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'Why Not!' Ignore Those Who Try To Put You Down Being overweight as a child was very difficult.
I lived with alot of
the normal teasing and taunting from other children. As an overweight
teen, I saw first handed just how stereotyped overweight people are.
When I was 15 years old, I went to the unemployment office to see about
getting a job I could work after school. I was given a number and told
that I would be speaking to a "Counselor". Once I got in to see
her, I explained to her what I felt my qualifications were and what I was
looking for. This woman looked me straight in the eyes and said "as
heavy as you are, the only jobs you will be able to get is as a dish washer or
to wait tables". I was stunned, pissed off and determined that I
would never do either. I politely thanked her and left the office.
A few days after that experience, I secured a job with Tandy Leather as
their bookkeeper/office assistant and kept that job until I graduated from High
School. After high school, I worked as a legal secretary and then was
hired as an Administrative Assistant at St. Vincent's Hospital. I was the
youngest person they have ever hired into that position. It was while
working there that I decided to go back to school to be a Respiratory
Therapist.
After graduating from school, I went to work in the hospital and was the
only Certified Therapist (there are certified and registered therapists) that
worked in the Neonatal ICU. After working 5 years in the hospitals I
decided to try my hand doing homecare. I was very fortunate to be hired by
a National company and worked for them for 10 years. I stared out as a
Customer Service Rep. and within 6 months was promoted to a Lead Position.
As the company grew, I was promoted to Supervisor and then was asked to become
the Branch Manager of a small branch of the organization that needed some
leadership and guidance. Within a year, I'd turned the staff into a
"TEAM". Together we doubled the revenue of the location
and took second place on the Leadership Board, winning a very distinguished
award. As I mentioned, I worked for this organization for 10 years
starting out making $6.85 per hour and increasing my salary to just over $50,000
per year when I left.
Today I am the Operations Manager for a small, locally owned homecare
company and having the time of my life. I think back often on what that
woman at the employment office said to me and I am very glad that that I said
"Why Not"!!
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