Pax River

 Doris Jean passed in June 1994 and we moved to Maryland in September 1994.  I wanted to be close to her but it just didn't happen.  I was closer to family and friends and that made me happy.  I wasn't in the best mental space when we moved there.  I had just lost my mom, and I gained probably a good 30/40 lbs since she passed. The emotional eater came out big time when she passed.  

We moved into these really cute apartments while we waited for our base housing to become available.  That apartment complex was cute and empty during the day but it was a whole other story when the sun went down.  We definitely didn't do our research moving there but we had limited resources so we made it work.  

When I was in California I finished the Navy Module program for Child Development. They give you I believe 18 months to finish and I completed them in about 9 months.  It was a series of workbooks and training from Child Development, Leadership & Management to working with families. You were then observed by the person who oversaw the Module program in various scenarios.  I knew when we moved to Pax River I wanted to continue working with children so I applied to work at the Child Development Center on the Naval Base.   

Let me tell you, I am not easily intimidated, especially now but walking into that interview as a young 20-something made me shrink into a little girl.  I remember seeing the Director sitting there and she had a couple other ladies with her serving on the interview committee.  She was very serious and barely smiled. She said I see here you completed the Navy modules but there was a bit of a break, why?  I was frantically wracking my brain, why? why? Then it hit me, my mom passed away.  I needed a little time to get myself together and I did, then I finished. After the interview, she walked me out of the room and said, Ms. Armstrong, you had an excellent interview.  You will be hearing from me very soon. 

I did get a phone call soon after that interview.  She called me and asked if I would come to her office and talk with her. Of course, my answer was yes.  Again, I was a nervous wreck.  I get to her office and she tells me to grab a seat.  I sit down and she tells me that they had several good interviews the day I interviewed but she couldn't hire the lady before me because she had lipstick on her teeth. I was thinking what on earth and then she started to laugh and said she was joking.  She completely broke the ice. 

She tells me that she would love to have me come work for her at the Child Development Center but she had another opportunity she wanted to discuss with me. She had an opening for a Before and After School Coordinator at the Youth Center down the road from the Child Development Center on Base.  It was working with kids from ages 6-12.  I would work a split shift so that I would be there to open in the morning and close in the evenings.  She thought it would be a great fit and also give me the opportunity to get experience working with a different age group.  I trusted her and this was an opportunity to Be BOLD so I said yes! Please don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.  You never know what doors will open for you because you were brave enough to choose a different path. A path you never knew you needed until you put your fear aside and just went for it.  My saying yes to this new opportunity opened so many doors for me.  I can't wait to share them with you.