Hello all. Making this post has taken much self-reflection as I have contemplated exactly how to put into words why it is that I will be sitting for the Fall 2023 CAP exam in October. I have been an administrative assistant for 20+ years, and have considered becoming CAP certified several times but the timing has just never been right. The time is now! I began seriously contemplating taking this adventure on several months ago, but was overwhelmed with were to begin, and most especially with the thought of studying for any sort of exam after all of these years. So, I decided to send a message to the IAAP Appalachian Region group to see if they had any tips or suggestions, and they very promptly sent me a link to Marie Herman’s study group. I immediately went to her page and knew that it was exactly what I needed. I need the accountability, the solid study plan, the comradery and the encouragement a group like this can bring. Over the years, I have attended numerous one-day or two-day trainings, but have never done anything as in depth as this will be. I hope to prove to myself, and my colleagues, that all of my years as an assistant have prepared me and given me the skills, as well as body of knowledge, to successfully reach the goal of having CAP beside my name! For the past 10 years, I have been an administrative assistant in the Higher Education environment, and I feel the self-imposed motivation to have this professional certification. It also helps that they offer monetary incentive via an automatic percentage increase upon my successfully passing the exam 😊! I also believe this will give me more self-confidence as I learn, grow and demonstrate best practices in this ever-changing career. I am feeling hopeful, proud and pretty fearful of failure as I take on this enormous pursuit while continuing to work full time and juggle a full life all at the same time. But, after only one session with Marie and the fellow members of my group, I am already feeling encouraged and more confident as I strive forward! I wish all of my fellow group members much luck! Please wish me luck to stay focused, to not let fear over-take my thoughts, and to STUDY hard and become CAP certified on my first attempt. Thanks so much!

Marie, if you are looking, I did not follow your excellent instructions very well. I posted in the feed earlier today, and then posted in here once I realized my mistake. I deleted this post in the feed so that it would not appear twice, which will mean that I won't see any encouraging comments on this one, but I got some great encouragement and advice on my original post in the feed earlier. Note to self: Do not get ahead of the instructions so that you can follow them correctly ha!