Trips to Santa Fe (Part 1)

Hi Everyone,

   If anyone is actually reading this, I have had two exciting, awesome trips to Santa Fe yesterday and today.

   Yesterday, I went to Santa Fe to interview candidates for a new coordinator for the NM GSA Network and give my advice as a Youth Council member. A little backstory: The NM GSA Network is a conglomerate of Gay Straight Alliances around New Mexico. Our mission is to create safe schools for all students through activism, education, and community. The NMGSAN Coordinator helps us accomplish this mission by visiting GSAs and guiding them when need. The Coordinator is in turn advised by the Youth Council, a youth board composed of youth leaders from the GSAs.

   When I first read over the apps of the two applicants for the final interview (SFMC pre-screens applicants and they let us make the final decision), I was concerned because I thought that neither candidate had the experience we wanted. That all changed when the interviews happened.

   The first candidate was a candidate who we made an instant connection with. Although their experience (I use their to hide any details, as they are solely confidential) focused mainly with non-profit, I felt that they would do an excellent job.

   The second candidate had more political experience (especially with LGBT activism) and with non-profits; however, we didn't make a personal connection with them, which lead us to believe that they would not be able to handle the fact that 75% of the job is connecting to youth.

   Since the second candidate was not experienced enough with youth (the most important part of the job) and didn't make a connection with us, but the first candidate was and did make a connection, the Youth Council voted to hire the first candidate. In fact, we all left a message with them saying: "CONGRATS! YOU'RE HIRED!"

   It was a wonderful experience and I really like that the Santa Fe Mountain Center allows youth to make decisions normally left to adults. I love that they treat us like equals and not like some bratty, hormonal people they have to "put up with." I'm going to miss their events and staff when I go to Carleton.

FYI: Almost everything about the interview is confidential, so no pics.