Last Friday afternoon I had my first BIG MEETING here at my new job at my fine, elite, select school I really enjoy working at. It was with the Provost here and for those who aren't sure what that means, it's big cheese. Basically, second in command at the whole school. Then, this morning I met with not only said Provost, but also THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL. And, to top it off, Friday there is a meeting about the project I've been working on that involves them at the state education level, they will both be there and I get to go to that too!

For those not immersed in institutional culture, this is a huge deal for me. In 7 years at a certain very large Illinois university, five of them spent in an office that reported pretty much directly to the same head honchos there, I never got to be part of a working meeting with either the Provost or the President. Sure, I think I saw them once presenting at a board of trustees meeting, but it had nothing to do with me and I was just there watching.

I am so very excited to feel like I have reached a new phase of my professional life. I really enjoy my job here, I get recognition like this for my work and it's really, really cool to feel valued by essentially the most important individuals at this school. My career path has been underway for about ten years now, but it's only now that I really feel like I might have an idea where the next bend in the road of it leads me.

Very, very cool.