CGP alum here! We have a very strong, well-connected alumni network throughout the country, so don't let the fear of staying in Cooperstown keep you from researching the program and applying. CGP is an amazing experience, and the curriculum includes professional networking opportunities as well as internships (both in Cooperstown during the school year and throughout the country during the summer). When my class graduated, all 15 of us found jobs within the museum field within about six months - only 1 in Cooperstown, and that was by her choice. I'm in Oregon, and many of my colleagues here are familiar with and respect CGP. Plus cost of living in Cooperstown is super low, and CGP actively follows through on doing everything they can to help you get the financial aid you need (for example, I was 1 of 6 who received free tuition second year in exchange for 10 hours/week of museum-related work).
I could go on for awhile about my love for CGP as a generalist museum studies program, the experiences I had there, and the connections I made. (Next month, most of my class is attending a classmate's wedding in Virginia!) In short, HIGHLY recommend.
Right?! I can just imagine myself trying to apply for new jobs, exhausted and anxious and constantly interrupted by random work chaos. Without a break, I worry I wouldn't have the opportunity to recalibrate my toxicity meter and I'd miss the red flags during the interview stage. Thank you for the encouragement!
So comforting to hear that, thank you! I made the mistake of reading Ask A Manager advice this weekend about resigning, and she is not encouraging of doing so without something else already lined up. Would you mind telling me more about your experiences?!
I have so many questions! Were you alone, what time of year, what gear, what maps, how long did it take, how much training, what bike, etc etc?!
Thank you, thank you for all of your support! I did do it. It was oddly surreal, and I'm switching back and forth between giddy and sad. Our current nonprofit structure is a management team (which I'm on and in place of an executive director), with a volunteer staff/board liaison who reports to the board. So today I talked to the Board President, and he was very understanding and appreciative of my time here. I actually respect and enjoy working with him, as he's one of the more positive people associated with this organization. Tomorrow I'll tell the volunteer staff/board liaison, which will probably be a very different conversation as she's very much part of the problem and highly likely to guilt trip me. And then the cat will be fully out of the bag.
I do have some regret though. I tried very hard to deal with the shit, to work with others to find solutions, to have professional conversations about restructuring my workload, and yet here we are. I'm a loyal, responsible person by nature, and I wanted to make this work, dammit. (Is anyone surprised that I tend to stay in romantic relationships way too long too?!)
April 22 is so soon. And now I'm rewarding/consoling myself with Hamilton and a lemon meringue tart, and my boyfriend is making me a fancy cocktail and bath when I get home.
Ahhhh I'm quitting my toxic, underpaid, not in line with my career goals or passion, 60+ hour a week job in 4.5 hours! To recover my health from this work-induced depression/anxiety and maybe bike the Pacific Coast. But without a new job lined up. I AM SO NERVOUS (about the quitting, mostly, today). Send good thoughts, please?!
I wonder if we had the same lawyer?! Used to be a professional cyclist turned bike advocacy lawyer??
Anyway, YES, consult a lawyer. Your health (and the future possible ramifications of this collision) is extremely important. A lawyer will fight for YOU. Your insurance company will focus on making a profit.
Cooperstown, NY used to have a giant pumpkin festival every year, including a GIANT PUMPKIN REGATTA, where the growers carved out their prize giant pumpkins (after exhibiting them the day before) and canoe-raced them in the lake. Townspeople could then race in them too. It was magical.
The best dogs, really. And so pretty!
The co-op is amazing! And that's the best neighborhood!
Shop n Kart is our other locally-owned groc, which is the BEST. Today they had wine and sauerkraut tastings!
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