Since then I feel like I changed a lot physically and mentally... okay maybe not so much physically other than getting a perm and just overall hairier(sorry if tmi) but it's true. And even now, on a month to month basis, I notice more and more facial hair growing which is definitely exciting. Lifetime just got free disposable razors/shaving cream so I feel like I'm somewhat getting my money's worth. But back to topic. The most significant change since then would have to be how I spend my time.
Back in 2010, I was a sophomore at Mason, working for Hmart as a cashier, and not giving a shit about school. I remember my sophomore year was the worst year in terms of gpa(2.46) because I really didn't care too much. I always just got by with a passing grade and I was satisfied with that. I was under this illusion that as long as I graduate and get a degree, finding a job should be easy because who cares about college gpa? Boy was I a dumbass. I realized my junior year that hey, your gpa is probably what employers care most about! So that's when I stepped it up and started trying a tad bit harder. Started going to classes and actually took notes and I ended up doing decently my last two years. I grinded my ass off and managed to bring up my 2.5 overall gpa to a respectable 3.02(hehe). When I was applying for jobs during my junior year using the Mason job recruiting website, I was very disappointed to find out that a lot of the jobs I couldn't even submit my resume because my gpa was under a 3. That's when I realized that a 2 is so damn ugly on your resume compared to that big ol THREE so I did all I could and barely managed to squeeze by it by .02. That means that if I got a B- instead of a B for even ONE class, I would probably have gotten a 2.99 and forever be on life tilt(although I would have probably just lied and wrote 3 on my resume). But after all that grind, the job that I got didn't even check my transcript ~.~ nor did they check to make sure I got my degree. I did fairly well in the interview so I guess they just took my word for it.
During school, I had all the free time in the world. I would go to class for 2~3 hours a day and then the rest of the day I literally bummed so hard I can't even tell you how many countless hours I spent doing nothing at the JC. But now, it's completely different. I never really realized just how time consuming a full time job is. If we do this mathematically, a full time job is 8 hours + 1 for commuting so 9 hours and I like to sleep for 8 hours so that's already 17 hours right there. And then you consider eating, showering, pooping, brushing your teeth(I brush my teeth 4 times a day wtf) and etc, that's like another 2 hours right there so I'm down to 5 hours of free time. FIVE HOURS!!! Once you start working, there is nothing quite like that drive back home on friday night after work. Oh man..... that drive... you just roll down all the windows, bump up that song that you like, and just go ham. Don't matter who's watching cause its the freaken weekend. So for all you students reading this, enjoy your time at school while it lasts cause once its over.... your life is just shit.
Just kidding. It's not that bad. Work can be very stressful at times but is also very rewarding. One of the biggest rewards would be the things you learn during the time you are with that company because the knowledge you develop is something that you will always be able to use to find success in whatever you do next. The hardest part is probably just getting your foot in the door and finding a job, but once you get past that stage, everyday you will be learning something beneficial towards your future. Also the feeling of being productive is very rewarding as well. Yes it sucks going home at 7pm and having only 5 hours of free time, but knowing you accomplished a lot that day instead of refreshing your newsfeed every five minutes is quite rewarding in its own aspect. However we all know what the true reward is, it's that cash money.
If you weren't aware, my dad recently opened up a carry out seafood restaurant in D.C. Some shit happened recently(he got his brand new highlander gta'ed) but overall the business seems to be doing well. Something that I will never forget is how hard my dad worked all his life to support our family. He literally grinded his ass off doing construction all his life. Here I am sitting comfortably on my height adjustable leather chair complaining about my job where the only physical force I have to exert is on these keys, while my dad GRINDED his ass in the heat doing physically demanding labor for the past 25 years of his life. Now that he is getting older(51 to be exact), he knew he had to transition into a different career that his body could sustain.
A few months ago around May, my dad told me about his plan to open up the restaurant with his friend and because of this, he would have to quit his job and will not be making any money for the next few months. He told me that he was sorry but that once I start working, I would have to start paying for rent/bills until the business starts becoming profitable. And I can honestly tell you that there is no greater feeling than the feeling you get when you're able to withdrawal money from the atm and support the ones that you love. And if you're in the fortunate position to be able to do whatever you want to do with the money that you earn, that also feels awesome. And that is all for now, thanks for reading PEACE :)
