In 1997, I dropped out of high school, again. I was sure that I was never going back. I didn't like the restrictions, homework, structure, and most of all, I didn't like doing something that I didn't see the value in. I often felt smarter than my peers and superior to many of the tasks. I was often reminded of my potential by family, teachers, counselors, and therapists. I just figured I had this vast pool of potential and one day, when no one was expecting it, I would tap into it and really show everyone something special! Unfortunately, I never did tap into that pool. I never showed the world anything special. I went into the work force, taking whatever job I could, with the patient understanding that one of these jobs would realize my potential and instantly promote me up ladder of success.
Days went by, weeks went by, years went by, and in a rapid succession, jobs went by. All of those characteristics that kept me from excelling in school didn't go away now that I was working. Seriously, I had a lot of jobs. I worked at Whole Foods (when it was Fresh Fields); Subway Sandwiches (3 seperate times, 3 seperate locations); I had a paper route; I worked at Baskin Robbins; I worked at Outback Steakhouse (again, 3 seperate times, 3 seperate locations); I worked at Bennigans as a host; I worked at a resteraunt named "Nicks" for 2 days after which the general manager informed me that no matter how hard I tried, I would never be a good waiter; I worked as an electrician/plumbers helper; I was a car salesman (a term that I use loosely, as I believe you have to actually sell a car in order to call yourself a car salesman); I worked as security at Tower Records (for half a day); A barista (at Starbucks and Expo Home Design Center Cafe); I actually just remembered being a waiter at a cyber cafe in Georgetown; I did periodicals at Borders; I unloaded trucks at Container Store; I worked in the stock room at Pottery Barn; I sold shoes at the Nordstrom Rack; I helped someone finish their basement; I was an assistant at an insurance brokerage; I was a licensed pesticide applicator; and an assistanct facilities manager and one of the most prestigious global organizations. All this before the age of 25.
At one time in my life, I was licensed to serve food and apply pesticides in the State of Virginia. Needless to say, my aspirations to climb the ladder of success at any one of these jobs fell through. I just remembered that I have a real estate license too. I think that anyone reading this gets the point.
The facilities manager/property manager job actually turned into a career. I ended up getting the job through a temp agency. I had no prior training in property management. The day before I was a lawn jockey, spending my days soaking in fertilizer and pesticides. When they gave me the property management assignment, I thought that this was my opportunity and tried to make the best of it. Anything to not have to smell pesticides.
Finally, I thought my career had taken off. I had a great title, I had earned some designations that awarded me initials after my name, I was making alright money. But I was burnt out. I couldn't imagine doing this forever. I was turned down for a promotion. I started to think back to school and wondered where my life would have been had I just gone to college and earned a degree. Several times throughout the years, I had flirted with enrolling in school, but I always found the enrollment process to be discouraging and difficult. I didn't know how I was supposed to support myself. In the end, I always through away the school idea and went back to work.
One morning, I was with my family and together we all took a career test that I obtained at a book store. The test was developed by the Department of Labor. It said that one of the few careers that I was least suited for was property manager. This came as no surprise. I hated my job.
I started to enroll in school. To skip ahead, I did end up enrolling in school and under the advisement of a professor, I started this blog. The purpose of this blog is to convey what it is like for someone who is older to go to college for the first time. I will update this every week, on Wednesday's. I will also finish this story, but in parts, as I realize many people don't like to read if the material is too long. But I want to try to connect with the other people out there, who are going through the same thing. To give a voice to those who are scared and embarrassed. Together, we can get through this. Next post, next week!
