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Being the youngest person within a workforce can be
intimidating. Only a year now out of college (and
so blessed I have a job in my area of study), that is my
reality. I am constantly learning, constantly striving
to keep up because I am the person who knows the least.
I work at a
news publication in Iowa. This is not “The Devil Wears
Prada.” Nobody here owns a fur coat, has heard of
Christian Louboutin shoes, or has absolutely impossible
demands.
But that
doesn’t mean everyone is sugary sweet. In general, the
attitude is Midwestern nice. Or so I thought
until I started working with him.
It started out
innocently enough: He was incredibly helpful when I
needed guidance. But then I began to be a hindrance to
him—a thorn in his side. He decided I was not
intelligent enough to cut it in the field he had been in
for 20 years. He yelled at me in front of others and I
was made to feel like an idiot. (Yes, I know, “the only
person who can make you feel like an idiot is yourself.”
Whatever.) I thought that maybe this job was not in
God’s plan for me.
Despite these
challenges, I’m most proud that there was never a point
where I wanted to quit. I made a resolution to myself to
let hurtful comments roll off my shoulders and learn
everything I can from my boss. It has helped
tremendously.
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Have something
to say? Keep it short and brief—always think before
you speak.
Don’t like
someone? Or feel they don’t like you? Talk to them
anyway. You can still learn from them.
Be
self-assured but never cocky. Maybe you just got out of
school and think you know everything, but in reality,
you don’t.
Never belittle
a co-worker who you think is less intelligent than you.
If you do have
a position of power and are younger than everyone,
acknowledge your age but lead humbly.
Most of all,
pray! Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray!
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I will not
work here forever (I hope). But while I’m here, I better
make the best of it. There is no other option. I am
truly blessed to have such an amazing first job
experience.
This is not
college. No one will hold your hand. It’s not that no
one cares; they just have their own work to do. The
publishing world is no different than any other line of
work. You never get to choose the group of people you
work with and it’s easy for personalities to collide.
Even though I plan to move to another job in the future,
I realize that there will be difficult people in every
job and it’s up to me to change my attitude. I can
either let it bother me, or I can change the way I think
about it and not let it hold me back.
Heavenly
God,
I know it
is not all about me. But because of my human nature
(excuses, excuses), I can’t get away from my selfish
thoughts.
I know I
cannot do this without you. I feel so alone sometimes.
Why are some people so rude – so horrible - in the work
place? How can it be so easy for some and not for me?
I know you
give each of us a special gift. And I hope I am using
the one you blessed me with every day. Please help me to
know I am on the path you have planned for me. I want to
serve you in thought, word, and
deed. I want to know you and be completely saturated in
your goodness and graciousness. Please give me the power
to do what I need to do in order to succeed.
Lord, show
me the way.
Help me to
be at peace within the confines of my body and with the
rest of the earth.
Amen.
Laura
Johnson works at a weekly alternative newspaper in Iowa.
She is a recent graduate from Pepperdine University with
a B.A. in journalism and a
minor in music.
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