Vision of Reality

I used to think life was going to be a great, wonderful experience. It would be so great to be living out on my own—no school, no teachers, no parents. It would just be me, TV, music, and parties.

Then came real life. Paying hundreds of dollars on bills every month, driving a piece of crap truck, working 60+ hours a week, and not having high speed Internet or a camera cell phone because it's too expensive. Yeah, that's reality. Medical costs, insurance (health, dental, life, 401k/retirement deductions, social security, disability), a crap load of taxes so others can spend my hard-earned money, and purchasing gasoline which seems to keep rising (yet we're supposed to appreciate the fact they aren't gouging prices as bad as they were last year). Sounds like a lot of money going down the drain, right? That's because it is. That's life.

“I thought it would set me on an uncontrollable path which I could never change.”

I didn't go to college straight out of high school because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Universities were out of the question, but a small technical college for computers would have been great. I wasn't ready, though. I was struggling in high school because I didn't pay attention. I was really immature and I couldn't get a driver's license due to poor eyesight. I wish I had went to college straight out of high school. It doesn't matter what one majors in, having that piece of paper gets your foot in almost every door imaginable. I didn't know that picking a major or a college was just a small step. I thought it would set me on an uncontrollable path which I could never change.

So I got eye surgery and can see. But man, am I blind or what? A year later, I was recovered completely and I got my license on the, "Yeah, I got this!" Nope. I failed the first time, but I got it the second time (don't ever look forward while moving in reverse).

My family was in disrepair. I stayed at home and helped my great grandmother, my grandfather, and eventually my grandmother get through strokes, cancer, and old age. Yeah, that's reality. So I got a job after one moved out, the other moved on, and one died. Six months later I ignored pleas to get health insurance privately because I wanted my company insurance and nothing could happen to me. I didn't want to pay what would be my one and only bill, other than car insurance, every month. I was stingy, but also proud—and I fell. Click here to see pictures of that story.

“I was . . . proud—and I fell.”

So I spent another year recovering from my disillusioned reality. Bedridden for seven months, I read a lot of books, watched a lot of behind-the-scenes material on DVDs, and enjoyed a wonderful summer view out of my window, watching the tree leaves sway in the wind for hours until falling asleep again. Sleeping away time.

So then after a second year getting mentally prepared and going through physical therapy, I spent three months finding another job. With only six months real work experience, and though I was an excellent worker receiving commendations and references, only three people bothered to give me a chance. Two of them called me in for training the next day, and two of them called me the next morning to let me know they changed their minds. They retracted their offer after having shook hands with me. That's reality, too.

I said there were three. The third one changed my life. I got hired, took state-mandated training and this time I paid attention. I paid attention so intently I got a headache each day from reading, listening, writing.

Today I've been working almost one year, with lots of responsibility and doing things most other employees don't even have a clue about. My boss constantly tells me how my performance is excellent. Our client's management team consistently compliment me on how professional I am. I'm half the age of everyone else and have learned nearly everything in less than a year. This is my turn at life.

I was recently informed I'm getting a raise--a raise larger than anyone else I'm working with. I'm also being moved to a weekday schedule. Though I am responsible for keeping weekend shift held together, I have become so valuable I am needed on weekdays for company image. However, no one is indispensable. Even though that is true there's no reason not to be happy. In fact, I must now work even harder to earn that pay. So this is life before 30. Quite different from what I could have ever dreamed.

“INVENIAM VIAM AUT FACIAM.”