...wow

I had two practicum interviews today. This summer, as long as all goes according to plan, I'll be working at a social work agency full-time for credit towards my degree. Knowing myself, it is important that I separate my classes from practicum... but most people do them together during the semester, so several agencies already had a format set up that I don't fit because I want to work full-time and only be there during the summer. So there were only two places I found that were interested.

The first place was initially less-impressive because its an afterschool program for at-risk kids. But by the end of the interview, I was totally stoked. I knew that working with this population would be hard because I've never done it before, but that's expected. I also learned that they would be paying me (about $1 per hour, but that's better than nothing). I really felt like I had a lot in common as far as personalities go with the two women who interviewed me... and then I found out that one of my friends at school will be working there this summer as well. They'll be letting me know on Wednesday, but I felt like they really liked me.

So THEN, I went to the second interview at a place that had initially been the one that was most interesting to me. However, the office looked more like a "desk job", and after hearing about how I could be so involved with the kids at the other one, I was kind of uninterested in the phone intakes and case files I'd be mostly dealing with at this place. And as we talked, it dawned on me that she wasn't asking me any of the normal interview questions... she just kept telling me about their agency and how wonderful they are... and then it hit me, she's acting like SHE'S the one being interviewed!

By the end of that interview, I was really torn because I knew that the two agencies would challenge me in very different ways... both of which I want and need. It really made me want to work at both... but I can't do that. So then she told me that they would like to hear from me as soon as possible because they're holding off on everyone else for me. For ME?!? You mean, you know you want me from my resume?!? So weird! So cool! Soooooo WEIRD! I still don't know what to do with that...

So now I have to talk to someone who's doing her practicum at the second place to see what its like (I actually randomly met her at lunch today at school), and then I'll be observing at the first place and they'll let me know if they want me. If they both want me, I really don't know what I'm going to do. And I know I shouldn't whine about having options, but this is so WEIRD!!!!

...wow.