go to their office and call my parents to let them know I was out passed curfew, because I forgot my ID!! This is something that is never going to go away either, because my father is 38 and he still gets carded everytime that he orders a beer! My point is, I think that it is going to he hard to gain the respect of my peers, when no one will actually view me as one. I am super paranoid because of my head counselor position I took at Sea World last summer, and the huge headache that caused me!
However, I am not going to going to let last years experience influence me this year! I am going to go into this situation giving the people that I work with the chance to treat me like any other person that they would work with. I Understand that I am the youngest supervisor that this summer camp has ever hired, and they would not have done it unless I was above and beyond qualified for the position, and they knew that I could do it better than the other 10 people that were up for the same position! I am proud of all of the things that I have accomplished in my life so far. I am trained in conflict resolution and crisis counseling, I am a certified Los Angeles lifeguard, I am extremely good looking, and damnit, people like me!
I can do this job and I am going to show everybody that I can handle my fair share of work just by being there and adding my thoughts and opinions in every discussion that we have. Just as long as I can make myself heard in a nonconfrontational way, I will make a great impression on my peers! This is going to be alright, I can feel it. I am really going to miss Eddie. I feel like such a loser! This thing has only been going on for a week and I am already going to miss him when I go away for 4 days!? REDONCULOUS!!! How pitiful am I!?
On a totally different topic, I received more emails than I did comments yesterday. I will do my best to get back to you guys as soon as possible, but I am going to be pretty busy over the next few days, so it might be a little while before you hear from me.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

It sounds like you have a huge task ahead of you! I am a 28 year old working for a huge company in upper management. I am also Asian and cursed with the fact taht I look 17! I know exactly how you feel, because people look at me the same way all the time and the only thought in their head is, "when is this guy going to get our coffee?". I get it and I feel your frusturation, but you have the right idea. All that you can do is jump right in and prove to everybody taht you are working with, that you can do your job, and you can do it well! goodl luck, I know that you are going to blow them all away!

Anonymous said...

I like your spine. It looks quite nice. I hope that everybody treats you with the respect that you deserve this weekend. I am sure that they will. Don't stress out to much if they do. You have too much going for you to let this get you down. Have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

You got a perrtee mouth. Hahaha! Kidding. Well maybe you do have a nice looking mouth, but not in a "I want to skull fuk you" sort of way. Ummm, Well I just wanted to say that I like your xray its cool. I need to post an xray of myself on my myspace. I know that you are going to do awesome on your trip this weekend. Old people suck. Just keep that in mind and everything will be fine.

Anonymous said...

I think that this is going to go the same way as your training did last weekend. Everybody will be extremely professional and treat you with the respect that you treat them. I am sorry that your job last summer wasn't that great, but don't let that influence you into having a bad experience here. I think that people only marginalize others that they are intimidated by, so just don't try and be to confrontational.

Anonymous said...

You are very good at learing from things that you have done in your past. I think that you have learned from what you did last year. SO this is going to be a positive experience because you already know what NOT to do. NYC this time of year is great. I hope that hey give you some time to go out and experience the city. Its a great place to be.

Anonymous said...

LOL at the "picture" of you! What a great shot! Good luck on your business trip and try to have some fun while in NYC. Maybe you can take something of Eddie's and leave him something of yours to keep you both company for the days-that-seem-like-weeks that you'll be apart. Worn t-shirts, perhaps?

Anonymous said...

I think that you have the right idea about the attitude that you need to approach this situation successfully. You are going to do great. I hate going away from my boyfriend also, he's just so adorable that I can't tear myself away from him ever! Then whenever I am away from him I can't have fun because I am always thinking of him! Don't be as wipped as I am! Have fun and have a good time, and don't feel bad about it! You know about the differnt time zones rule right??

Marc said...

yup you are awesome. I think that its only natural to miss such a great guy. This eddie of yours totally took the time to notice that you needed him and he took care of you when you really needed him. I completely understand why you would miss him. I miss him and I have never even met him! I am completely jealous that you have found such a caring guy! I am sure that you probably deserve it, but I can still envy you a little bit for it.

Anonymous said...

I think that it is adorable how you are going to miss your boyfriend only after 5 days of dating! That must be some kind of record. I guess that since you have known him since high school, its a little bit more acceptable, but still, SUCK IT UP and have fun this weekend! Sorry to be so harsh, but it needed to be said! hahaha! Kidding, well kind of kidding. I do think that you should try and do your best to have fun. The key to a successful relationship is to be able to be apart. You don't want to burn out to fast. Show all the old people who's boss and have fun!

Anonymous said...

I love NYC this time of year! The weather is perfect! It is right before it gets rediculously hot and uncfomfortable. ANd right after the last of the frost biting cold disapears! You are going to ahve an awesome time. Get out to see the city even if you have to sneak out of the retreat and just play hookie for the day! You have no choice!!