Was 15 when first got a job through a program in the state of Georgia, USA, for disadvantaged youth. Where my family most of my life had been lower middle-class, but a divorce had changed everything. Then experienced life in a poor family.
That first job was helping state forestry workers. Was 40 hours a week. They would work to find things for me and the other teenagers to do. Was minimum wage, of course, but definitely appreciated it.
Would get work later at 16, doing the usual then for teenagers. Like worked at a grocery store doing things like bagging groceries back when that was still usually done for you. And later worked at a fast food place. And graduated high school, and went on to college with a full tuition scholarship to Vanderbilt University, where did work-study there.
After college, completely my fault though 1991 was considered a difficult year for gaining employment got my degree without immediate employment. And I decided felt like enlisting in the US Army which turned into a great decision. Though was much from mixed reasons though yes, wanting to serve my country was one of them. Had been drawn to the US military by a movie remarkably enough. Watched Flight of the Intruder over and over again. But though movie was about people in US Navy was not keen on being on boats.
So much ponder how make decisions. So was 22 years old and made a pivotal decision as best I could with what I knew then.
Could keep going with jobs, but now reflecting as needing to find a new one, with new skills recently obtained as finishing up an accelerated course on heating and air conditioning. Where thanks to deciding to take that course, other things opened up as well thanks to community support to help me get fully back on my feet financially.
And I wonder about decisions and how we make them. So much works out for me, in time, but not necessarily the way I ever expected might. And still the questions.
Now too have better perspective about how information flows, and how some things can be not so intuitive. Like posted about receiving a car recently and that hit local television news. But routinely bump into people who never saw any of it. Is that something to share or not with a potential employer?
If you think yes, then is that really contextual to a job? If you say, no, consider that employer is likely to find out eventually, anyway. As eventually SOMEONE who DID notice that coverage is likely to bring it up as a remarkable thing! So why should they not remark?
That helps explain better I think the way the web shifts things with our modern reality.
Yes, you can have things out here where maybe some people notice but most do not. And be in a situation where it can be debatable as to whether or not to share with others in any given particular situation. Where it is likely that in time that information will get to them, regardless.
In a key post I noted how unsettled I became when found out some web things of mine were pulling attention on a global basis, without me having much guidance on how to react. Have had people ask, why would I even bring it up? And now feel like can explain better why transparency and honesty actually are not just good in general, but also are pragmatic in our web enabled world.
Which suits me. Sure can find difficulty in the moment with employment, but would rather face that squarely than have to live with myself for the rest of my life without my values. Besides have learned very much more the value of community, and the many benefits of service to community.
Life lessons at best can come with a price. There is no way how things have gone on the plus side for me to to worry too much about the negatives there have been as well.
Life has its up's and down's. Can always keep in mind am working on net positive.
James Harris
