Retirement at 24

Five years. That's how long I've worked at BYU Independent Study. Today was my last day and quite possibly my last day of full-time paid work. I would say it was bitter sweet, but its not. It's just sweet :) I am excited for this new phase of life. I am excited to devote all of my time an energy to something I truly believe in and love. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy and appreciate my time at BYU. I have made so many lifelong friends and learned so many lessons.

Some of the most important lessons that I've learned are how to deal with people. Angry people don't phase me to much anymore and calming them down isn't quite as difficult. I've learned that conversation and communication is the key to most effectively solving problems and disputes. I've learned that sometimes two totally different people can come together and work effectively. I've learned that managing a large team is difficult but can be a lot of fun! I've interviewed close to 200 people...I think I've learned the good and bad to interviewing. I've learned that training is crucial to having an effective team. I've learned that leadership is more about opportunity than skill and that experience and knowledge is crucial. I've learned that I hate to be micromanaged. I've learned that delegation is a good way to get buy-in from peers and employees. I've learned that you can waste a lot of time at work very easily.

But the lessons aren't the best thing I got from IS. The best that came from IS are the relationships I've developed... Just to name a few friends... Katherine for starters. Katherine is one of my very best friends and I met her working the 2-6 shift at the Front Desk in January of 2004. Katherine has always been an inspiration to me! She is smart and so nice and looks great in anything she wears. Katherine is the one who convinced me into getting my degree in advertising. She even stayed up with me all night once working on a project that she wasn't even in the same class with me for! We've had so many good times at IS together. Other great friends have been Shane (and his yellow hat and polo), Barbara (we've had some great laughs!!), Stacey Morris (before she was Morris), Miranda (she doesn't really count because i knew her before, but she was still an important part of IS), Aimee Roberts (you got me the job!!) Andrea Cox (IS brought us together and I'm so glad, even though you're crazy:), Emily West (I just LOVE you!), Emily, Heather, Jamie, Josh, Meg, Naomi, Katie, Lumberjack Steve, Lindsay, Miyoshi, and my most recent co-workers; Kelcie (don't worry, you're going to do amazing!! We've made an amazing team!!), Lauren, Rachel, Paige, Teri, Andrea, Joseph, Rebecca...the list goes on and on. I hope that I didn't miss anyone but I know I did. And I can't forget all of my wonderful employees. I really have been so lucky to have such amazing employees!! You guys were great!! Here is a tribute that Barbara and I put together. Some of you may think this is funny but most of you wont understand...sorry!

You know you've been at IS too long when....

You remember the old phones.
You get paid over $10 and hour.
You've trained your supervisors.
You remember when we used to be able to use IM.
You remember Grant LaBarbara.
You remember Scott and Scott and Adam Ritchens
You remember when the front part of the front desk had 6 computers instead of 3.
You remember Scotts or Miyoshi's old newsletters.
You remember lumberjack Steve.
You remember when Shane wasnt even supervisor.
You got out of work early because they were remodeling.
You remember Armando's R7's.
You remember when Ken got so mad when we hand wrote addresses on envelopes.
You remember Ken.
Your old co-workers are pregnent or having their second child.
You were hired by Laura Cannon
You remember when Andrea Willardson was hired.
You have a baby blue IS shirt.
You remember when we got the label printer.
You remember when just supervisors answered emails.
You knew Jamie Taylor before she was Jamie Taylor.
We were allowed to have things on the wall; like the phone lists.
You remember that you were supposed to answer the phone at the front desk.
You remember when treat day actually worked.
You were trained by Marcy Freeman, and knew Marci Jess when she was still Marci Crabb.
You remember when the supervisor “offices” were just desks.
You knew Ken as the instructor liaison before Shane, and Shane before Josh.
You remember Jake and his big project that he did; but never really knew what the project was…
You remember when calls on hold was a phenomenon.
You sent tests out without using the proctor database—because it didn’t exist.
You used to be able to put things on LF, or take them off, and didn’t have to ask testing.
You remember coversheet that didn’t have the proctor information box on them; and having instructors call to ask where they were supposed to sign.
You were afraid of Alba.
You remember Aik and how you couldn’t understand anything he said
You remember when the desk set up was like a maze; you could walk from the front desk, to the secretary area, back to testing.
You remember when materials and marketing were all one, big connected room.
You remember a time before we had TAs.
You remember when we all hated RUSH, oh wait, that much hasn't changed.

Thank you BYU IS for the great five years!!