Mediation students spinning their wheels?
I am enjoying reading my peer mediation student’s blog over at Better Than Misery.
The latest post, Newsflash: No money in mediation, of course caught my attention.
I can relate to this:
I think it has to do with the general public learning what it means and why its beneficial. Lately I have been thinking about alternative kinds of manifestations of my conflict management degree, including online dispute resolution projects.
You might have read me wondering here if most careers are careers in conflict resolution, and if conflict is just too sexy for most people to care to resolve rather than fight to the win/lose bitter end.
It amazes me to read a mediation student in Israel writing thoughts and experiences so similar to my own in the U.S. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one exploring these questions right now.
When working for my undergrad, I felt like I was going at light-speed with the knowledge that I would reach the light at the end of the tunnel, my professional life would start and my work would pay off. Seems like sometimes we mediation students feel like we could just be spinning our wheels.
Partly because I’m not doing the professional work I expected with my undergrad, I’m ok with not knowing where this mediation work will lead. I know I really enjoy it, I seem to have aptitude for it, I’m finding opportunities as I go, and I’m using these skills every day in both professional and personal settings.
Any other mediation students out there? Pros who’ve been there? What are your thoughts?
April 1st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Ha! I just saw your post. Ditto on this:
“It amazes me to read a mediation student in Israel writing thoughts and experiences so similar to my own in the U.S.”
…but reverse the countries.
Best of luck.