There are two kinds of people in the world: people who like change and those who don't. Simple as that. Change is either predictable, like the changing of the seasons, or unpredictable, like the loss of-of a loved one. No matter how change comes, it's up to the individual to adapt to that change. Change is also one of those things that indicate the end of a chapter or the beginning of something wonderful.
My change came in the form of loss. I was lucky enough to be a community assistant with a student housing complex in Lubbock for a year and a half. When I first got hired, I was insecure and afraid of majorly messing up, which I did in the first two months of being hired. But the longer I stayed, the more comfortable I became with my abilities and my coworkers, who began to feel more like friends.
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Everything hit the fan when my manager had to take on two properties instead of one. The parent company has two apartment complexes in Lubbock. When the parent [company] asked my manager to take over both properties, nothing was the same anymore. We hired another manager, who was great at first but soon became power hungry and catty. The office that I once called home became a toxic pool of drama and backstabbing. Whether it was taking away a weekend off with my family because I couldn't take a shift at the drop of a hat, or ganging up on another coworker because our manager felt like he was asking for too much time off. A manager who consistency doubled my hours over my other coworkers... Like c'mon.
At this point, I dreaded going to work. I was physically and mentally exhausted from this job. Outside of work, I was constantly worried that I was going to get fired because of reasons beyond my control. I was constantly on the phone with my mother, crying often. My mother told me to hang in there for a little while longer since that job gave me a nice discount on rent. On a rivalry Big 12 game I lost the job that once held a place in my heart because no one would take our "on call" phone during my so-called weekend off.
I was ecstatic.
I was finally free of the job that caused sleepless nights and anxiety attacks. I felt like someone who got out of an abusive relationship. So, I did what anyone would do.
I cried, but I cried tears of joy.
Thankfully, my family stood behind me and weren't upset that I lost this job (and fantastic discount). My friends who lived at the complex were shocked and upset.
But, in all honesty, I felt fine.
I came into this job as a scared, undefined girl and left as a confident, well-defined woman. I realized how strong the power of kindness is and how much people enjoy having someone listen to their problems. I made lifelong friends through what some people would call a "college job". Hell, I even had the most traumatic experience of my life and got a puppy out of it.
I will always love my former job and my former coworkers, who will always have a place in my heart. But, like a flower opening its petals after a long winter, it's time for me to fully blossom.
