The Wild West

Hello everyone! I apologize for not posting for 6 days; it has been a crazy week. I left off last post by talking about a phone interview that I was preparing for while in Damascus, Virginia. After interviewing on the phone, I was invited to visit the office in Wyoming for an in-person interview! So, I started arranging the trip out west immediately. The last hiking I did was Sunday morning into Damascus. Since then I've been travelling, and interviewing for this job. I actually had a pretty easy time getting off the trail for the interview thanks to the kindness of some friends and family! Staying with Mrs. Crabtree's relatives was great, Ethan picked me up and brought me to Knoxville that day, Paul picked me up Tuesday, and I drove his car to Nashville. Then, I flew to Denver Wednesday morning, and have been staying here since. All in all I had an easy time getting here, considering I went from Damascus to Denver in two days with no notice. Thanks so much to everyone who helped with that! (I just proofread this post, and realized that it is kind of a long story. So, if you don't want to read it all just skip the next couple paragraphs.)

The job that I interviewed for was one that I applied to on my break between hikes. During the break I applied to 15 different positions, most in Tennessee, but 1 in Wyoming. Out of all the 15 that I applied for, the position in Wyoming was the one that I did not expect to hear back from. That was pretty much the dream job for me coming out of college; statistics in the west. I didn't meet their minimum qualifications, but I threw my resume and application in anyway because you never know what can happen. From those 15 applications I only heard back from 2; a financial position in Nashville, which I never had a chance to interview before it was filled, and Wyoming, whom I heard back from in Waynesboro after hiking for a week. The human resources department of Wyoming wanted me to piece together any experience I had to qualify for the job. They needed 1 year experience. As most of yall know, I have done some things professionally, but have spent all my summers working for the Boy Scouts. They wanted job related experience. Well, I put together what I had, not really expecting anything to come out of it, but hoping for the best.

10 days later I received a voicemail asking for a phone interview; that was when I updated the blog in Pearisburg, VA. Those next few days were spent trying to get in touch with the Board in Wyoming, and trying to prepare for the interview. I spent hours mulling over my answers to all the common interview questions while hiking those next few days. I don't think there could have been any better place for me to prepare than in the woods!

I had the in person interview in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Thursday morning. I drove up from Denver, a 2 hour drive, and had a couple hours to walk around Cheyenne before interviewing. That was really great because I got to know the city a little, and chill out before hand. It lasted for 1 hour and 30 minutes, and I told people afterwards that it went "very good." I didn't want to get my hopes up even though I felt it was one of the best in person interviews I've ever done. They would let me know the next day, Friday (yesterday). All Friday morning I was uneasy. I jumped every time my phone went off, and constantly checked my email. I went hiking to get out of the house, and get my mind off of it. Plus, it would be a shame if I came to the Rocky Mountains without hiking at all! I hit some really nice trails around I-70, and had great views of the higher peaks which had gotten their first snowfall of the year the previous day.

The Board called me when I was driving back into Denver. I GOT THE JOB AND (if bigger letters were possible here they would be bigger) I GET TO FINISH THE TRAIL! I'm not even going to begin to explain how I felt at that time. I've done so many applications, sent out SO many resumes and had so many interviews without success. It just seemed too good to be true that I would land this job. I really want to do statistics, and I really want to live in this outdoor playground and I really want to finish the trail too. Now I get to do all three. It really has yet to sink in, and all seems very surreal still. In a nutshell, the job is doing statistical analysis for the Board of Equalization in the State of Wyoming. I will be making sure that each of the 23 County Assessors are in compliance with the regulations set by the state in regards to the valuation of property and the assessed property tax.

I went back up to Cheyenne yesterday to fill out some paperwork, and meet the rest of the office. I also found a place to live! Before I left to hike, I researched and had information on 7 properties. Then when I was called up, I arranged appointments to go view them all while driving to fill out paperwork. The place I'll be living is great, and only 1 block from where I'll work; literally a 2 minutes walking.

That was a really long story. It hasn't sunk in completely for me yet. I'm so grateful for the good fortune I've had. I know that God's hand is all over it. And I really can't thank yall enough for the amount of support that you have given me!

Next up will be finishing the A.T. My start date for the job is Novemeber 15th. (I'm going to have to be quick.) I'm estimating that I have 25ish more days of hiking remaining. It is 460 miles to Springer Mountain from Damascus, Virginia. At the rate I was going it would take me as little as 18 days though. The elevation changes get more intense as I step into Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. I'm looking forward to getting back on the trail. It is something that I have definitely missed much since leaving a week ago! The offer is always up for those of you who want to come visit, however I am more limited on time now. I very much look forward to talking and visiting everyone back home! Thanks SO MUCH for following and being interested and supporting me! I have some pictures that I'm going to post now. Hope you are having a fantastic fall!!

The Kid