Over the years, especially in college, most people will have job after job. The economy of the United States is one that is joked about constantly but it is a serious issue. Many people with college degrees are taking hourly positions just to pay the bills until they can find a “real” job. Those “real” jobs usually come with bigger pay and benefits but it’s those jobs that are just to pay the bills that can teach someone the most.

First of all, getting up at four in the morning for work is no picnic. Every time I wake up early for work, I’m mad at my alarm and want nothing more than to go back to sleep. I drive to work, feeling like a zombie, and do my best not to fall asleep once I’m in the parking lot. When I’m finally on the clock and getting to work, I start to wake up for the first time all day. Every time I start to wake up, I notice everyone else doing the same thing. They begin having conversations and these conversations are when I have learned the most from my job.

When it’s five in the morning, people will say anything. Sleep deprivation will do that to a person. However, in those moments of lack of rest, people will tell you new perspectives on anything you ask them. I have learned so much about different ways to do my job but I’ve also learned a great deal about life from people who have more years of experience in life than I do. There are so many cultures and ways of life that can be lived out and at five in the morning, people will show you how you can make changes in your own life. The main lesson I’ve learned from them is stop worrying so much about the future and be happy with where you are in life. The only reason you may have that job is to pay the bills until you can find something better but take pride in where you are and what you are doing. Of course, there will be bad days at any job and there will be tough times in all aspects of life. These times can seem to go on forever and it will feel like it will never end but eventually, it will be a new day and the problems of yesterday will be in the past.

To anyone trying to decide whether or not it’s worth it to take that job with the long hours or early hours, go for it. You never know whom you could end up meeting along the way and what they can teach you. That job may end up being the opening to a new door in your life and without taking a chance and seeing what happens, that door will always be closed. Don’t be afraid to learn from others; they may just show you how to live your new life.