Developing Usable Experiences

Thinking Beyond Summer Hiatus

June 29th, 2009 7:28 am —  33 views

The evenings have been mild, full of relax and warmth surrounded by happy plants carefully arranged. We play tennis in the mornings and run whimsical errands during the day. These are the days of summer hiatus.

The hiatus lasts about the length of one semester. It’s a hiatus because when it is over I go back to school. What kind of crazy to think is that by next year this time I’ll have graduated as a Master of Science in Information specializing in Human-Computer Interaction1.

But summer hiatus isn’t real. It exists because I define it by periods of work associated with school. When school is over will I still consider summer a hiatus? I’m not sure. Which might explain why I’m thinking forward while at the same time taking stock of my current situation. My combination of technical skills with schooling in  information architecture, usability research methods, and design principles has me thinking seriously about what type of job I want to be doing 5 years from now.

As this perfect position forms in my head, I’m looking to the universe to help by doing it’s part. Mr. Vitale explains that while working toward a particular objective you should also be expecting the universe to do it’s part. While I work on my part, Universe…you do yours.

So I’ll enjoy what summer has to offer (calling it a hiatus for now), but I’m also thinking ahead, past school and the next couple years. I’m thinking carefully about where I want to be and what I want to be doing. Figuring out how is ongoing. Except now I’ve enlisted the help of the Universe.

Image: I picked up a few books this weekend. Looking for them to sharpen my thinking with new ideas and perspectives. The mood was elevated by spirits and bruschetta made with basil from our deck garden.

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  1. This title taken from a business card I prematurely accepted when SI offered them to students [↩]

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Comments

3 Responses to “Thinking Beyond Summer Hiatus”

  1. Melanie on June 29th, 2009 9:42 am

    The bruschetta looks great! I have to say, when I graduated law school, leaving behind summer breaks for full-time employment was one of the hardest adjustments. I miss it so much, days of nothing pressing to do stretching before me as far as the eye could see. Now it’s 90 degrees outside, and rather than head to the pool, I hop on the Metro and toil away. But at least it pays.

  2. Dawn on June 29th, 2009 10:28 am

    I think that work can lessen the feeling of summer break, if you let it. But as you’re already working full time I hope that when you graduate you will just extend the feeling of summer to the whole year!

  3. Spike on June 29th, 2009 8:02 pm

    Thanks for the comment Melanie. You definitely get what I’m saying.

    Though I’m not on summer break as much as I’d like. Even during school I work full-time for a software company where I’ve been for the last 12 years.

    I am so hoping that the Universe steps up and maybe unlocks some doors I haven’t tried yet.

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