DON'T give up!

by ntune16 Sat Oct 22, 2011 10:02 am

Hi everyone. I was very involved in the old board. I have been more of a lurker on this one, instead of participating, in part because of all the nasty and hateful comments by the trolls and/or mean people. Nonetheless, this forum has been a source of strength for me during some very rough times. I became unemployed in August 2009. During that time, I went back to school and got a paralegal degree. One week after I exhausted all of my benefits, I FINALLY got hired by a firm. It is just part time right now, but looks like it will be going to full time soon. It has been enough, though, to keep a roof over my head and for that, I am thankful!! I am 50 years old and really wasn't very optimistic that anyone would hire me. I cannot tell you how many resumes I submitted over those two years for every kind of job imaginable without even getting a response. I had only two interviews (other than the one at my current job) during that time, despite hundreds of applications and resumes. It has taken me a while to get used to be employed again, as my self confidence was about shot. It is slowly coming back each day. I am getting used to a different routine. During my unemployment, it was too easy to just give up on any kind of routine, so I started setting my alarm, getting up and showering each morning. I set a schedule for my school (which was online) and household chores. I am so glad I did that, as this would have been a bigger transition if not....

I guess my message here is DON'T GIVE UP! Be kind to each other. We have an entire nation trying to beat us down. Don't do it to each other.