Personal Update: This End is Just My Beginning...

Hello All! It has been a few months since I last posted. I have been enjoying my summer and relaxing after 4 years of academic exertion. I would like to take this time to offer an update of my future endeavors.

On the 10th of May 2013, I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Double Major in Political Science and Islamic Studies with a minor in International Security Studies. In my final semester I made it onto the Dean's Honor Roll for Academic Excellence.

Graduation was an exhilarating experience. The culmination of all my hard work, dedication, and world travels could not have been more perfect. My family was there to support me - which involved quite a migration from Canada down to Oklahoma. Additionally, my best friend was able to visit me after being deployed in Afghanistan. Those who supported me were able to share in my great accomplishment.

My parents threw me a graduation party back in Tulsa, my hometown, where even more family friends were able to see what had become of me. The delicious brownie cake we ordered for the party lasted a good two weeks. After all of the graduation related activities were completed, I assumed my new role as an unemployed college graduate.

I have spent my time this summer sending out countless CV's and Cover Letters to dozens of potential employers. While my attempts at employment have yet to yield the desired results, I do have some exciting developments on some interesting fronts.

I have applied to several 3-lettered government intelligence agencies, but due to the confidential and classified nature of the positions and the application process, this is about all I can say.

I am currently an active candidate for a NATO internship in Izmir, Turkey for the Allied Land Command (LANDCOM). Basically, the paid internship is a 6 month position as a policy analyst. I would absolutely love to return to Turkey and really hope I am able to work for NATO in an official capacity.

Lastly, but perhaps most promising, in June I took the U.S. State Department's Foreign Officer Service Test (FSOT). I selected the Political Affairs Officer career track. On my first attempt on this exam, I did very well, exceeding the requirements to proceed to the next level of evaluation. I then submitted my personal narrative to the State Department and am currently awaiting a further response. Needless to say I am enthralled by this potential career track and hope that this opportunity comes to fruition.

Now, regarding my lack of blog posts or PolicyMic articles, I have decided that discretion in these departments is the best approach in finding a career. The positions with the government agencies and private security firms I have applied to are highly sensitive in nature. I have an established body of work in terms of my blog and my published articles and I feel that these are sufficient in representing my relevant skills.

As the title might suggest, I have also decided to embark in a voluntary hiatus of posting here on TheNolanK.com. The career fields I am choosing to work in are again, sensitive in nature. I do not want to create a conflict of interest. The purpose of this blog was meant to serve as a platform for my academic endeavors while at the University of Oklahoma. So just as that tenure has drawn to a close, so will this expedition into the world of blogging.

I would like to thank my readers, whether you were here from the beginning or were just one of the 22,000 others who joined along the way. The shear volume of traffic that my blog drew was far beyond my wildest dreams. My blog has been viewed in over 140 different countries over a two year period and has been featured or republished on a multitude of other international websites.

I will continue to maintain TheNolanK.com and keep it free of advertisements, as long as I am able to. I am nothing but proud of this project and could not be happier in life than I am right now.

Thanks again from the bottom of my heart,

-NK