Back to Maryland

 

I can't finish the year without going back to Maryland and telling you how I ended up moving back to Delaware. I was working as the Youth Director at NAS Pax River.  I was making my rounds around the various programs I had on Base.  While I was at the Day Camp, 4 gentlemen in suits drove up and got out of a very old, very large, and very expensive foreign car.  They wanted to talk to me about my programs on Base. I chatted with them for a while and told them I had to go as I wanted to be sure all of my kids made it on the buses for their field trip. That was the priority at the time.  They had just started the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland and wanted to chat further, they gave me their card and I called them a day or two later.  To make a long story short, I left the Naval Air Station after 5 years and was hired as an Area Director for Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland, BGCSM.  I will say that was the largest panel of people I have ever interviewed in front of to this day. There were school personnel, funders, BGCSM leaders, so many people.  They called me and offered me the job.  When they asked where I went to college I told them I had not.  I completed the module program for the Navy and I was interested in taking classes but I had not up to that point. They said they would have to call me back.  Within 10 minutes I received a call and was told that they did not mind that I did not have a degree.  My interview along with my work at NAS Pax spoke for itself.  Area Director, here I come.  So you remember my friend/employee Zach?  He was hired as one of my Program Directors.  I met some wonderful people while I was at BGCSM.  Some CRAZY people too, that we will save for the book.  They had an opening for a Director of Operations and hired a retired State Trooper who was very well-known in the area. He would tell me he had no clue what he was doing and asked me to speak quite a bit when we had meetings.  He didn't stay long as it just wasn't his thing.  He would tell everyone that I should be doing his job.  There were many interviews for the Director of Operations position but I didn't apply because I thought I was too new, too green.  Some of the program staff and funders recommended me for the position and I was offered the job by the Board. I was in my late 20's maybe just 30.  There was so much turnover in the Executive Director Position.  Those of us in the office were a tight-knit group and stuck out some crazy drama-filled days.  They eventually got it right and hired Mrs. Rhoda Campbell.

I have to tell you I have had many positions in my life where people told me I would not get because I didn't have a degree, I was too young, I was not qualified. BUT GOD! Be BOLD and go for yours!