Thoughts Close to Home

The other half of my dilemma rests in a somewhat familiar place: Birmingham, Alabama. I have a probable offer from a firm that I visited several months ago that I admired very much. The location of that firm I visited was not the Birmingham branch however. I feel that there is a limitation that I could be making on myself if I choose this path. Firstly, Atlanta is obviously a larger market, and I could probably have better growth potential. Secondly, I would have more local clients and that would mean much less travel than I would normally have to endure if I were in Birmingham. This company has expressed sincere flexibility in even letting me be located in Huntsville for a short time. Well, I think I've fully listed the cons except one: being close to where I've been the better part of the last decade. Then, there are the pros: Firstly, the cost of living for the Birmingham area is much less than that of the Atlanta area and yet my pay would be the same. Therefore, more money in my pocket. Secondly, I honestly like Birmingham better for a host of reasons, but most people that know me could figure those out. I would also be close to my family as my stepdad is approaching the end of his road. My mother will probably need someone around, and that would be a difficult task if stationed in Atlanta. Also, if they were to let me be stationed in Huntsville, I would have no expenses save food really. Therefore, even more money in my pocket. Even less of a life though, I'm afraid. Then there's the complicating factor of a girl in my life that is from the Birmingham area, and while I never let women affect the decision of the right thing to do with my life(romantically speaking I mean because I haven't quite encountered the one yet and I'm just getting to know this young lady well at the moment), at some point I will have to give someone a chance at it. So, this is a very complex situation, and I honestly don't know what to do. This is the single most important decision that I can make. I think that I will take the office visit to the Birmingham branch, and I'll see what I think of it then, but I could sure use some input as to what sounds right from anyone else out there in Smallville.

Thoughts of Far Away Places

And so I have to consider a couple of things this semester that I wasn't quite prepared to face. I have worked very hard in school to maintain an unblemished GPA. I've also worked very hard at professional development to see to it that when it comes time to have a job, that I'll have one. Here's the rub: I have choices to make now that I have job offers. First, I'll focus on the offers that take me to far away places. I have had the option to work as an investment banker in North Carolina and as a software developer in North Carolina. These two I have rejected for various reasons. I had a poor experience in one place, and I didn't want to throw a couple of years of my life away to make money for the other. Then there's a company in Atlanta that I am currently considering. The company was amazing. I really, really liked the people that I met there. I felt like those people were people like me. They were people I had things in common with. I felt a kindred spirit there, and I was received very warmly. In fact, that would normally be a place that I would definitely accept at if it were not for my current circumstances. Still, I think about moving away from this place since I've been here so long. I've found a company that I like, and even though I really don't care for Atlanta, I would know people there. The majority of MIS students would live in Atlanta, there is the prospect of Daniel being my roommate, and I think that I could make due. This is a fine opportunity, but moving away from everything you've ever known is also a scary proposition. In fact, most of my friends have had poor experiences with it. Even Mark and Karen miss Alabama, and Karen isn't even from the state. I would be away from my family at a time when I should probably be close to home, and so there you have it. I have a complex situation and decision that must be resolved in weeks not months. This is half of my dilemma.

Thoughts on the Semester

So it's been a while since I've slapped in an entry into the blog. My apologies for not being able to keep up with all of my friends' blogs as well. MIS is, well, MIS. I haven't had time for anything, but honestly for this semester that has been a good thing. I've been able to catch up with Michael Finley and Daniel a couple of times this semester. This semester... now there is something to think about. When I ventured back to campus from a terrible summer, I promised myself that I would do my best to enjoy my senior year. I wanted to have the most fun that I could possibly cram into an academic year. Unfortunately, I have been unable to do that. At first it started off pretty well. Then I started the MIS classes in full swing, got pressure from a faculty member to work for Lowe's, had to endure a busy time with interviews and projects squeezed in between, and of course the situation at home with my stepfather. One great thing has been the football season we've had. That was a good going away present from the University to me. Now, the dust has started to settle, and I am beginning to wonder if there is any way that I'll enjoy my final semester here at the Capstone. I will be even more busy next semester, and life after that is going to be decided soon. (I'll get into that in the next couple of posts) So, the highlight of my semester was probably the trip to Chicago. The holidays are here, and it will be a bit of a somber time. Hopefully, everything will work out. My grades should be ok, but I am somewhat concerned about my distance ed class that I need to finish before long. I haven't met any new people really, but I did have a wonderful Thanksgiving before Thanksgiving on Thursday. So, all in all it's been a tough semester, but I look forward to deciding what to do with my life which is its own conundrum and to getting on with it.