I feel as if this stage of my life is labeled: CONSTANTLY PENDING APPLICATION STATUS.   I am forever applying for one thing on another and waiting to hear back as to the outcome.  For this particular application, though, I am hopeful that the five essays and several short answer questions, conveyed the importance of my service and my passion toward the organization.  You guessed it, it is related to NSLI-Y, which I have written about frequently here.  This application was to serve as a NSLI-Y Alumni Representative.  

As part of the application, I had to share why I wanted to serve and what qualities/qualifications prepared me to serve as an Alumni Representative.  Of course, my amazing experience with the Summer 23-24 NSLI-Y Morocco cohort was easy to express.  Although it was hard to express in only five-hundred words.  I also had to share in a separate essay how I planned to go about organizing, planning, publicizing and executing a NSLI-Y Alumni Event.  That was a little more difficult since I have only been out of program for about three months and I have attended two virtual alumni events in that time.  As the theme of that essay, I focused on asking alumni what they would like to hear about in a session.  I also tried to draw on my own experiences both during and post program and use those to identify opportunities.  In addition, I am very close to my alumni and now friend group from this past summer in Morocco.  Using our collective conversations, needs and desires, helped me frame what I hope was a well-founded essay.

I should find out if I made the cut in about two weeks.  I do hope that I am chosen.  The primary reason is the profound impact that my own summer abroad through NSLI-Y had in my life.  I love to share that impact with possible applicants.  Also, selfishly, I love the community of learners and friends that I met through NSLI-Y.  I want to continue to ride the wave and to help other alumni do the same. 

I am enclosing a picture of my recent visit to Washington & Lee University, which I REALLY liked as the photo for this post.