Two Years Experience

Two years ago, I was considered an entry level worker. I was two days away from celebrating a year since college graduation — and feeling very bitter about the piece of parchment that took a lot of pain and effort to earn. (Life isn’t always very kind to a young mother determined to complete her education regardless of the circumstances.) I had spent the prior 3.5 months unemployed due to an ugly situation instigated by a person who thought they were doing me a favor at the time. In the long run, I do thank said person because it was a favor in the long run. In the short run? Said person had no idea what a rotten “favor” that was. My family was teetering dangerously close to the nightmare many families are living in these dark economics times, and I was an emotional wreck in the inside. Still, I’d slap on my plastic smile every time I landed an interview and moved forward hoping for the best.

Everything changed one day when I got an interview at the University of Florida’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering. That interview earned me the desk I have so happily come to inhabit Monday through Friday. It’s the desk with huge glass windows looking out into the hallway and through the glass front doors — the view out to the top of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. It’s a building that afforded me the opportunity to meet The Tim Tebow last year (I absolutely had a fangirl moment as I saw him walking down the street, and I had no alternative other than to stop him and shake his hand.) I once saw Tebow and the Pouncey twins walking back from practice.

As a not-so-good Catholic, I felt it was more than a coincidence that my now-boss is a very devout Christian. It was as though a light was shining down on me saying, “this is meant to be.” My boss chose my résumé over all else because I wasn’t a student who’d leave after a semester. I had a family to help care for. I had that “stick in one place” quality. I knew deep down that I’d need to make this job my stepping stone from “entry level” to “experienced.”

Here I am now — I’ve gotten my two years of experience listed proudly on my résumé. While working here, I’ve had the opportunity to learn new things and validate skills that come naturally. I’ve been given the wonderful opportunity to work with family-oriented people who share very similar values with me. I’ve been privledged to work in a family-like atmosphere. I’ve found a job I’m happy to go to day in and day out. Sure, I have “menial” daily tasks, but the routine allows me to mostly run on auto-pilot for the more exciting tasks — like last minute projects that pop up, or working on the newsletters and publications. I’ve always got something to do, and I’ve formed a bond with my co-workers, the faculty, and the students.

I have no idea where life will take me in the future, but I’m glad to have the last two years in my memories. Here’s to many more!