The perfect job description...Obvs.

I ran across this job description and opening tonight when I was performing my hourly job search. If this job description was not written for me, then no description is written for me. It literally encompasses "The Bek" and what job she needs to pursue (and yes I just referred to myself as the bek).

Here it is:

Overview:

Have people ever told you to act your age? Have you, like, used “like” in a conversation, like, a thousand times? Something may be seriously wrong with you, but that’s OK. You could have a home with The Mash. The Chicago Tribune’s teenage media brand is looking for a Digital Editor who can “think teen” and create a fun, engaging environment in print and online. It can be tough—to teach and edit teen writers, you really have to be up on your journalism skills. But it can be exciting and unpredictable as well.

Candidates should have the enthusiasm for a start-up venture and the willingness to learn and do a little bit of everything. This job will require daily editing, reporting, writing, web production, and management of student freelancers.

Qualifications:

The ideal person should be enthusiastic about working with 80 or more students, confident speaking in public, open to non-traditional ideas, familiar with teen trends and social media, and ready and willing to do a little bit of everything. You’ll be asked to handle multiple projects and know how to prioritize them. You’ll also be responsible for daily editing, writing, web production and management of student freelancers and bloggers. A bachelor’s degree or higher is required, as is.

I really don't know anyone else more perfect for the job...:) I would thrive in this position. Speaking of job hunting, it kind of sucks. I've applied to dozens, heard from a few, rejected by several, and interviewed by one. Looking for jobs is a full time job as it is. I look forward to hopefully hearing from The Mash but I have to keep applying and searching. I appreciate all your prayers, suggestions, and encouragement during this time of waiting.

Let the countdown begin...11 days

Ok so I realize its been five weeks since i've last posted. I know all of you are thinking, "What the heck, Bek?" Well its been a busy 5 weeks on the campaign. There is tons I would like to share but I have decided go put that after the campaign because I cannot disclose too much information while its going on and I would like to wait on that anyways. But we've got 11 days left...I won't be giving you specifics of the inside view of the campaign but how about a little snapshot into my world and what I will be doing over the next 11 days?

wake-up early, drive to work, spill coffee in car on my white shirt, arrive at work, work for a few hours, use punching bag at frustrating times, eat lunch, make phone calls, help volunteers know what to do, ask ryan (campaign manager) at least 30 questions, stay late doing work, help volunteers, maybe eat a 7-11 brownie, eyes glaze over from staring at computer or call list to long, wait, wait, wait, ryan drives me home, sleep for a few hours, pete and repeat.

I said a little snapshot, didn't I? This is the busiest time of the campaign. And that really doesn't even show how busy we really are...Don't you worry - they'll be plenty more where that came from and when I have time, it will get written about. Well, I am going to make some phone calls asking for people to support Ben in this upcoming november. Hopefully next time, a post will be more inspiring....

19 more days (Post Election)

So, this was a post I had started during the middle of the campaign but I chose not to post it at the time because I wanted to wait until after November 2nd.

Here is what was written 19 days before election day..
"But my life has been consumed by the campaign. I've actually started writing earlier about the campaign but I have to be careful with how much I share before its over, for several reasons but one of the main reason is I don't want to publicly process through it while it is still going on. Something I've learned while working on this campaign is that its a roller coaster of emotions, busyness, constant work, etc. Before I move too far down the road of doing something I just said I wasn't going to, I'm going to stop there.
Something the campaign has challenged me with that I'm going to expound upon in this post actually has more to do with my faith. As I have gotten more and more involved in the campaign, I talk more and more about it. I tell people daily what Ben stands for and why I am voting for him. It has hit a point of passionate zeal in my life, which is to be expected with my involvement and personality. But the other day, I was writing to some friends about it and a question hit me like a ton of bricks, "Bek, are you this passionate about Jesus?" I was completely halted in my tracks by this pondering and in a way I still am. After a conversation with my fellow coworker, Ryan, we expounded on the idea of "canvassing for Jesus." Basically applying the standard election get-the-word-out-about-your-candidate procedures. I'm sure you can simply imagine on your own what these might involve and some faiths even practice door-to-door sharing customs. Although our conversations and thought process went beyond this standard application and dove further into the subject of focusing on the amount of passion for talking about our faith in Christ.
I've hit the point where I no longer fear telling people that I am both working and supporting a democrat, even in situations where I know that it may be frowned upon because it is an important part of my life. But how often do I restrain myself from sharing my faith with strangers or in those same type of frowned upon situations? Why do I refrain or give short answers if I so choose to mention it? Fear.Awkwardness.Rejection.Persecution.Worry.etc. The list could literally go on probably for days. These same excuses could be given when applying it to sharing Ben's message, yet they rarely stop me.
This is something that has been on my heart in different ways over the past few months. I spent some serious time this summer looking into an organization called GoCorps. Similar to PeaceCorps but with the mission of sending recent grads out on the mission field for two years. On their website, a message hit close to home. The Great Commission is command, not an option. We often will hesitate when someone challenges us with the great commission verses by saying, "I"ll pray about it." Which often means for me at least pushing it off to the side because it makes me uncomfortable. Yet the Great Commission is not an optional command, it is just as relevant and important to follow as the 10 commandments or others that Jesus speaks to us."

Now post-election day...
This topic is something that has been a pretty constant theme in my thoughts right now. How often did I purposefully bring up the subject of politics just to talk to Ben and why you should vote for him verses how much do I purposefully bring up God to give Him the glory in how he has worked in my life? With all that said, I do not think I should feel bad for how much I talked politics and the Lowe for Congress campaign. It really is just a point of reference that I can easily access and compare it to.
My challenge to you, (and even more so to myself) is to not live in fear or worry about what people will think when you bring up God in everyday conversation. My challenge to you is to not just pray about the Great Commission, but act it out as Jesus commands. My challenge to you is to think about how willing you are to bring up other controversial subjects like politics compared to how much you end up sharing The Gospel. While I was a part of the campaign and even still now, I took every opportunity to share Ben's message with the people of the 6th District. I persuaded, argued, conversed, shouted, whispered, and shared as much as I could. Ultimately Ben's campaign is over for 2010. Will I take this opportunity to persuade, argue, converse, and share how Christ has changed my life and can change yours? How much longer will I be able to share the message of Jesus Christ with those around me? I don't know that time line. But what I do know is what Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)

Dear Editor:

One of my goals of this blog was to post some of my writing - so far its been mostly editorial, whatever-the-heck-comes-to-my-mind, stuff. This summer it has been extremely refreshing since I do a lot of technical, journalism writing for my job. But I also thought I would share a couple of Letter to the Editors that have been published in the Daily Herald with the campaign. I've worked hard on the campaign writing press releases, email blasts, templates for endorsements, and other important literature. Here are two more interesting pieces which were written this summer.

Click HERE to see the one that was printed in June. And click HERE to see the one printed in August. Lots of other LTE'S have been printed by other excellent writers for the campaign as well. This is just a tasting of what I've been doing for the AIM HIGH, VOTE LOWE CAMPAIGN. Check it out! Only 49 more days on the campaign...I think I'll be a little sad when it ends, actually I know I will miss it. Hope you enjoy a little bit of my work.

Bek Soen
Director of Communications
Lowe for Congress
Cell: 630-967-4628
Email: bek@loweforcongres.com

Four years, two schools, one degree

September 9, 2010
Dear Rebekah,
Congratulations! It is my great pleasure to inform you that you have completed your degree requirements and officially finished your Bachelor of Arts in English/Communication from Trinity International University. Congratulations on this exciting and momentous occasion.

After a somwewhat rough morning, I opened up my trinity email and found this surprise. After four years of two different schools, 16 busy semesters, thousands cups of coffee, many late nights and early mornings, papers, exams, finals weeks, tears, and laughter, I completed college. With just the click of a button, I was finished with all of it. Obviously I will continue having thousands of cups of coffee, staying up late, crying and laughing, especially as I continue working on this political campaign. But in the direct college context, I have completed my time, degree, and years as an undergrad student.

Last week I went up to Trinity to see all of my close friends, acquaintances, and favorite staff members. It was great to be able to see everyone but weird all at the same time. Life had continued on at trinity with hundreds of new faces, new carpets, a new section of a building, etc. The community of Trinity was busy and moving along, and I was no longer a part of its daily routine. It was an extremely bittersweet notion to realize, part of me was so excited to be out of it and the other part of me yearns to remain in that tight nit community.

I miss the random coffee times with Sarah, I miss going to chapel, I miss stopping on the sidewalk to say hi and having an hour long conversation with a friend, I miss the closeness of it all. I don't miss staying up until three finishing the paper I forgot, I don't miss stressing out over an exam, I don't miss awkward interactions that only happen with college students, and I don't miss trinity expectations (WHAT? I enjoy a glass of wine occasionally).

I know that I've already written about finishing up college and stepping into life, but I guess I can't but continue to reflect about it yet again as I am in such a transitional part of life. Thankfully I still have friends that I keep in contact with almost as much; Sarah and I contact each other like every 12 hours. And thanks to the campaign I am still drinking too much coffee and working long hours and will be for the next 53 days, until the campaign is over.

My goal of this blog was to celebrate the fact that I graduated and I have digressed into reflecting over my four years. Oh well...these are just my thoughts

A day of travel...Bek style

Spend a week in California; enjoy the sun by a pool, smell the pacific ocean, go to a winery, have lots of laughs with your best friend. Final day of the trip starts off by getting ready, going to church, and head home to pack up stuff. Eat a burger at In and Out and mentally prepare for the next 6 hours of travel. 3 p.m. Arrive at LAX, get out of the car into wheelchair and put backpack on the shoulders with purse around my front. Need to check bag and pay 25 freaking dollars to stupid American Airlines. Hug Jenna goodbye after one of the best vacations ever and head into the airport. Start wheeling in the opposite direction the sky cap specifically directed. Realize elevators are the other way and turn around. Head up the elevator in order to find security to check in. Sit in line while listening to babies cry and foreigners complain about not getting to take their liquids with them. Wheel forward in the line after getting my ID checked. Take off purse and backpack, in that order. Unzip backpack and pull out lap top to go through the scanner. Leave all of my belongings behind with no one watching. Have shoes, wheelchair, and hands wiped and tested for drugs or anything else that can be hidden. Listen to the pat down procedure for the thousandth time. Lift arms and let the pat down begin. No worries, she uses back hand in the "sensitive" areas. Belongings are brought over by nice, security guard who smiles as he sets them on a nearby chair. Pat down complete with no surprises. Stuff computer back into backpack and glance at cell phone, 25 minutes until boarding. Make way to gate 40H. Surprisingly not the last gate like O'Hare. Head up to front desk to let the attendants know of my arrival and wheelchair. Ask for closer seat as they assigned 26C, not ideal for the disabled. Grumpy lady tells me to go sit down and she'll figure it out. Already seated, wheel ten feet away. Make arbitrary phone call while waiting. Head back when name called and receive closer seat ticket. Go to bathroom before boarding. Arrive back at 40H to people already boarding the plane. Grumpy lady attempts to board the entire plane before 2 wheelchairs get on. Epic Fail. Stops boarding for the aisle chair to wheel on two people, including me. Transfer to tiny aisle chair and awkwardly head inside the plane. Stop at Row 7, chair D. Stand out of aisle chair into airplane seat. Text important people before turning off cell phone. Take off. Sit for 4 hours, have two complimentary beverages. Fall asleep. Mentally finish crossword puzzle of the guy sitting in chair F. Descend for 20 minutes. Land. Turn phone on and text yet again. Wait for everyone to get off the plane. Get hit several times with too large of suitcases. Wait. Wait. Wait. Aisle chair arrives. Get off the plane and into wheelchair. Put on backpack. Head into empty O'Hare at 10 p.m. Find elevator. Troke towards gate number 4 for suitcase. Cell phone rings. Find mom and suitcase. Hug and kiss on head. Leave the airport. Get out of wheelchair into minivan front seat.

First day of life??

Its been forever since I have posted - I have tried writing and nothing amazing has come from it...Let's hope this works out better.

This summer has been a crazy one with working two different internships, hanging out with new and old friends, saying hellos and goodbyes, breaking legs, traveling around the United States and reading my Bible. Its been a roller coaster of amazing moments with friends and sadness of saying goodbye to close ones. I have been learning and realizing that despite whether its good or bad, I am truly blessed and that God is working it for good (Genesis 50: 19-20 - Don't worry this will show up later)

The past few days I have been reconnecting with some old, dear friends of mine and it has been one of the biggest blessings to learn about what is going on in their lives and how they are living their lives for God. I've always had a hard time saying goodbye to friends and people in general. I think its because I did it so much since I was the youngest of 8. This summer I've been learning that friends are sometimes in your life for only a season, sometimes they come back though. My friend Jesse was one of those friends this summer - God placed him in my life at the perfect time. We actually worked together but became even better friends. He was exactly what I needed - a friend, and just that. Jesse left in July for the Peace Corps. Although I do miss him, I am starting to understand that its not goodbye forever and that God had him in my life as long as he needed to be.

Breaking my leg was serious challenge for me this summer - I have an earlier blog about it. It was frustrating, painful and took wayy to long to heal. I just went to the doctor today and he told me I don't have to where my boot anymore and I'm about 80 percent healed. Praise God!! Again, this was extremely hard and one of those huge hills on the roller coaster but God used this for good. I cannot tell you how many people I got to share with what happened and even be a witness through it, and by that I mean complete strangers even. Sometimes I get angry at myself for tattooing "count it all joy" on my wrist because of the constant reminder which it offers.

I think I'll save talking majorly about my trip for another post but I went to Mississippi, St. Louis, and Chicago in two and a half weeks. While in Miss, my brother phil (his blog - http://philstalmud.blogspot.com/) talked a lot about the Bible. I told him about my struggle with not knowing what to read. He encouraged me and showed me a new way to read it. So over the past week or so, I have been reading Genesis with new and refreshed eyes. After discussion with Phil, he showed me that a key point of Genesis is that God takes everything for good, even if its intentions were of harm. *19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them NIV.* This amazing truth has helped bring a lot of healing to hurt and struggles that I have been dealing with this summer.

So many people have been asking me what the next step is in life, since I am a college grad. All my friends are starting their first day of school today, which really makes me want to be there. But I have to start this supposed "life." It's not easy, not that college was either, there are tons of twists, turns, uphills, downhills, and sometimes even getting stuck along the way. But I know that if I continue to hold God's promise to my heart - no matter what happens, "God has intended it for good to accomplish what now is being done, the saving of many lives vs. 20."