Fall Semester Provides Relief From Bad Summer Jobs

Jessica Safavimhehr, staff writer

 SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Coming back to class from a long summer is actually kind of a relief.

Don't get me wrong summer was a much-needed break from the stress of juggling class and work.

Summer allows for time to work and make some extra cash. The jobs you have during the summer differ greatly from the one you may hold during the academic year.

During the school year, we tend to hold jobs that are a little on the easy side, so we can make time for homework and, of course, for our busy social lives. I know that during the last school year I worked at a bookstore, a very-slow paced environment that allowed time for homework and all those other college activities.

Once school let out, I figured it was time to look for a job that would give me more hours and more flexibility. I saw an  opening for a day camp counselor. I figured working with kids wouldn't be that hard, and I liked the 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, schedule. So, I figured why not? I went through the application process, got certified in CPR and First Aid, and was ready to go. Or so I thought.

The first day of camp rolled around and I cannot begin to describe how unprepared I was. As soon as I walked in, 10 kids came running up to me yelling "Miss,Miss." First of all, the last time I checked my name is not Miss, and I never said I wanted to be trampled by hyperactive kids. Well, once the smoke settled and the day began things got worse.

The morning's activities included: arts and crafts, which consisted of the counselors being smothered in paint and touched by sticky fingers; music, which meant the kids would be banging on random sticks and making as much noise as possible; and finally sports, which concluded of a bunch of kids throwing dodge balls at each other and a bunch of very tired counselors.

By the time lunch came around, I was ready to leave, but I still had three hours left. Lunch was actually a calming period to a very hectic day. That is, until the food started flying. After cleaning myself off, it was finally time for another go round at sports. It was better this time because swimming was just around the corner. Ah, swimming, the best part of the day. When the kids went swimming, I went home.

I don't see how I stuck with that job until the end of summer. But some how I was able to with stand the flying food, screaming kids and tired co-workers. I know my experience is not unique in any sense.

Every summer, we trek the unpaved trails of job hunting and try to find that one job with excellent pay that will tide us over until the fall semester starts. Why then, do we settle for the jobs that make us the most tired and makes us want to go back to the world of academia? I believe it’s just one of those “experiences” that we have to have in order to learn some sort of life lesson.

Well, I have learned my lesson. Now I have a higher level of understanding and a much greater respect for mothers, fathers, grandparents, and guardians who take care of those 12 years of age and younger everyday, because it truly is more work than I could have ever imagined.