May 8, 2010 I graduated from college. Just like any other college graduate I was like "Okay, I got my degree! Who wants to hire me?" REALITY CHECK My first two jobs out of college were a summer counselor and daycare teacher, both paying minimum wage. I was devastated. I had busted my behind for the past 4 years studying to the wee hours of the morning, writing papers, being a full time Resident Assistant (which at times got on my last nerves) and now it seemed like I was a leper to any employer looking to hire someone. It was frustrating, to say the least.
Well 8 months later I can say that I have a job where I can use my degree. I work for the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance. My job is to help with the efforts to improve the child hunger problem in Arkansas. One way we are doing this is by working directly with the food banks in the state. Even though I have only been working with them for a week, I really like my job. I'm not about to become rich or anything but I have a job that is truly helping people. That makes up for what I don't get in my paycheck.
Also, working with this particular population has made me more appreciative. Not that I grew up in a wealthy home but I can't say I know what it is to go to bed hungry. Even if my mom cooked something I didn't like it was still something to eat. It is hard to imagine the lunch at school being the only meal I would have all day. Unfortunately, that is the reality for a lot of children. So I enjoy that the focus of my job is to make this sad reality a distance memory for these children.
With this new job, it has really hit me that I am an adult now. I have been living on my own for awhile now but it has just now really hit me that I'm solely responsible for me. This has made me see life in a new light. Things that seemed important before don't really matter anymore. Petty gossip and having to be apart of a crowd seems childish. Growing spiritually, really getting to know my family, and becoming somewhat financially stable(these school loans are a female dog!) are the things that are making my To Do List. My new reality is to appreciate everything that I have and show that appreciation whenever possible.
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