Glory days

Yesterday’s list actually did make me feel better and also reminded me how much I love that book. I think I might read it again soon. It also got me thinking about the jobs I’ve held in the past. The job I have now is my first official “grown-up job”. I commute to work; sit behind a computer all day in my cubicle that isn’t really a cubicle because it is wide open and no privacy what so ever. Anyway I was thinking about the jobs I did in high school and college before I graduated.

The best job I ever had was when I was a lifeguard at the local pool club. I did that for four summers before all my friends and I decided that we were to cool to work there anymore. By the way, I seriously wish I had stayed for a least another year after that. I probably worked there more then I do at the job I currently have. But I didn’t mind because I had a great circle of friends and I was outside the whole day. I got a killer tan and I was in the best shape of my life (we had to swim 500 yards everyday).I would get there at 8:30, teach swim lessons until noon, lifeguard until about 3:30 and then teach a few more classes until 6ish. I was non-stop and I didn’t even realize.

It didn’t feel like work. I loved teaching swim lessons, and while watching the pool I always had a friend to talk to. On the weekend I would go to the beach and then hang out with my work friends. It started to get really cliquey toward the end, which is one of the reasons I left, to much drama and people would actually get mad at you when you hung out with someone else outside work. Anyway my point is I worked a lot that summer, and working at the job I have now I freak out if I have to stay a few minutes later a work. What happened between then and now? I fly out the door each night, but when I was there sometimes I would hang around after my shift had ended.

Let’s fast forward now to when I decided to stop working there and I got a job at the YMCA. The job was easy and in the summer time no one goes there because they would all rather be outside. However I did not like that job. I was stuck inside all day, while my friends went to the beach.

I never liked the idea of having to be stuck inside all day at my job. In college when it came time to choose a major (there was more than one) I always went for a job that didn’t require me being stuck behind a desk all the time. Originally I thought I was either going to be a physical therapist or a speech pathologist. Both don’t really require a desk or computer. When I realized that neither was really for me, I changed to public relations. While that does require going to the office everyday, but there is so much more to it. There are events, press meetings, traveling, etc. To me it seemed to be the perfect balance between your typical cubicle work and having being able to get out there. I would never feel trapped. Even when I did an internship with a PR agency, I was always behind a computer but I loved what I was doing and I especially liked the people I was working with.

This made me realize 2 things that I absolutely must have in my next job if and when I finally get one.

1. I need to have a support system of friends (this is probably true for everyone) at the place I currently work at everyone keeps to themselves and there is barely any interaction (most people have their ipods on). I can’t say I have one true friend here and that makes me sad.
2. I need to find a job that doesn’t require me to be sitting behind a computer all day. I need to be able to get out, or at least have the opportunity to get out of the place. Which is why jobs like being a makeup artist, photographer and even a social work (I know I am random) appeal to me so much. They aren’t your typical 9-5 Office Space kind of job.