Quit Your Job

I worked on a job that I believed that I would have until I retired from corporate America. Throughout my career, I received many promotions, accolades and raises. In January 1988, after leaving the US Army, I relocated to Dallas Texas began working for FoxMeyer Drug Company which was later purchased by McKesson Corporation. I stayed with the company for 24 years until I reached the glass ceiling that no one wants to talk about existing and was forced out.

I graduated high school back in 1994. I was engaged to be married in just two years, and even though I joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard right after graduation it was only one weekend a month and two weeks out of the year. So I needed a full-time job. A friend of the family knew a guy who was opening a second store, and was going to need a store manager. I took the job and got started. What I didn’t know was the guy I was just hired to work for was a little confused as to what he wanted. I hung onto the job for a little over a year hoping it would turn around but, no dice.

* What did you learn about what you like and dislike from your past work experience?

At the beginning of this school year, I began to realize something. I realized that my high school years were coming to an end. This was an eye opener for me. I didn't know what to expect of my last year nor what I wanted to do after high school. I then began looking for a job. So I applied to Chick-fil-a. I waited patiently several weeks for a call, but received no call whatsoever. I patiently waited for a new opportunity to come along. Until finally, I was given an opportunity at an electrical shop. On the first day of work I was introduced to the staff and learned the procedures of what needed to be done. My job now was to maintain the shop clean and to keep all materials organized as well as other tasks that helped me grow with my skills.

I was making a lot more money on the floor then at the front registers, especially with the commission checks rolling in on special orders. I was making a solid figure and decided to take a road trip with two of my best friends, however the road trip ended up going for about 4 weeks. I only had enough vacation for 2 weeks, but we didn’t want to return, so I decided to call out, but that only lasted so long. Upon my return, I was let go from my job, since I failed to abide to the company’s attendance policy. I was unemployed for about 2 months, when I was referred to Best Western International Corporate office. During my unemployment period, I felt miserable and was extremely disappointed in my decision. I didn’t want my family to find out, so I would go out and hang out at my friend’s place and return after an 8-hour shift. I was hired on to Best Western in 2008, where I was a reservations agent taking inbound calls for hotel reservations. I quickly moved around departments getting crossed trained in a number of different fields, which included Rewards and Customer Service and worked on the Language team helping Spanish callers. I then became promoted to a Lead and Customer Care Fulfillment

After December 2014, when I left Santa Fe University of Art and Design, I was hoping to change majors from graphic design to fashion design. I did work both at a local McDonald’s and eventually at the Kickapoo Casino as a dishwasher. In belief that I would somehow turn to my artistic endeavors again, a year became a year and seven months. I kept making irresponsible choices with my finances, where I usually had found an uplifting sensation, and I found myself in an more impossible situation to return to my road of college. My brother and I bought a car, rented an apartment, and started living as if we were able to do it all on our own. We didn’t follow our parents advice, but at the time it felt like the right thing to do. We had nowhere to go

It was only a seasonal job, so they weren't too picky with their hiring and within a month I was hired and put to training. Training was fun, it was I working like everybody but somewhat supervised. After the training I'll be honest, I hated working there. I couldn't stand having to put clothes away for four hours and barely being able to talk to anybody besides a passerby customer who would politely brush me off every time I asked the required, "Do you need any help with anything? No? Okay, let me know!" It got old real quick. I missed the constant interaction I got with the kids I used to

I interviewed a dental assistant by the name of Cheandrea Sanders the 19th of December and got plenty of information I could use in my career along the line. Her job is the same exact job I plan to do once I finish at Lawson. Working with kids has been something I’ve wanted to do since I was younger. One thing I may not like in this occupation is bad breath or a kid biting me, but seeing kids happy and smiling is something I live for on a day to day basis. Three ways the interview influenced me was to get a step ahead and look around for dental offices now, dental assistants will always be needed, and to never give up even when life throws a curve ball.

The steps I took to become an employee at the CAPS program as a Youth leader were painstaking and got so difficult to the point where I was ready to give up at each new obstacle, working for CAPS program helped me achieve a self gratification that no restaurant or fast food industry would ever grant me. Working at Sundowners Family Restaurant, I was able to interact with some amazing people, such as coworkers and the regulars that would recognize me each time they came to enjoy their meal. My first job had an impact on me and what I wanted for my future, I knew I didn 't want to be like most workers there and settle for that place I wanted to do something with my life. A few months after working there I decided to enroll at Valley and do something with my life. The food industry creates a fast pass rush that challenges workers to try their best so customers can enjoy our services,

While finishing my sophomore year of college, I applied, and was offered a position as a Desk Manger for the Department of Residence Life and Housing. Although this may seem inconsequential, I was the first ever sophomore hired for this position. This job required administrative skills, time management capabilities, and the ability to supervise over 30 people at any given time. Starting out in this position, I found myself to be very strict as a supervisor and had to learn to be more flexible with the many personalities that I was working with. It was during that first year that I made a personal choice to expand my knowledge and leadership so that I could become a better leader. By the second semester, I was voted staff member of the year and was given many accolades from my employees and coworkers. I continued working in this position for the remainder of my college journey. During this time, I was able to supervise over 200 people and take on more responsibility. Also while in this position, I was assigned as a Resident Assistant taking on dual roles, while still maintaining my grades.

In 2005, my father bought a Shell Gas Station in Lake Geneva. From the first day, my dad taught me how to count money and work the cash register. I had to stand on a step stool to see over the counter. For the first couple years, I had to work with someone at all times because of the cigarette and alcohol sales and a lot of the customers would tell me there were child labor laws against it but I would just shake my head and say no. I loved being there and working because I was spending time with my dad and the family we built within the business. During the summers, I would get up with my dad at four in the morning to go and open the store. Throughout the years I learned to do more and more and by the age of 10, I knew how to count money, cut

I enjoyed my job; the customers, the co-workers, my managers, but I valued my education more. I realized that school should be my main occupation and that my job had been a conflict of interest upon it. Failure is always an opportunity to grow and learn more about where and how to place yourself into the dynamic world around us.

It was in December, during my Christmas vacation, when I decided to start looking for a summer job. There were many options but the job I decided to apply for was a position as a lifeguard at a waterpark. I filled out an application and was accepted almost immediately. The only thing left was the lifeguard training; little did I know that it was going to be an experience I would never forget.

The workplace was always very clean, which also created a nice environment around me to focus on my work. That’s really a good thing because a nice working environment keeps me safe, healthy, and gives me more energy to do my work. This company was also very well organized.

As time went on, things slowly started to get better. With my improved work habits, I slowly began to catch up on school. Also, I began to know my coworkers better, and I get to spend more time with my friend there. Moreover, after knowing how the store functions and learning all the menu items, the work became easier as well. I started to really enjoy this job despite getting some wrist injuries from scooping ice cream.