There was a time I was in
love with HTML and SQL - 2 languages I could only speak with computers. I
enjoyed seeing the transformation of basic text files into Web pages and loved
how querying a database the right way brought up useful results.
I couldn't quite decide if I
liked the front end or the back end. Then, eventually, I decided that I liked
the quieter back end. When I moved to the States, I was 60% on my way to
becoming a DBA. I believe Smoggie was
trying to keep me on task and not forget my goals.
Shortly, after that email, I
was back in Canada and back working with my best friend. Smoggie gave me back
the job I quit when I moved. And then I found out that I was pregnant. Smoggie
did a 180 and changed his tune to "a job is just a job" and that there
are more important things in life.
He was so right. As soon as I
held ASid in my arms, I knew the next 18 years were going to revolve around
him. When ASid was 2, I went back to school to get my B.Ed. I wanted to have a
work schedule that matched with his approaching school schedule!
I forgot all about becoming a Database Administrator!
Instead, I got qualifications to become a Teacher!
But then mostly I have been a Volunteer the last 13-14 years helping at
both the boys' schools.
And I have picked up many
skills. I feel like I can be anything I want to be. Even as recently as a few
months ago, I was a little intimidated about venturing into the "real
world" for "real work", but the fact is I have been working with people for real!
And I work really hard. I
take everything I take on seriously. I make sure I come through for people and
don't let them down. If by chance I do, I take personal responsibility and do
not blame others!
And I have lately realized
that anyone who has ever worked with me in any capacity has only benefited
through the association. Obviously, the benefits have been non-monetary. The benefits have mostly been unmeasurable
quantities of respect and recognition as well as undefinable feelings of a
sense of accomplishment and belonging.
And not everyone value any of
that! And that's OK.
I guess the lesson for the
day, any day, is that everyone is dispensable. We can all be replaced in 2.2
seconds. So, how do we make ourselves temporarily indispensable in the big
scheme of things?!
Here is my personal and sincere advice for the boys as it relates to
work and workplaces:
- Be dependable and reliable. Be consistent.
I guess I could go on and on, but I will end with this last valuable
advice (following Bambino's advice from a previous post):
Never be afraid to quit and
reinvent yourself if you are miserable. You know yourself best. Know when to
move on!
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