Keep your mouth shut

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope                                                                                                                                                How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life

Frustration in the school and workplace for college working students

Last week I was working at the restaurant and asked if I could go home early. 
(http://images.dpchallenge.com/images_challenge/0-999/734/800/Copyrighted_Image_Reuse_Prohibited_580275.jpg) 

It was a Friday night and I had a paper due for my online class at midnight.  It was about 9:30 and there were less then 10 people in the entire restaurant.  It had been over a half hour before anyone had entered the restaurant and I was so bored that I was counting menus.  My boss walked by and I wasted the next three minutes of my life conversing with him.

“Sir, do you have an idea of when I will be going home tonight? It would be helpful if I left early.”

“I don’t think so Laura, we close at 11ish.”

“11ish? So that means I will be here till 11?”

“11ish.”

“Okay. It’s just that I have a 6 page paper to write and I only have 4 pages done so far.”

“You can do that when you leave.”

“Well, It’s due at midnight for my online class so that wouldn’t be possible.”

“You should have done it today then.”

“I woke up at 5 to substitute teach all day and then drove over here to work so that would not have been possible.”

“Well maybe you shouldn’t work so much.”

“Exactly, so can I go home?”

“Since you asked if you can leave I’m going to keep you here longer.”

About an hour after this conversation I asked again if I could leave and he finally said I could.  However, right when I was packing up the phone rang.  The customer wanted to order food to go so I had to stay at the restaurant past 11.  I left at 11:20, handing in my paper late.

Now I know to fake being sick to leave work early.
(http://pad2.whstatic.com/images/thumb/1/17/224-365---Dear-Flickr,-I%27m-Sick.-4.jpg/251px-224-365---Dear-Flickr,-I%27m-Sick.-4.jpg)

Teaching Kindergarten

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope                                                                                                                                                How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life

Frustration in the school and workplace for college working students

Last Friday I decided to substitute teach 3^rd grade at a public school far from my house.

(http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedImages/schools/tildenms/homepage/schoolbus.jpg) school bus

I have heard from many teachers that 3^rd grade is the best grade to teach, so I decided to pick a school that was far away from my house to teach at because I wanted to teach 3^rd grade.  My parents needed a ride to the airport that morning but I did not want to be late for work, so I had my little sister miss school to drive them.  I arrived at the elementary school a half hour before school started and introduced myself to the principal’s secretary.  My optimistic mood changed to rage when she told me that the teacher I was subbing for actually showed up today.  I was confused because I drove a half hour to get to this school and now they were telling me to go home. 

While I was driving home, I called my boyfriend and he looked up other substitute jobs for me on the computer.  He called a school that was forty minutes away that was looking for a substitute.  At the time I did not think to ask what grade I would be teaching because I was excited that he found me another job.  It was not until I arrived at the school that I found out I would be teaching Kindergarten.   

A day with these Kindergarten children made me question if I ever wanted to teach again.  They ran around the room, screamed and hit one another, refused to learn, and would not stop crying.  There were 3 students that would cry for no reason and it was impossible to think in the classroom.  I tried and failed to control the class and counted down the hours till school was over.

Now I know to teach children old enough that do not cry on a regular basis. 

(http://magglesdotpi.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/going-crazy.jpg) going crazy

Work, School, and NO social life

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope                                                                                                
How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life

Frustration in the school and workplace for college working students

Work, School, and NO social life

This week I decided to take a day off from work.

 (http://nycitynewsservice.com/files/2008/11/dayoff.jpg) (day off work!)

 I am usually a model employee and hardly take days off, but decided to have a social life for a day.  I should have accepted the fact that it is NOT POSSIBLE to have any type of social life while working and going to college.  All working college students need to understand that their lives have a predictable order every day that may be similar to mine.

6:00 A.M.- Try to find the strength to wake up

7:00 A.M.- Drive across town to school

8:00 A.M.- Attend class all day and have no time to eat

2:15 P.M.- Speed to work

10:30 P.M.-Drive home from work

10:45P.M. -12:30A.M. - Complete homework and study for school

A schedule like this leaves no time to socialize with friends or family so I simply had to take a day off.  I spent the day arguing with a friend that bailed on me and getting in verbal fights with my sister.  Instead of enjoying myself and going out, I spent most of the day catching up on homework and dishes.  The entire time that I was “enjoying” my day off, I was thinking about all of the money I was losing by not working that day.

Next time I will know to simply understand that I can relax when I’m dead.

(http://www.stephaniegehring.com/wp-content/uploads/coffee-you-can-sleep-when-youre-dead.jpg)

Dogs

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope                                                                                                
How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life

Frustration in the school and workplace for college working students

Dogs

Last weekend I decided to spend some time with my two dogs.

http://www.zazzle.com/never_trust_anyonenot_covered_in_dog_hair_bumper_sticker-128662328978426715 (people with dog hair)
I was working on my Shakespeare homework and decided to lay down on the floor so I could cuddle with them.  I have a German Shepherd and a Terrier, both of which are extremely hairy.  Since I was on the ground, both of my dogs demanded attention.  I tried to please them both by using both hands to pet them and read King Lear at the same time.   

While petting my German Shepherd, my terrier rolled over on my book, breaking the already fragile binding.  The book ripped cleanly in half, and a few pages fell out as I try to put it back together.  Sensing that I am paying attention to something other then him, my Shepherd tries to lie down on me, getting hair all over my outfit.  The cuckoo clock in my house rings which lets me know that I am late to work.  I stand up with my broken book and look down at my uniform that is now COVERED in dog hair.  I spent the next ten minutes getting hair off my outfit and failed to be on time to work and study for class.
http://www.truckmountforums.com/threads/hair-hair-everywhere.15279/ (dog hair)

Next time I know not to multitask while doing my homework.

How to Read William Faulkner

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope                                                                                                                                                How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life

Frustration in the school and workplace for college working students

 How to Read William Faulkner 

I enjoyed writing my How-To last week and decided to write another one focusing on English students in the classroom.  In one of my classes I had to read a William Faulkner novel, which was extremely difficult to understand.  Therefore, I hope these tips help other students that will need to read him one day.  

http://www.mantex.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/faulkner.jpg

(Picture of Faulkner)

1. Read the text very slowly 

2. Write down everything you actually understand so you can look back on your notes.

3. Re-read the chapter twice to see what you missed.

4.  If you are reading Absalom Absalom! or The Sound and The Fury, pay close attention to whom is telling the story. 

5.  After reading the entire book, read the Spark notes to see what you missed.

6. After knowing everything that happened by reading the Spark Notes, go back and re-read the book and notice the details that you missed the first time reading the novel.

http://en.nkfu.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/William-Faulkner-Quotes-1.jpg (quote from Faulkner)

NOTE: These tips are necessary when reading William Faulkner because his works are too complex to make into a movie.  You have no choice but to read the book.  

How to keep a job

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope                                                                                                                                                                 
    How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life.

Frustration in the school and workplace for college working students

(http://www.howtobeginabusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Employmentorbeginabusiness.jpg) employed :)

How to Keep A Job

 As my Blog focuses on college working students, I would like to offer a few pointers that I have learned over the years. 

Tip #1.  Show up on time

Show up early or on time to let the boss know that you take your job seriously.  Even if you don’t take your job seriously, smile and let your boss think you do. 

Tip #2.  Always show up.

Your grandmother can only die so many times before your work becomes suspicious of why you cannot show up.  Make sure you plan in advance if you need a day off because you do not want to call a few hours before saying you cannot come in.

Tip #3.  Pretend you care.

When a customer or boss tells you something, try hard to look like you are listening.  Even if you are not completely listening, make sure your face conveys sincerity at all times.  Pretending to care about people or the company is essential.

Tip #4.  Do not use vulgar language. 

When a manager or customer has a complaint and you feel the need to yell and swear at them, try your best to resist.  Simple focus on breathing and know that you are getting an education and will be making more money than this person one day.

Tip #5.  Sleep with your employer.

Personally I do not know if this strategy works, but a girl I used to work with tried this to keep her job.  She was sleeping with the employer’s brother (a 30 year old age difference) and the only reason she doesn’t work there anymore is because she quit.  So this strategy is one of the best, but it does have its drawbacks. 

(http://www.growyourselves.com/images/happy.jpg) happy worker

Overwhelmed College Student

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope                                                                                                                                                                       
How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life.

Frustration in the school and workplace for college working students

“I decided to listen to my counselor and take 4 English classes and one Teaching class in the same semester.”

(http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/05/27/stressedout_000012685215XSmall_620x414.png) (stressed out)

When I started college over 2 years ago, I enjoyed taking English classes because I felt smart in them and loved to read.  However, when I took my counselor’s advice and signed up for 4 English classes as well as an online teaching class, I did not know the amount of work I was about to face.  I still love reading, but do not enjoy being forced to read so many novels at the same time.  Let me walk you through an English Major’s daily week:

 Day 1 & 3: American Literature

In this class we have to read a 200-300-page novel a week.

In addition, we have to pretend we know what the book is about and give a few classroom presentations and research papers.

 Day 1 & 3 (Continued): Advanced Comp

This class is one of the only classes I enjoy, but it involves a lot of thinking before you complete your assignment.  I am more of an academic writer so this class makes me focus on the way I am writing. 

In this class we must peer review blogs, keep up to date with writing logs, and post original blogs every week.

 Day 2 & 4: Shakespeare Tragedies

I have already expressed how this class has been ruined for me because of the teacher’s lecture on the first day of class, but we must read a Shakespeare Tragedy each week.

In addition, we must watch the movie, have a comparative/contrast quiz on the text and movie, give a class presentation and write research papers.

Day 2 & 4(Continued): British Literature

This class requires memorization of 120 poems and to remember one line from a 20-page poem and analyze it.  

In addition, we must read about 50 pages of poetry I do not understand every night to take the most difficult tests I have ever taken.

 Each class by itself does not sound terribly difficult, but when you have to do all of this reading and writing in the same week for the entire semester, it can be quite hard. 

“Next time I will know to mention to my counselor that I work 3 jobs before taking on all of these English Courses.”

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OLioQUSTL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) 

(working too much)

Teacher Tragedy

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope                                                                                                                                                                       
How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life.

Frustration in the school and workplace for college working students

“I decided to take a Shakespeare Tragedy course even though Rate My Professors advised me against doing so.”

(http://www.theater-masks.com/i/masks/tragedy-mask-wearable.jpg) tragedy mask 

As an Education English major, I have to take this course in order to graduate.  I found a class that worked perfectly with my schedule and signed up for it.  I always check RateMyProfessors to see how difficult my teacher will be.  When I checked for this class, I saw that my teacher had a terrible rating.  It said the class was unfair, demanding, has a heavy workload, and that you are not allowed to have a different opinion from the instructor.

Against my better judgment, I decided to take this class so I could sleep in.  I did not mind doing extra work because I enjoy reading and was excited to read the famous tragedies.  On the first day of class she told us that we would be reading 9 tragedies.  As I wrote down the titles and wondered what they would be about, my teacher told me exactly how each novel ended.

It is the first day of class and she ruined every book we have to read!  She ruined every ending for all 9 Shakespeare tragedies, so now I have no initiative to actually read the text.  I was expecting a teacher that would assign a lot of work, which she did, not a teacher that purposely gave away the ending to each novel we would be reading. 

“Now I know to listen to RateMyProfessors to avoid teachers that take away any desire to read the class material.”

(http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/15/52/53/3582683/3/628x471.jpg) (no more reading!)

ENGLISH CLASS                   Frustration in school and the workplace                    

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope                                                                                                                                                                       
How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life.

"Last Monday I decided to wake up super early to study for class."

http://germanbeautysabine.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/wakingup1.jpg (early wake up)

       Early for a 20 year old is noon, and super early is 6:30 am.  I was determined to finish the novel, Beloved, for my english class.  After hitting snooze for the 5th time, my dad yelled at me to wake up.  I asked him what was so important at 6:30 in the morning, and he said we had to go to breakfast.  He did not want to go alone and forced me to drop off my little sister and accompany him to breakfast.  

      I tried to explain that I needed to study, but he said I was already up so I needed to go.  Breakfast took over an hour, so I was running out of time to study.  I read my book for the next two hours, pages away from the end, when I realized I was running late for class.  I was in such a hurry I forgot my change of clothes for work, but did remember my book.  I drove as fast as I could to school, and tried to read and walk while walking to class.  Even though I missed a step on the staircase and almost fell, and ran into two people,  I finished my novel!  I opened the door to my class, excited that I would be prepared for class discussion, when I saw the "Class is Canceled" sign.  

http://www.georgebrown.ca/uploadedImages/GBCCA/_Videos/Programs/class-is-cancelled.jpg (Class Cancelled)

"Next time I will know the first thing to do when waking up early is to see if the professor sent out an email."

Cookies

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope
How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life.

            "Two weekends ago I decided to make chocolate chip cookies for everyone at the restaurant I work at."

http://onwardstate.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies.jpeg (delicious cookies)

            We’ve been recently hiring new servers and bussers and I thought it was a great idea to make new friends.  I made about 80 cookies, thinking that would be more than enough for everyone.  I carefully divided the cookies into 4 separate containers so I could distribute them to the cooks, servers, bussers and hostesses. 

            I arrived at work feeling like a hero, and placed the cookies down in the hostess station.  After I clocked in, I gave the largest container of cookies to my favorite chef and asked him to share them with all the cooks.  Though I did not know it at the time, this was my first mistake of the night. 

            My second mistake, was telling my manager I made cookies.  I was not aware of his sweet tooth at the time as I offered him one.  He loved the warm chocolate chip cookie and grabbed one of the bussers walking by.  He told the busser to try one and he enjoyed them as well.  The bugger asked for more and I gave him a container to take outside and share with the other bussers. 

            Not realizing I just made my third mistake of the night, I gave some of my cookies to the new servers.  They sincerely thanked me, and I moved on to inform the other servers I work with about my delicious cookies.  However, it started getting really busy in the restaurant and I had to get back to work.  Throughout the night I had a few of the new servers ask for more cookies and I told them to tell the other servers I had cookies for them. 

            I noticed something was wrong when I spoke to a chef about a To-Go order.  He was being rude to me and I did not understand his irritation.  When I asked him what as wrong he told me that I favored the head chef and gave him cookies.  Confused, I explained that they were for everyone.  He said that the chef refused to share and that all the other cooks were upset as well.  After confronting the head chef. He explained that he ate them all.  So now I have the chefs against me. 

            After having this discussion, one of my favorite servers asked me why I only made cookies for the new servers.  Apparently my message of informing the old servers to get cookies was lost in translation.  So now I have the servers against me.

            Trying to find some extra cookies, I went to get what was left from the bussers, but since the container was outside they were melted.  I returned to look at the hostess stash of cookies and I saw my manager and the other hostess finishing them off.  So now I have the servers and chefs upset at me and I never tried a cookie myself.   

http://www.colourbox.com/preview/2680082-100577-portrait-of-pretty-unhappy-girl-isolated-on-white-background.jpg (how I feel)

"I assumed showing up to work with homemade cookies was a great idea, but now I know the action only turns your co-workers against you."

Bagels

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope
How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life.

“The other day I showed up to the bagel place I work at with a happy and positive attitude.”

Even though I had to wake up at 5am and hardly got any sleep, I was determined to have a good attitude at work all morning.  It was already crazy at the bagel place and there were not even any customers inside.  I asked my ever so pleasant boss why everyone was running around sweating and screaming and she yelled, “Because we have a big order that needs to be done in an hour and a half! Clock in already!”  Even though I did not receive the friendliest greeting, I did not let that phase me.  Apparently one of the casinos ordered hundreds of bagels for a party that morning.  

My first action that morning was answering the phone and hearing my co-worker say she could not come in.  I wished her to feel better and hung up.  Even though I was sincere and polite, my boss flipped out on me yelling that we are already short an employee this morning.  I, the girl who usually takes orders and looks pretty, was now in charge of getting the bagels from the oven, cooling them down, slicing them in half, and putting them in boxes.  I was fine being overworked because I was saying positive and asking people how their days were.  My boss, pleasant as always, yelled at me to stop talking because my cheerful voice was annoying her.  Not letting that throw me, I kept running around cutting bagels until I noticed that there was a line to order breakfast.  I stopped and took one order to help the customer, but when I tried to get back to work all of the other customers kept ordering.  There was nothing I could do to stop them from talking.  I tried interrupting them and walking away, but old people at 6am really want their breakfast.  I hear my boss yelling at me to keep focusing on the Casino order, so I ran in the back to find sanctuary for a moment.  However, that sanctuary was short-lived as I heard a customer yelling at the top of his lungs for service.  I ran out there to tell him I will be right with him, but instead of listening he is already halfway through his order.  He wants 6 buckets of bagels.  That is 13 bagels a bucket, and he wants me to find each bagel he wants even though there are people behind him and I need to continue the casino order.  My boss, not knowing what the customer ordered, told me to handle him and then get back to work.  (As if I was not working already)  

Of course all of the customer’s choices of bagels were cooking in the oven so I told him that he had to wait three minutes for his flavors.  I said this with a smile, still trying to keep my positive attitude, but apparently I should have lied.  The man flipped out banging on the counter because he did not understand why he had to wait.  I ran to the oven when it went off, trying to appease the customer, and grabbed the bagels from the 600-degree oven with my bare hands.  I could feel third degree burns slowly ebbing into my fingers as I threw the bagels into their boxes, and tried not to swear every time I touched a new bagel.  Finally when the pain was over and I had all of his bagels in their boxes, I ran out to the front of the store and saw a line literally out the door.  I handed the boxes to the man with a smile and said, “Have a great day sir.”  He looked at me, and then at the boxes and replied, “These things are sliced right?”  My smile was becoming more forced as I let him know that bagels cannot be sliced when they are hot because they fall apart.  Apparently he could not understand this as he thew all of the boxes on the counter and yelled, “I need them sliced for work! I’m paying for them!”  These were not all the words I heard as my boss grabbed my shoulder and yelled, “Why are you not helping all these people? That is what you are paid to do. And you should be finished with that Casino order by now!”  Confused and slowly losing my optimistic attitude, I grabbed the angered customer’s bagels and sliced every one of them, which involved me touching the extremely hot bagels again. 

I could hear that the other customers waiting were not being patient as they were yelling at me for assistance.  I ignored everyone as I finished slicing the 6 boxes of bagels and handed them to the man, completely satisfied.  I made eye contact with him, my smile genuine, and said, “There you are sir, I hope you enjoy the bagels and your day.”  He opened one of the boxes and saw the deformed sliced bagels and lost it.  He screamed at me that they were all torn up and would not let me explain that I warned him that would happen.  He took one look at me and my happy face and said, “Well obviously I don’t want the, now.  You’re really fake and you need to stop smiling.  Let me talk to your manager.”

“I assumed showing up to work with a happy and positive attitude would be a good idea, but now I know that I will be reprimanded for doing so.”

Blog 1. Panties

The Power and Possibility of a Slippery Slope
How one event in your day can possibly change and affect the rest of your life.

                                                                          Panties

                                  "The other day I showed up early to work at a lingerie store."

(Unfolded Panties)

Since I was there early my boss asked me to start working on the cotton panties.  If you are lucky enough to not know where the cotton panties are, they are a huge table in the middle of the store.  This table displays panties that are size Medium, while the drawers underneath have other sizes.  As I am folding, my boss comes up to me and informs me that I placed a redish-pink pair of underwear in front of a pinkish-red pair.  I try to explain to her that they look identical, which is not a good idea, and she asks a nearby customer if the panties look different.  The customer sides with my boss and my boss grabs all the underwear I was folding and dumps it on an empty drawer while telling me to start over.  Since this is a regular occurrence at work, I do not get frustrated, but that changes when I decide to help the customer that sided with my boss.  She said she was looking for yellow underwear and did not need help.  Her attitude suggested that I walk away so I went back to folding cotton panties.  After 10 minutes of hard work I had finished that drawer and looked up to see the customer still at the panty table.  I look from the customer to the table that was organized and clean 10 minutes ago.  While I was folding the customer took it upon herself to pick up every pair of underwear and throw it down unfolded.  I yell at the woman and ask what she is doing; she drops ten pairs of neatly folded underwear on the table.  She says that she is simply looking for yellow panties.  I explain that there are thirty options on the table to choose from.  She replies that she cannot find then in her size.  I let her know that all of the ones on top of the table are size Medium.  She rudely asks where she can find a small.  I hesitate, because this woman is obviously not a small, and direct her toward the drawer I just folded.  Not foreseeing the next 30 seconds, I start cleaning up her mess before I see her destroying that drawer of panties as well.  I refrain from yelling at her again and simply drop the rest of the cotton panties on the floor.

 (how I feel)

    "I assumed showing up to work early would be a good idea, but now I know that this action made me get suspended at my retail job."