12/18/2009 06:12:00 PM

becoming a hermit

And the finalists are...
CT VA (West Haven)
NJ VA (Newark & Lyons)
MD VA (Baltimore)
UMDNJ (Newark)
Montefiore (NYC)
Trinitas (NJ)
UMDNJ (Piscataway)
American Lake VA (Tacoma, WA)

8 is not bad. I was not aware of this until recently, but supposedly I applied to some of the really competitive VAs (West Haven & Baltimore) where if I get matched there, I will totally kick butt as a psychologist specializing in SMI. My professional self would love to go there, but my personal self prefers to stay in NJ/NY. We'll see.

With all the internship/dissertation stuff and my mind focused on the future, I've been feeling pretty tired. I used to love hanging out with people, but for the past month or so I noticed myself becoming more reclusive. I look forward to staying in on the weeknights and meeting with only 1-2 people tops on the weekends. Big groups tire me. It may also have to do with the Driscoll sermon I listened to on Christian friendship that made me realize I really don't have as many genuine friendships as I thought I did (and this was only affirmed when PW started his series on genuine fellowship that same week). What bothers me the most is that all this doesn't bother me much (makes sense?). I'm pretty much ok with seeing less people for now. Maybe it is partly because my life is in flux, and I'm holding my breath to see where I will be. Once I find out in February, then I will have to start making some big decisions.

For now I'm focused on developing the genuine friendships I have - the ones that are God-centered, not activity-centered - and waiting to see what unfolds for the next two years of my life. I wish I could sound more excited, but that's how tired I am. :P

12/14/2009 04:22:00 PM

Status so far

Internship interviews. I am in a state of 'controlled panic,' but still mostly at peace. I love God, and he is good.

Interviews completed:
CT VA (West Haven)
NJ VA (Newark & Lyons)

Interviews upcoming:
MD VA (Baltimore)
UMDNJ (Newark)
Montefiore (NYC)

Rejections:
Portland VA
Seattle VA
Boston Consortium
Bellevue (NYC)
St. Luke's (NYC)
Maimonides (NYC)
Coler-Goldwater (NYC)

Waiting to hear:
Trinitas (NJ)
UMDNJ (Piscataway)
Edith Nourse VA (Boston)
American Lake VA (Tacoma)

So I guess people are right when they say NYC is still psychodynamically oriented. Very much so. And except for Tacoma (and I'm totally expecting rejection from them), all the West Coast sites have turned me down. So God has definitely answered my prayers that he would close doors to places I 'should not' be for the next two years. It looks like I'll be sticking around the East Coast. Not sure how I feel about that yet.

12/11/2009 11:50:00 PM

Don't tell me not to live, just sit and putter
Life's candy and the sun's a ball of butter
Don't bring around a cloud to rain on my parade
Don't tell me not to fly, I simply got to
If someone takes a spill, it's me and not you
Who told you you're allowed to rain on my parade?