It has been eight months since I lost my job. I still have not been able to find one, and so I am doing the next best thing.
I am going back to school to try to re-invent myself. I have been accepted into the master of social work program here in my town at my local university.
Losing my job in December has been difficult. But it was not the worst thing that could have happened to me. With an ailing husband and a child, you would think so, right? But I have no doubt that there are others worse off than us.
We’ve had to struggle financially, but there have been bright spots. For one thing, it has brought our already close-knit family even closer. This summer, while we didn’t have enough to send my kid off to summer camp, we’ve have been able to take him out to ride his bike, practice on his skateboard, or watch him do his sprints. He loves to run.
We were able to travel as a family with my husband to the University of Alabama hospital to Birmingham, for his re-evaluation in hopes of getting a kidney. The first time he went a couple of years ago, he went alone.
I learned something about myself also. Through a wonderful woman I met by happenstance in a grocery store, just days after I lost my job, and struck up a conversation about president Barack Obama out of no where, I have become an avid gardener.
I became a member of group she was spearheading that volunteer our services to work for a local food bank, and in the process, also put food on the table for my family.
We volunteered our services, growing produce in a local community garden for the food bank. At the same time, the food bank gave us three plots in another community garden where we could grow our own food. Thanks to my new-found friend, a consummate gardener, I spent zero dollars this summer on most of my favorite vegetables. We grew everything from Collard greens, to tomatoes, peppers, beans and watermelon.
As a family, we’ve have also learned to adjust, but we began doing that shortly after my husband became ill and later lost his job.
We’ve always tried to live a practical life. Both my hubby and I are immigrants, me now a citizen. Although we never knew each other back home, we had similar backgrounds growing up.
I had a father that spoiled me to death, but always taught me the value of hard work. And so when I came to this country, after I finished school, I worked my behind off, saved and played by the rules. When I met my husband, I found a man who shared similar values.
But when he became ill, everything we’ve worked so hard for began to go downhill. Then in December, I too, lost my job. It has not been an easy road, to say the least. Thanks to some good friends and relatives, however, we continue to preserve.
We could uproot and go to another city, where the likelihood of finding a job may be a little better. But for the sake of our 12-year-old son, we’ve decided to remain in our town.
He is well adjusted in his school, and we fear that picking him up and taking him into another environment could be disruptive, with all that’s happened to us as a family.
And so, we decided that I would go back to school. Luckily for me, a new graduate social work program at the local university designed for people with liberal arts background is being offered. This summer, I applied, took the MAT (Miller Analogies Test), and was accepted.
I never thought that at this stage in my life I would be starting all over. But such is life. More importantly, I am going to be entering a field that is very close to my heart. A couple of years ago, I served as a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for the juvenile court in another state.
CASAs are ordinary people trained and appointed by a judge to speak in the best interest of children that are neglected or abused. It was one of the most fulfilling things I had ever done in my life. When we relocated for my husband to take a job in another state, I gave it up.
I know this is not going to be an easy journey, but in order to make some lemonade out of the lemons life has thrown us; this is what I have to do. It is going to be hell financially, but I am determined to make a way out of no way. I’ve applied for graduate assistantship. I pray that I get it.
I will start school on Aug. 24. I will have classes two days a week, very long hours, and for the rest of the week, I am desperately trying to find a job before my unemployment runs out, which is coming up here in a few months.
Any suggestions on how I can get my hand on other opportunities out there for grants, etc., to help pay my way? Please share with me. I tried applying for stimulus money through my local unemployment offices, but they have specific programs that they will pay for. Not this one.
On one of my early morning walks, I came up with an idea to sell candy bars to friends and relatives to help buy my books. The response from people, especially from my former colleagues at my old job was overwhelming. But I am still reaching out to sell more.
Thanks for reading, if you made it this far.
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