Well just as most Americans are suffering today, my situation is certainly one to be reckoned with. As many of those close to me know, I was let go from my Merchandising job at Macy's in February. Long story short, my attendance was shotty and my attendance record suffered, so due to company policy, I was future endeavored. I got apologies left and right from HR, my supervisor and co-workers because they knew they were losing an excellent worker who went above and beyond the call of duty. But rules is rules, and that was that. I was denied unemployment, even after appealing twice to the Unemployment Insurance Board. Sucks because even my former HR manager felt I should have been awarded benefits. Some of her statements even sounded like she was testifying for me. But the judge was a hard and completely unreasonable prick. Made me feel like shit for things that were out of my control. I figured in the end it was just an opportunity for the state to save a few bucks. I still have the opportunity to take it to Superior Court. But that means getting help from legal aid, another long drawn out process. I suppose I could look into it. But there's other things going on right now that just need more of my time right now.
I've been on endless job hunts and interviews since then. Every interview I had went so well I thought I had it in the bag. There was even one job that was a Girl Friday office gig but was going to pay $15 an hour. I didn't care, it was better than the $0 an hour I'm making now. I couldn't even get that guy to call me back! I know exactly what my problem is--I'm overqualified. Which is something I still don't understand. So these stores would rather hire an underqualified bonehead? Just because I have the ability to move up faster in a particular position than most people doesn't mean I want to take your job next. And it doesn't mean I'll continue to look for another job that pays more and quit if I get offered a higher paying job. I just want to get back to work. I've got bills to pay. I've got a son who needs to start preschool this fall. But after all of the rejections and knowing why, for the most part, I've decided I should just get back to school and get a career that I actually enjoy started. The only thing I'm worried about is getting caught up in another student loan. So if worse comes to worse and I can't afford community and state college, I'll find another way somehow.
In the meantime, this also means I'll have to turn to public assistance to help support my family in the meantime. My husband basically works on-call, and although he gets Veteran benefits once a month, we can't live off of that alone. It's my last resort, and I am only turning to public assistance because it's all I have to turn to now. I can at least feel some comfort in knowing that I'm surely not the only one in a similar position who had to resort to this. I've worked since I was 17 years old, went to community college for a bit after that, and was pretty independent and stable with my income throughout my twenties. I came close to figuring out exactly what it is that I should be doing to make a living. But shit happens, marriage happened, and I've got to do what I can to survive. I've had too many restarts, and I'm tired.
I'd never resort to crime, but I really dig this movie, and this song so much more.
http://youtu.be/KtzRJgZG98I
