When I was at work yesterday, I met this fascinating lady. This woman is at least 70 years old (perhaps even older than that) and a widow. Well, if you have ever dealt with the public, then you know how older people love to talk. It was pretty slow at work, so I stood at the teller window and chatted with her for a few minutes. She proceeded to tell me that she just went back to school. I told her that was great, and asked her what she was going for. She told me she was going back to school for archeology. I couldn't believe that out of all the things she could be going to school for, archeology is what she was studying. I don't think that I had ever met anyone who was in school to become an archeologist. It was hard to believe that she would be going on digs and stuff at her age, but her smile was so bright; that I honestly knew that she had chosen the right field.

I just hope that when I get older, I have her drive. I think it is incredible, that instead of thinking that her life was coming to a close, this woman was grabbing life by the horns and making a new beginning so late in life. It just goes to show that you can do anything that you set your mind to. A motivation for us younger people who may be still dragging our feet through life.

Posted by Kate on Saturday, March 08, 2008 @ 9:45 PM

I just got my first real job about 6 months ago. I got a job as a bank teller and I really love it. Now they are putting me through school at night, so that is a real plus. My family didn't have tuition money for me to go to college, and unfortunately my grades weren't the kind that earn a scholarship. When I was in high school I was working at the local mall as a clerk at a card store. I got a promotion relatively quickly, and became an assistant manager. They couldn't offer me all the hours I wanted, so I went looking around and found a teller position at a local bank. During the interview they told me about their tuition assistance program and that made me want this job even more. Now I am working during the day and going to school at night. I just started off with a few classes in banking and finance to see how I liked it. So far so good. Not a bad deal for a 19 year old. I hope to continue and advance with this company and make this my career. Banking offers a lot of different avenues everything from loans and mortgages to being a branch manager, or even higher up executive. The opportunities right now seem endless, and I am making some great friends both at my job and at NIU.

These days there are not too many good opportunities for people without a career. I don't want to be one of those people who just keep working and getting .25 raises every year for the rest of my life. Many people are finding that if they don't have a career, they can not get ahead in this society. They barely make ends meet, and can't even afford to take a vacation. I want a nice house and kids and when my kids get older I want to be able to pay for them to go to college. I have a boyfriend and we are pretty serious, but I have told him that I don't want to get married and have kids too soon. I want us to wait and save and be really secure before we start a family, I've started a savings account which might not have much in it right now but feels like a step in the right direction. I think that he would like to get married sooner rather than later, I will keep you posted on that one. In any case, we are both still living at home with our parents, and I think that this is the best way to keep saving. Once we move in together, we will have all those additional living expenses to shoulder, and that means less money we can put aside. Well, I am hoping that my career will take off; so far I think that things are going pretty well and my 6 month review was excellent. In my review, they told me that they are going to start cross training me for a customer service position. I think this job is what I have been looking for.

Posted by Kate on Wednesday, March 05, 2008 @ 9:42 PM