Aside from school, the other thing that defined me most was working. Since the time I turned 14 I have worked. For me, it doesn't matter where, what matters is the cash flow coming into my pocket. Working took up my time, required responsibility and scheduling and gave me something to do whether I wanted I wanted to or not.
My first job was at a deli in a farmers market in Allentown, PA. I worked Thursdays and Fridays after school from 4 until close and then Saturdays all day. Since those were the only times it was open, it was a nice starter job for a young kid. I started out there as the "chavesher" which is Pennsylvania Dutch for "dishwasher". Now, I'm sure you can only imagine how much I HATED washing dishes. I didn't like to do it at home and I certainly wasn't a fan of doing it at a deli where I left stinking of wet lunchmeat. I learned about NBOC (no butts on counters) and to put the DLO (old) stuff out first. The market had its little quirks like any job and I learned to like it there because everyone was so friendly. The funny stories of my time there could take up a blog in and of itself, but maybe I'll save those for another day when I'm feeling sentimental.
Eventually, I worked my way up and no longer had to do dishes. Even after I got another job, I would occasionally fill in at the market when they needed someone extra on a busy Saturday. After leaving the market I worked at a pool snackstand, Victoria's Secret (blog to come on how awful that was), Lonestar Steakhouse, SJU tour guide, personal assistant, babysitter, catering, bartending, tax preparer, secretary, paralegal and more that I probably can't even remember. The point is, I had a job from the time I was 14 until I graduated from law school.
After graduation I thought about getting a job for the summer while I studied but everyone told me it was a bad idea because I needed to focus all my attention on the bar exam. Once the bar exam was over, I wanted to go back to work at the law office where I was working during law school but suddenly, my boss couldn't "afford" to keep me on. So I lost yet another thing that defined who I was.
After thinking about it and trying to figure out what to do, I just started applying anywhere I thought I could get hired. I walked into my favorite cafe in town and got hired on the spot and today was my first day. I learned the ropes and I don't think I have ever been more excited to work in my life. I left not feeling tired, but feeling excited about the new possibilities and the new doors that I was opening. No, I don't intend on making a career out of serving sandwiches and coffee, but it is certainly better than sitting around on my butt all day!
Since when it rains, it always pours, I finally got a call back from a legal secretary job that I applied for a while back. I have an interview on Monday to see whether this will be my next place of employment. It's always hard when I think about working these smaller jobs and how this is supposed to be the time when I am making the "big bucks" but I guess I just need to remember that we all have to start somewhere. It's time to look at the big picture and take it day by day instead of trying to speed everything up and get to the end of the race first.
Fingers crossed x
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