Hello Blog World....
Welcome to my Blog. My name is Ryan, for those of you who don't know me. I am a recently-turned-26-year-old-female that is about to start an adventure of a lifetime.
I currently have been living and working in the wonderful Central Valley of California, specifically Fresno. I moved up here in 2006 as a recent high school graduate from the San Diego area ready to start what would be the best years of my life...so I was told by so many. And I would agree that going to Fresno State would start this amazing journey of life on the right foot.
My college years were interesting. I attended Fresno State majoring in Kinesiology
(B.S.) and Communicative Disorders and Deaf Studies with an Emphasis in Interpreting (B.A.). For the first few years, I attended Fresno State part-time focusing only on my major classes while I attended Fresno City College full-time and focused specifically on all the boring "general ed" requirements.
While at City, I was able to continue my love of the game and made the softball team. The 2 years I spent on the field were some of the best. This is where I was able to meet some amazing people who I have been able to stay in touch with and are now some of my best friends.
Due to my double major, I finished one sooner than the other.. so I was able to get hired January of 2011 as a staff sign language interpreter. (Yay! ...get to put one of those degrees to work.. not just a piece a paper.) This first job would be at the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Service Center (DHHSC). Starting out I was an innocent newbie with no experience other than internship... and now was working as a part-timer. I felt like a pretty accomplished individual at the young age of about 22. Little did I know that I would get experiences of a life time that challenged me personally and professionally-helping me become the professional I am today.
Fresno for me was always a temporary situation. It served a purpose that I will forever be thankful for and I will never forget where I got my start. But my heart (family) is in San Diego/Orange County. So I started to apply from San Diego to OC , and even as far as LA. I was not having much luck and not being certified didn't help much either. Obtaining anything full-time or even guaranteed part-time hours was looking impossible. Everything was sub work and as needed. Let's be honest... I cannot live off that in SD area... and I am not a teenager any more, And I have "big girl responsibilities" and would not / could not depend on my parents again because they have done so much for me already. (Love you mama and dad!)
One day about two and half months ago I got a call from Soliant Health in regards to an application in the OC area and they were impressed. I was so relieved.. thought I finally was getting a break. They would be able to offer me sub work. (internal frustration meter raises). I said thank you and will keep it in mind, but looking for something with more of a guarantee.
Then the woman says to me: "Well.. you seem like a lady who likes to travel and may be down for a great adventure." (Thinking to myself.. well, duh, life is to short. I am interested)
I responded: "Yeah.. I like to think that I am."
Lady: "Well we have position out of state that is a 9-month school job for one Deaf student."
Me: "Okay.. education is not my life goal, but where is it located?"
Lady: "Alaska"
Me: "Oh.. yeah.............No thank you."
Lady: "Well call me back if you change your mind."
Of course my wheels start turning.. I can't go to Alaska...that is crazy! So......I sit on it for a week and ask some people what they would do. I put it on Facebook (what would we do without social media!) and everyone said pretty close to the same thing. "Do it. Why wouldn't you? What a great opportunity." Some even went into detail saying you have no attachments, you are single (true.. thanks for rubbing it in wink), no kids, etc. So I of course call and get more information. As the lady goes on about the job I know right then and there... I am going to Alaska! Yes, I am going to Alaska!
I take some time to "think about it" basically means break the news to my parents and start to figure out how this is going to work.
My Parents, at first, thought I was joking.. until they realized I wasn't. Knowing them all to well, I had all their questions answered before they could even ask them. They slowly started to get comfortable with the idea, but knew I was crazy enough to do it either way.
I called Soliant Health back and told them, "I would like to formally accept the job in Alaska." Sure enough everything else has fell into place. I submitted my application formally to Alaska, had an over-the-phone interview with the school district...that I think went very well. That very day they called my references". I got the call the next day that I was officially hired to the Kenai School District as a sign language interpreter for the Village (NOT a town.. don't upgrade "my" village) of Nanwalek.
This where this blog will get fun. I will keep everyone posted on my amazing adventure that is about to take place. We are wheels-up-to-Alaska on August 14th at 6:30 am from SD. So, I hope I haven't bored you and you will stay tuned for this crazy up coming year. We will have some fun adventures starting before we go to Alaska. More to come later.
Hope you are ready to sit down, buckle up and see where this journey on life takes me. You guys get a front row view!
