Do You Guys Like Your Jobs? Really? Come On, Be Honest.

[psychic_serpent]

I've had jobs I liked and jobs I just had for the money.  When I 
started working as a kid--babysitting and then as a cashier at a 
fast-food restaurant--it was just for the money, obviously.  
(Although I suppose some people do babysitting because they really 
love to try to discipline other people's kids who have no reason to 
obey, or who work at McDonald's--not where I worked--because they 
like going home every night smelling like a deep-fat fryer.)  One 
job I had in college that I really did like was being the drama 
counselor at a summer camp, although the pay wasn't great and it was 
really hectic.  I had six weeks to put together both a talent show 
and an abbreviated production of "Oliver!"  I had to learn to play 
the entire score of the musical by then, audition all of the cast, 
coach the kids on their singing, work with the dance counselor on 
the choreography and direct the show.  In short, I went nuts and 
loved every minute.  It made me feel like all of my theatre training 
in high school was FOR something.

However, I also knew that I was glad when it was over.  The theatre 
wasn't for me on a regular basis--sometimes, as an outlet and a fun 
hobby, but not something I wanted to try to do as a living.  I have 
a great deal of respect for folks who pound the pavements going to 
one audition after another and then spend 16-hour days in rehearsals 
(blocking was something I always hated--I was bored to tears) before 
opening night.  

After that, I waited tables for a few years just to pay the rent 
while going to school.  I never want to do that again as long as I 
live, if I can help it.  (I'm a fabulous tipper now--most ex-
waitstaff are.)  After finishing school, I did what anyone does who 
studies Classics does if they don't go to grad school--I became a 
low-paid clerical worker.  And I do mean low-paid.  I was making 
more as a waitress.  But I was eventually promoted to a job created 
just for me (and there was a 50% raise), so that was nice.  Until I 
was laid off.  (When they didn't have enough money the following 
year, they decided they could 'uncreate' my new job.  Along with me, 
25% of the staff lost their jobs in an across-the-board cut.)  If 
you think having a frustrating, time-consuming job is no fun, well 
being suddenly unemployed is no fun either.  ("I can tell you for 
certain that the board said there will be no cuts in your 
department."  Yeah, right.)

The trouble is, after you're unemployed, whatever someone offers you 
starts to look really good.  Or, how I wound up being a medical 
editor for two-and-a-half-years.  Next-to-worst job I ever had.  
(Worst was a waitressing job I had for two nights before I quit in 
the middle of a shift and went back to my old restaurant, begging 
for my old job back.)  When my son was a year old I quit and didn't 
look back.  It wasn't a bad job because of the working conditions or 
any number of other things that one can find frustrating or hateful 
about a job.  It just was not for me, and I felt absolutely no 
affinity with any of the people with whom I worked.  I was a 
complete fish out of water.

Another job I've had sporadically over the years is as a free-lance 
singer in chamber groups and for churches and synagogues, plus doing 
wedding gigs and caroling during the Christmas season.  This is a 
job I've always enjoyed, as I decide when I work, for the most part, 
and if a gig isn't right, I don't accept.  Even though I didn't 
start voice training until I was out of college, I've had the chance 
to sing on stage at the Academy of Music here in Philadelphia 
(Haydn's Creation), I've sung with numerous graduates of the Curtis 
Institute of Music and the Academy of Vocal Arts (including Richard 
Troxell!) and I've had the opportunity to sing loads of fabulous 
music and hear other singers with beautiful voices who are always 
inspirations.  I never felt the motivation to pursue music full 
time, but it's nice when I get a gig, because I know I'm going to 
enjoy myself and get paid while I'm at it!  I just did a concert as 
a guest artist with the Philadelphia Chamber Chorus that included 
the Brahms Requiem and John Rutter's setting of numerous American 
Spirituals which just knocked people off their feet.  I've been 
humming the music from the concert constantly!  (In a case like this 
it's fun to take your work home.)

Now I'm studying architecture, since I spent about twenty-five years 
of my life spending most of my spare time drawing floor plans and 
elevations and reading about design.  I'm also writing HP 
fanfiction, which has led me to return to working on original 
fiction, something I haven't done since just before I became a mom.  
I hope that as I grow old, I can continue to pursue all of the 
creative things I enjoy--design, singing and writing--so that I 
never feel like I'm doing something just for the money.  With any 
luck, by the time the kids are in college I'll be making enough 
money as an architect that my husband can take early retirement and 
pursue HIS artistic interests.  He works very hard as a computer 
programmer to keep a roof over our heads, and he's been supportive 
of my going back to school from day one.  He enjoys the challenge of 
his job, but I know that there are others things he'd rather be 
doing.  Hopefully, someday I can help him do them, as he's helping 
me work toward my dream now.

--Barb

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Psychic_Serpent
http://www.schnoogle.com/authorLinks/Barb