Taking Over

     Today marks the completion of my third full week as acting SPIN Coordinator for the University of Illinois Extension office for Champaign County. My supervisor has left for maternity leave and returns to her position at the end of March. I have been preparing for this role since mid August, making sure I knew all the ins and outs of SPIN to make sure I'd be successful once I was on my own.
     The first week of being left to my own devices posed a few challenges that I met head on. So far I had been used to only corresponding with the clubs that I had started myself. Now, I have to correspond with every SPIN Club leader as well as plan with potential new SPIN Club leaders. Keeping every contact straight and ironing out individual club needs was a challenge at first, but I quickly got used to each club, and have set up an organization strategy that helps me keep focused on what needs to be accomplished.
     Along with keeping up with daily tasks as the acting SPIN Coordinator, I also am planning a big spring event for our 3 Horse SPIN Clubs. That planning takes a lot of my time and energy and it has helped teach me that I need to create a balance among all of my projects to make sure each item is getting completed instead of only focusing on the success of one.
     While it has been a challenge to get used to working on my own and having to create my own work, it has also been rewarding. At first, I was very worried that without someone assigning me daily tasks I wouldn't know how to use my time at work. However, I have realized working on every aspect of one position has allowed me the ability to create work to improve or adapt what I have been working on since the summer.