Achievements

So I have been looking for a job since this summer.  I have a friend that has been helping me in my job search.  So a job came up the other day, and he suggested that I apply for.  I do not feel that I am qualified for the job, so he offered to punch up my resume and help out on a cover letter.  Then he told me to e-mail the achievements I have had.  And that start me thinking.

For me I have my degree from Arizona State University in Political Science, which I earned in 2008.  There was the full time mission that I served for my church in Ireland from 1988 to 1990.  I do have my Eagle from Boy Scouts that I earned in 1987. And there are the trophies that I won while racing and the two from softball.

Don't get me wrong I am proud of what I have done, but in the business world now, it does not amount to a lot.  But as I sat there thinking about what I have done I was thinking that what use to be achievements really are not achievements anymore.  And this made me wonder where our standards where.

Loyalty

One, was loyalty to work.  I heard on the radio the other day that the average person stays at there job about 3 years.  I also read a friends post about when he started at Motorola it was more like a family business.  Anyone that worked there 25 years could not be fired unless by the CEO.  That the money was freely shared and that bonus were seen a lot.  But over time that changed. 

For me, I spent 16 and 1/2 years at the same business.  They let me set my schedule around my school schedule.  I started there at 5 dollars and hour  in 1992.  It was my second time at a plumbing company.  And only my fifth job I ever had.  When I came close to my finishing my degree, they came to me and  offered me a better job in the company.  But at that time was also the housing crisis, and with in a month the offer was rescinded, and with 3 months I was the only one left working in the warehouse, with reduced hours.  And with in the year I was laid off.

The sad thing is that I did not know that my loyalty would hurt me down the road.  That my new found freedom to use my degree would some what be hurt for the 17 years I spent in one field.  While I was working 60 plus hours in the summer, others in Political Science were interning around the country and even out of the country.  That even when I applied for warehouse jobs, that I was over priced, even though I would work for less.  And when I applied for jobs I wanted, I was not qualified.

Marriage

As mine has just ended, I do not think that the institution of marriage is that respected.  I made it 21 years and for many that is unheard of these days.  When did marriage become like a thing you get out of a vending machine.  Are there 1/2 off sales of the second marriage licence?  And then there are those that would say lets just live together, like Kirk Russell and Goldie Hawn.  Maybe I have no room to talk here, but wasn't a long marriage some what a goal at one time.

Maybe I was born in the wrong age.  Maybe I am old fashion.  But to these two things really count for anything any more?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Feeling left behind

Trains

Life after High School