re: "a view from the 128th... "
Re-posted with permission from the author with only minimal editing. This article originally appeared at the FSWE and FSOA Yahoo!Groups (see my Sidebar for links there).
Greetings yahoo board.
Big congratulations to those who've been called this week. With week one of A100 down, I am in love with my job and I predict you will be too. It is all so very cool.
As is, I think, a normal part of the evolutionary aspect of these boards, I will be scaling down my participation. So, I am resigning as owner and moderator of the FSWE and FSOA boards. I will become more fly on the wall than gadfly. But I did want to offer a quick run down before doing so.
Essentially, it is everything you think it is and more. It is worth it. Really. I don't know how to adequately say it without condescending which I am loathe to do. But I know I could have used a shot in the arm every now and again, so I am hopeful that is how this reads. Sure, once I passed the OA it went very quickly for me. I got lucky as hell. But I spent two years tryin', so I am not blind to the warts either. Here is a quick overview of the week that was.
I am not going to patronize anyone with references to firehoses and such, but, really -- what a week. Exhausting, exhilirating, exciting -- just crazy and wonderful all at the same time. We spent the early part of it doing a lot of HR stuff. I know this is not most people's favorite part of the class, but it surely strikes me as necessary and I think they handled it seamlessly and as swiftly as humanly possible. And given that it allows us to be paid and insured and let into buildings and such, I see little room for complaint.
Interspersed in there was much ado about the bid list. The career development officers (CDO's) have given us remarkable tools (some of which we honed at the OA -- it is all becoming clear to me now...) with which to approach our bids and try to see where our needs and those of the service are most likely to intersect. Now, I see some musings on the boards wondering about when the bid list will be posted. Fortunately for me, I have technological problems that prohibit me from doing so. But I will admit that even if I did not, I just wouldn't post the bid list. I have never looked at other classes' bid lists; have never asked for them to be posted (I don't think I have -- not when I had a firm sense of the process anyway) and I just don't feel the need to put it in cyberspace. I am really sorry about that. I hope I don't read as too big for my britches. I will, of course, be happy to tell you where I am going (once I know.)
Our class is small (as we're reminded very often) and I think we're very lucky in that regard (as we're also reminded often.) I think our group dynamics are fabulous -- we're evenly distributed across gender and familial situations and various other factors and, gosh, what a cool group of folks. I know -- *know* -- that I have met people this week with whom I will be friends for the rest of my life. 'Just awesome people among whom I dwell. I sometimes have a hard time believing I am among them, but my badge seems to let me into FSI thusfar, so I guess I am (turns out, by the way, that the whole "we don't need no stinkin' badges" thing is a bit of a fallacy.)
The orientation staff is phenomenal. 'Top notch' doesn't begin todescribe them. I love the fact that their efforts not only ease and facilitate my transition into the FS, but also set a very highstandard in terms of job expectations. Both efficient and clever, eh? The bar is high and they have motivated me to try my damndest to scale it. (Knocking loudly on wood now and making a mental note to always carry paper clips and water bottles.)
So, there you go. Amazing people at a fascinating and supportive federal agency is the bottom line for and from me. I hope this makes some sense and strikes the chord I mean to hit. Don't be deterred by the road blocks on this path. The scenic highway you'll hit once you get past giant the traffic jam, is very worth the wear and tear.
Ick. That was trite. (note to file: work on fitting analogy.)
I just urge you to resist the urge to throw up your hands. You'll want to save that motion for the 'hallelujah' moment when it stops being figurative.
It is a beautiful day here in DC, and I must now go get some fresh air, I think. 'Must also rectify a huge shortcoming -- I have to become part of the suit-owning populace. One of the many epiphanies I've had this week, you see. This southwest girl thought she could nudge the business attire envelope, but she felt as if she attended class in her bathrode and slippers part of the week. I must fix my sartorial shortcomings. Wish me luck -- I wish you the very same.
Shoot me an email if there is anything I can do or answer for you. My very, very best wishes to each of you along with my sincere hope to see many of you in the halls of FSI one day very soon.
Fray
Greetings yahoo board.
Big congratulations to those who've been called this week. With week one of A100 down, I am in love with my job and I predict you will be too. It is all so very cool.
As is, I think, a normal part of the evolutionary aspect of these boards, I will be scaling down my participation. So, I am resigning as owner and moderator of the FSWE and FSOA boards. I will become more fly on the wall than gadfly. But I did want to offer a quick run down before doing so.
Essentially, it is everything you think it is and more. It is worth it. Really. I don't know how to adequately say it without condescending which I am loathe to do. But I know I could have used a shot in the arm every now and again, so I am hopeful that is how this reads. Sure, once I passed the OA it went very quickly for me. I got lucky as hell. But I spent two years tryin', so I am not blind to the warts either. Here is a quick overview of the week that was.
I am not going to patronize anyone with references to firehoses and such, but, really -- what a week. Exhausting, exhilirating, exciting -- just crazy and wonderful all at the same time. We spent the early part of it doing a lot of HR stuff. I know this is not most people's favorite part of the class, but it surely strikes me as necessary and I think they handled it seamlessly and as swiftly as humanly possible. And given that it allows us to be paid and insured and let into buildings and such, I see little room for complaint.
Interspersed in there was much ado about the bid list. The career development officers (CDO's) have given us remarkable tools (some of which we honed at the OA -- it is all becoming clear to me now...) with which to approach our bids and try to see where our needs and those of the service are most likely to intersect. Now, I see some musings on the boards wondering about when the bid list will be posted. Fortunately for me, I have technological problems that prohibit me from doing so. But I will admit that even if I did not, I just wouldn't post the bid list. I have never looked at other classes' bid lists; have never asked for them to be posted (I don't think I have -- not when I had a firm sense of the process anyway) and I just don't feel the need to put it in cyberspace. I am really sorry about that. I hope I don't read as too big for my britches. I will, of course, be happy to tell you where I am going (once I know.)
Our class is small (as we're reminded very often) and I think we're very lucky in that regard (as we're also reminded often.) I think our group dynamics are fabulous -- we're evenly distributed across gender and familial situations and various other factors and, gosh, what a cool group of folks. I know -- *know* -- that I have met people this week with whom I will be friends for the rest of my life. 'Just awesome people among whom I dwell. I sometimes have a hard time believing I am among them, but my badge seems to let me into FSI thusfar, so I guess I am (turns out, by the way, that the whole "we don't need no stinkin' badges" thing is a bit of a fallacy.)
The orientation staff is phenomenal. 'Top notch' doesn't begin todescribe them. I love the fact that their efforts not only ease and facilitate my transition into the FS, but also set a very highstandard in terms of job expectations. Both efficient and clever, eh? The bar is high and they have motivated me to try my damndest to scale it. (Knocking loudly on wood now and making a mental note to always carry paper clips and water bottles.)
So, there you go. Amazing people at a fascinating and supportive federal agency is the bottom line for and from me. I hope this makes some sense and strikes the chord I mean to hit. Don't be deterred by the road blocks on this path. The scenic highway you'll hit once you get past giant the traffic jam, is very worth the wear and tear.
Ick. That was trite. (note to file: work on fitting analogy.)
I just urge you to resist the urge to throw up your hands. You'll want to save that motion for the 'hallelujah' moment when it stops being figurative.
It is a beautiful day here in DC, and I must now go get some fresh air, I think. 'Must also rectify a huge shortcoming -- I have to become part of the suit-owning populace. One of the many epiphanies I've had this week, you see. This southwest girl thought she could nudge the business attire envelope, but she felt as if she attended class in her bathrode and slippers part of the week. I must fix my sartorial shortcomings. Wish me luck -- I wish you the very same.
Shoot me an email if there is anything I can do or answer for you. My very, very best wishes to each of you along with my sincere hope to see many of you in the halls of FSI one day very soon.
Fray
posted by Consul-At-Arms at 2:10 AM
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