First Job SMILE!

I know that there is nothing necessarily glamorous with working at McDonalds, Burger King or a call center. Yet, the reality for someone that is living between friend’s homes and doesn’t have any real family support is that this becomes a lifeline. This makes all the difference between feeling like your world is ready to cave down all around you and your life isn’t worth living. It is amazing the lift that you get when you are able to live on your own without a whole lot of help or help from people that are out to take from you and put you down.

It is exciting to see someone get their first paycheck and realize that the future really is in their hands and that they have the power to change the world. I get excited when I see a teen or young adult get their first job and realize that this quiet and rather subdued young person is being transformed into a responsible adult that now can rock the world around them. I tire of seeing youth and adults that live as if it’s everyone else’s responsibility to provide for them!

I will remember the look of one of my teens coming home after her first day of working after school. She had this glow on her face that was contagious and a smile that was truly incredible. This same individual a few weeks before had gone through hell because of her dad’s dysfunctional tendencies. I have many teens that have parents that have been in prison most of their lives and their hope is that some day they will be there and care in a hands on way. The reality is that this most likely won’t happen which is very sad and tragic.

One of the key ingredients in helping someone turn the corner in life is having a sense of hope where tomorrow can truly be better then yesterday. I know that a first time job situation isn’t going to provide for a real family but it gives the experience and sense of accomplishment that will motivate someone to keep trying and pursue the next step in life. Otherwise another person ends up believing the lie that the government or the church around the corner is going to provide for them forever.

Yes, I loved seeing the big smile on my teen after her first long day at work after doing school!