organization.”
He
smiled. “This way, please.”
I
follow Mr. Scott down a wide hallway. We turned into a large conference room
that was located halfway down the hall. Mr. Scott motioned toward two people
who were sitting at the conference table. They both stood as we entered the
room. “This is Cory Davis. He is the director of our CR skill building program.”
I assumed CR meant conflict resolution.
Cory
had short brown hair, bright brown eyes, and skin as black as night. He was
wearing a navy suit, with a soft blue tie. I reached for his hand. “It’s nice
to meet you, Mr. Davis.”
Mr.
Scott continued the introductions. “This is Samantha Roberts. She is the
program manager for the train-the-trainer program.”
Ms.
Roberts was petite. She had soft green eyes and jet black hair that was cut
bluntly across her shoulders. She was wearing a stylish black pantsuit. I
reached for her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Roberts.”
We
all took our seats. Mr. Scott was the first to speak. “As you know, we are
looking for someone to work in our conflict resolution skill building program. I
understand that you recently completed the Virginia Mediation Program and you are
currently enrolled in the master’s program at the Institute for Conflict
Analysis and Resolution. You come highly recommended by Dr. Sandstrom and one
of our newest employees, Shae Garlington. I can see by your resume that you
have over six years of experience doing advocacy work, and your last position
was with Senator Rockefeller.”
I
nodded politely.
He
smiled. “Your employment history and your GPA are rather impressive. I’d like
to hear why you’re interested in working for our program.”
I
glanced around the table before focusing my attention on Mr. Scott. “Shae told
me a little bit about your program, and I have spent some time on your website
familiarizing myself with your mission and your strategies. I couldn’t be more
impressed with your approach to peace-building. I believe that skill building
programs like yours are essential to bringing peace and stability to areas
embroiled in conflict. Building these skills among younger generations… people
who are likely to have the energy, passion, and open minds needed to effect positive
change in their communities… just seems like a really smart strategy. I like
that you’re teaching people how to resolve their own conflicts, and I believe
that this type of skill building will help ensure that peace is self-sustaining
and more durable in the long run. Besides, when I go home at the end of the day,
I want to know that I’ve helped someone… that I have done something to make
this world a better place. I believe this position would enable me to do that.”
Mr.
Scott nodded while scribbling on a yellow legal pad.
Ms.
Roberts looked up from her laptop. “Do you have any concerns about going into
countries that have a history of instability, conflict, and violence?”
I
took a deep breath as my eyes met hers. “Honestly?”
She
gave a solemn nod. Her fingers hovered over her computer as she prepared to
type.
I
leaned back in my seat and sighed. “Well, to be perfectly honest, I have survived
nine years of domestic violence at the hands of my ex-husband, two kidnappings,
and an attempted drowning. I am no stranger to violence, Ms. Roberts. I can
certainly relate to people who have endured it, and I’d really like to help
others avoid or at least reduce the amount of violence they’re exposed to.”
Ms.
Roberts’ hands collapsed against the keyboard. She hadn’t typed a single word. The
room fell silent.
I
fidgeted nervously in my seat. “TMI?”
Mr.
Scott chuckled, and everyone in the room relaxed. “Actually, I appreciate your
frankness, Ms. Stone. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been the victim of so much violence,
but I can see how that would shape your interests and your determination to
help others build more peaceful lives.”
The
three of them exchanged glances
He
smiled. “This way, please.”
I
follow Mr. Scott down a wide hallway. We turned into a large conference room
that was located halfway down the hall. Mr. Scott motioned toward two people
who were sitting at the conference table. They both stood as we entered the
room. “This is Cory Davis. He is the director of our CR skill building program.”
I assumed CR meant conflict resolution.
Cory
had short brown hair, bright brown eyes, and skin as black as night. He was
wearing a navy suit, with a soft blue tie. I reached for his hand. “It’s nice
to meet you, Mr. Davis.”
Mr.
Scott continued the introductions. “This is Samantha Roberts. She is the
program manager for the train-the-trainer program.”
Ms.
Roberts was petite. She had soft green eyes and jet black hair that was cut
bluntly across her shoulders. She was wearing a stylish black pantsuit. I
reached for her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Roberts.”
We
all took our seats. Mr. Scott was the first to speak. “As you know, we are
looking for someone to work in our conflict resolution skill building program. I
understand that you recently completed the Virginia Mediation Program and you are
currently enrolled in the master’s program at the Institute for Conflict
Analysis and Resolution. You come highly recommended by Dr. Sandstrom and one
of our newest employees, Shae Garlington. I can see by your resume that you
have over six years of experience doing advocacy work, and your last position
was with Senator Rockefeller.”
I
nodded politely.
He
smiled. “Your employment history and your GPA are rather impressive. I’d like
to hear why you’re interested in working for our program.”
I
glanced around the table before focusing my attention on Mr. Scott. “Shae told
me a little bit about your program, and I have spent some time on your website
familiarizing myself with your mission and your strategies. I couldn’t be more
impressed with your approach to peace-building. I believe that skill building
programs like yours are essential to bringing peace and stability to areas
embroiled in conflict. Building these skills among younger generations… people
who are likely to have the energy, passion, and open minds needed to effect positive
change in their communities… just seems like a really smart strategy. I like
that you’re teaching people how to resolve their own conflicts, and I believe
that this type of skill building will help ensure that peace is self-sustaining
and more durable in the long run. Besides, when I go home at the end of the day,
I want to know that I’ve helped someone… that I have done something to make
this world a better place. I believe this position would enable me to do that.”
Mr.
Scott nodded while scribbling on a yellow legal pad.
Ms.
Roberts looked up from her laptop. “Do you have any concerns about going into
countries that have a history of instability, conflict, and violence?”
I
took a deep breath as my eyes met hers. “Honestly?”
She
gave a solemn nod. Her fingers hovered over her computer as she prepared to
type.
I
leaned back in my seat and sighed. “Well, to be perfectly honest, I have survived
nine years of domestic violence at the hands of my ex-husband, two kidnappings,
and an attempted drowning. I am no stranger to violence, Ms. Roberts. I can
certainly relate to people who have endured it, and I’d really like to help
others avoid or at least reduce the amount of violence they’re exposed to.”
Ms.
Roberts’ hands collapsed against the keyboard. She hadn’t typed a single word. The
room fell silent.
I
fidgeted nervously in my seat. “TMI?”
Mr.
Scott chuckled, and everyone in the room relaxed. “Actually, I appreciate your
frankness, Ms. Stone. I’m sorry to hear you’ve been the victim of so much violence,
but I can see how that would shape your interests and your determination to
help others build more peaceful lives.”
The
three of them exchanged glances
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