> > Most people commonly think that when they get their first job it often >lasts a lifetime, but when life gives you an unexpected turn you are faced >with the challenge of coping with an unwanted change. Changes include losing >your job. The first time I realized I was no longer a kid was when I lost my >first job. > My first job was at Toys R Us. My mom had a part time job working at Toys >R Us also.
I decided that when I turned sixteen I wanted a job. My mother >and I came to an agreement that she would get me a new car if I got a job. I >had absolutely no idea of where to begin looking for a job. My mom suggested >I start out with something easy. I had some idea of what kind of job I >wanted. I knew from the very start I did not want to work at any fast food >restaurants.
So my mom recommended I put in an application at Toys R Us. >She referred me to the managers. She told them how responsible and how dependable I was. Soon after I turned in my application, I received >a call from the store manager. He asked, me if I could come in for an >interview. I was so excited I wasted no time setting up my interview for the very next day.
I had never had an interview before, so I did >not know what to expect. I was not very confident in my interview. I felt as if I could have done much better. Immediately after my interview the >manager told me I had the job.
Words cannot express the joy I felt at that >time. I was on my way to adulthood. So I started out working as a cashier. >I loved my job it was enjoyable and exciting. > After working there for a year as a cashier. I was promoted to customer >service representative.
It was a rewarding moment for me because students >were not usually offered leadership positions. Now that I had been working >there for about two years I thought that there was nothing that could go wrong. Meanwhile, >everything was going well until there was a meeting called about our store. >This was no ordinary meeting. As soon as the meeting was over, the managers >told us that our corporate had made the decision to close the store. I was very >upset about the decision that was made.
This was the first job I ever had, >and it was being taken away from me. I had absolutely no idea of what I was >going to do. My mom helped me get this job and now it is gone. I am now >faced with the challenge of having to go out and find another job on my own.
>This was the day I realized I was no longer a kid anymore. It was time for >me to grow up and spread my wings. I could no longer depend on my mom. For >that reason I felt like this was something I needed to do on my own. I had a >lot to deal with in so little time.
I had a lot of fear building up inside >of me. There was the fear of not knowing whether I would be successful at >finding another job. I had also experienced a lot of anger and resentment >towards the company. Dealing with the stress of not knowing whether I’m >going to have income to help support myself and my family.
> I had been on unemployment for about 4 months. I did not like the way >things were going in my life. I started putting in applications everywhere I >could think of. The first place to call me back was Von Maur. I did not >expect them to even call me. I set up an interview immediately.
Once again >I had no idea of what to expect in this interview. I felt like I had never >had a real interview before. At Toys R Us my mom gave me a head start. >There was no one at Von Maur to put in a good word for me. This was >something I had to do on my own. I had my interview and I felt as if I just >blew it.
I went home depressed and upset feeling like there was no hope for >me. After about fifteen minutes of being at home, the phone rang and it was Von Maur. The human resource manager told me to come in for >orientation. In other words I had the job. I was overwhelmed with joy and >relief.
> Finally, all of the stress could be put to rest. That day I knew >everything was going to work out for me. At that very moment I realized I >could do anything I put my mind to. My mom had always told me that, but I >did not believe her until then. That entire experience has brought me to a >new level of understanding adulthood and what it is all about.