My Dear Friends,

I have been remiss these past weeks and somehow it is four weeks since I last updated the blog. Well, a great deal has happened!

This now is the start of 5th week and the beginning of some serious essay submissions. My schedule is looking slightly un-human at the moment but these things have a way of working themselves out lol It does help that I find the readings very fascinating and so I really enjoy doing the work and I think the essays will help to synthesize the information in a way that will help me to prepare for the exams at the end of the year.

On the topic of academics, I have chosen a thesis subject! I will be researching the sustainability of the welfare state. I would welcome the opinion of anyone thinking they have the answer (preferably supported with a host of academic sources) or just anyone who wants to pass along a host of academic sources :P I am excited for this topic and am setting myself the goal of assembling an annotated bibliography for my next advisor meeting.

Since my last post, I have been selected as the new Oxford Hub president and I am totally loving this position! The people are so amazing to work with and it is great experience to see where this organization can go and how it will grow in just a year's time. You should all totally check it out at the following link :)
http://oxfordhub.org/xwiki/bin/view/Oxford+Hub/

This last weekend I was at the EMERGE conference which is about social enterprise and many of the questions related to that field. It was my first foray into the topic and I was inspired by many of the panels and speeches that I heard. Next weekend will be the Impact conference and it is in London. I will be going to learn about ways in which organizations and charities (such as the hub :D) can improve their effectiveness and tailor their missions (at least I think lol).

This time of year has also seen the application for jobs. I have found an amazing array of positions that do really neat things and I would love them all! This seems to be a typical problem for me...so I am applying to many different types of positions and I assume something will sort itself out. I cannot pretend to have a grand plan or large scheme into which the first job fits. But I do have some criteria for which they must satisfy, so that is at least something.

Sending good thoughts out there: I made a declaration this week that I am searching for a new positive energy and to effect positive change in the world :) I am going to try very hard to write again next week!
Will