Sometimes LAST is BEST of All

We have been overly blessed in abundance today. Thomas FINALLY received word about his practicum (internship) for the next year.

After several interviews and stressful weeks of wondering if he would ever receive good news, we were overjoyed and blessed with the news today. In fact, he was so excited that he told me the great news, forwarded the email from Dr. Goodwin to me and ran out the door to class. It wasn't until this morning that he realized in the excitement of the moment he forgot to reply back and let Dr. Goodwin know he accepted the position!

Thomas will be doing a lot of neuro psychological assessments (personality tests, IQ tests, intelligence tets) for a psychologist in the forensics field. Basically, he will be adminstering these tests for people who are involved in a trial. On the judge's request people may need to have tests performed for evidence in the courts. Thomas will be the one to administer these tests.

Things were starting to get a little gloomy after several interviews and no offers. All of the good ones were taken and we were starting to worry that Thomas would have to pick up the practicums that no one wanted...like having to take a ferry over to one of the islands and work out of an office there...making for really inconvenient commute several times a week.

But our prayers, patience and dilligence paid off. This practicum will be a convenient drive (thank goodness, since we're over $4/gallon up here), quality experience, and...it's a PAID practicum! None of the practicums offered on the list this year were paid. So even though Thomas was the last person in his class to get a practicum, I think we definitly hit the jackpot with getting one of the BEST spots of all. OH, and did I mention that when Thomas went in for his interview Dr. Goodwin said that he really preferred a student with more experience and was going to open up the practicium to other school...wanted to keep his "options open." We've been praying no one else wanted it!

I couldn't help but think about how exciting this really is going to be. While Thomas will still be going to school two days a week, and working with his research group for one day, he's going to be in an actual clinical setting...WORKING...for the other two days. Finally, after ALL these years of school it's like we're getting one step closer to the goal. One step closer to working in a professional environment. Truly, this is exciting.

I'm so proud of him for being persistent and dilligent and staying positive, even when I was discouraged. We discuss his goals and the direction he wants to take his dissertation and future research and career and I'm so impressed with his vision thus far and excited with the possibilities ahead of us.