Graduating from college brings the importance of a job to a whole new level. As last November and December evaporated before me, my lack of an idea of what to do next grew solid and too apparent to hide from. Now, three months after graduating, I find myself in much the same place, with the only difference being that I am now working somewhere. I'll keep the name to myself for now, so as to write more freely about my experiences and what I'm learning while there.
Here's a basic overview though: I work at a chain restaurant that you have almost surely heard of before, because they are everywhere. The individual stores are not too large, which I like. There are usually around fifteen employees there during any given shift. I work mornings and afternoons in food production, making and serving sandwiches, salads, and soups. When I started the job, a coworker told me that soon I would be able to build the specific sandwiches in my sleep. I thought this was a joke until I one night as I was falling asleep I realized that my hands were moving to reach for the prescribed two tomatoes per half sandwich.
I can't say I enjoy the work, but I have met several interesting and wonderful people. Two of my favorites so far are Patty and Erin. They have worked together for eight years and have amazing rapport. Patty graduated from high school the year Erin was born, a fact that Erin loves to remind mention to us. Despite the gap in years, the two are always near each other, creating chances for laughter and lending a hand.
Patty is the heart of the the store. Everyone likes working with her, and all the repeat customers ask where she is if she's in the back of the store. Patty remembers the names and quirks of all the regulars, asking about nephews and how the trip to the zoo went yesterday and trading facts about the upcoming Cardinal baseball season. Her St. Louisian accent peppers my daily routine with reminders of how much is happening in the life of every person who walks in the door to buy breakfast.
Erin is spunky, always ready to break out the happy dance or sing the line from whatever song is stuck in her head. She's one of the most diligent workers I've ever met, and gets twice as much done in half the time. It's obvious how much she loves her two daughters from the way she talks about them. Not stopping there, she shares her good-heartedness with everyone willing to work together. After a month and a half of knowing her, Erin has changed my perspective on the nobility of working hard with a cheerful disposition.
These are just two of the people I have met as I work. There's more to come, I'm sure, and I look forward to it all.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Looking back, looking forward
This last month has been one of looking all directions to try and figure out which way is backward and which forward.
I am a planner - I love mapping out where I want to go next or what area I want to grow in more. This can be a very good thing; indeed, I think of it as one of my strengths. However, as the last few months have reminded me, our great strengths are always two-sided coins, and the flip side shows our great weaknesses. My beautifully mapped out plan for this semester was completely trashed in the space of three days, leaving me bewildered and frustrated. Instead of living and working in Georgia as I had planned, I moved back to St. Louis to live with my family and got a job in food service.
In short, I have been blessed, but have not wanted to recognize it as such.
After being back in St. Louis for a few weeks, I met up with a good friend. As we discussed the recent drama of my life, he asked a question I wasn't prepared for. "Sonya, you're a planner. How are you doing with your plan not working?" I had to admit that I was doing poorly, and that the change-up had left me without knowing which way was forward and which back.
Until that conversation, I had not realized how much of my frustration was aimed at God for not using what I had thought was such a well-planned map for my next few months. My plan had me close to people who are dear to me, and involved plenty of hard work. Surely this was what God would want for me, right?
Yes and no.
My entire plan revolved around me and what I most wanted to claim: Independence and control. I wanted to work things out to prove to myself that I could. To my surprise, God said no to that plan. Instead, he put me with other people who love me and gave me other hard work to do. Not what I wanted. If I'm honest, it's still not what I want. However, I know that through this I am being blessed and grown. This last month has not been an easy or enjoyable one. I'm still not sure which direction is forward and which is back. But I am beginning to ask for the courage to look at the place I'm standing right now.
I am a planner - I love mapping out where I want to go next or what area I want to grow in more. This can be a very good thing; indeed, I think of it as one of my strengths. However, as the last few months have reminded me, our great strengths are always two-sided coins, and the flip side shows our great weaknesses. My beautifully mapped out plan for this semester was completely trashed in the space of three days, leaving me bewildered and frustrated. Instead of living and working in Georgia as I had planned, I moved back to St. Louis to live with my family and got a job in food service.
In short, I have been blessed, but have not wanted to recognize it as such.
After being back in St. Louis for a few weeks, I met up with a good friend. As we discussed the recent drama of my life, he asked a question I wasn't prepared for. "Sonya, you're a planner. How are you doing with your plan not working?" I had to admit that I was doing poorly, and that the change-up had left me without knowing which way was forward and which back.
Until that conversation, I had not realized how much of my frustration was aimed at God for not using what I had thought was such a well-planned map for my next few months. My plan had me close to people who are dear to me, and involved plenty of hard work. Surely this was what God would want for me, right?
Yes and no.
My entire plan revolved around me and what I most wanted to claim: Independence and control. I wanted to work things out to prove to myself that I could. To my surprise, God said no to that plan. Instead, he put me with other people who love me and gave me other hard work to do. Not what I wanted. If I'm honest, it's still not what I want. However, I know that through this I am being blessed and grown. This last month has not been an easy or enjoyable one. I'm still not sure which direction is forward and which is back. But I am beginning to ask for the courage to look at the place I'm standing right now.
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