Dear Life..

*Note: to catch you up-to-date, this is a compilation of the last four weeks on my life..

Dear Life,

Must you always be so complicated?!

I have this funny feeling that the real world spends most of its time laughing at me...

or so it seems.

There has been soo much going on lately that I've purposely tried not to blog about, but gosh it's just so hard some days. And so I cave..

The long end and the short end of things:

I have (more, yes more) new life plans.

I love Birmingham but I've been on quite the job search lately.

Between the economy, healthcare reform, and many other numerous factors I'm looking for employment elsewhere. Insurance regulations will begin taking affect in September and well frankly, lots of things are changing already. I'm looking to find a steady, long-term career. I was very blessed to have spent the summer working part-time at Dawson until I could figure out what I was going to do.

I began the job search looking in Birmingham and have expanded my options greatly from there. Honestly, at this point, if someone in Hong Kong called to make an offer...I would be there in the morning with a really big smile on my face. I cannot even begin to tell you just how terrible the job market is in Birmingham and I'm thankful to have interviews but sometimes an interview is just not enough.

About four weeks ago, I got a job offer to work in sales (inside sales) for a publishing company here in town. After many interviews, I was very hesitant to take the job. The hiring manager(who would also be my boss) was a very cold, rigid man in whom I didn't necessarily care to work for. (Hint, hint). After numerous conversations with friends and family, I decided that maybe I needed to give him a chance, I accepted the job.

Day 1:

Arrive at work at 7 a.m. (Boss originally told me that I would only be working 8-5).

No "Welcome, we're so glad to have you," no tour of the office, no introduction to other employees. I sit for two hours and watch a lady work. I attend two sales meetings. My boss was very disrespectful to his employees, and they were very disrespectful in return. He didn't introduce me to his other staff members, he picked on me quite a few times within the meetings, and he forgot my name numerous times throughout the day. (Not to mention the fact that he called me Lauren instead of Michelle every time he did call me by name..even after correcting him 100 times). His other employees were wearing jeans (where as I had been told jeans were not allowed, dressy casual only), and they left their cigs w/lighter out on the table throughout the entire sales meeting. During the break between both meetings, my boss said some inappropriate (more or less just very rude) things to me, and at that point I had alligator tears pouring down my face (note, I never cry). After the meeting, I left (in which was discussed before hand) to finish out my two weeks notice at Dawson. Apparently, my boss wasn't very keen on me working out a two weeks notice, but allowed me to leave at noon none-the-less. I left well beyond upset, I think more or less just fearful of the future; I knew that wasn't the environment that I cared to work in. And you do NOT treat your employees the way that I was treated (especially not on Day 1). I couldn't imagine having to stay until day 365. Needless to say, Day 2 I asked why the employee before me left. I found that the "low turnover rate" the company had told me of during the interview process was one fat lie. Apparently, the company has a lot more turnover than I was aware of. After getting an inside view, I had seen (and heard) all that I needed. I met with my boss and told him that I didn't care to work for him or work in that environment. I turned in my key, and haven't looked back since.

I can't even describe those two days of my life, it all just seems like a really bad dream. I was so upset; and I think more out of fear of the unknown. I literally had no plans. I've never felt so at peace as when I turned in my key and left. No one should have to endure those types of work environments, and I hope that if you're ever put in that situation that you will stand up for yourself also. Life is too short. God is good and wherever He guides, He provides. A few short days later, I had four interviews within a three day period right here in B'ham. And two of the companies will pay my college tuition so that I can return to school.

I was previously an Accounting major in college and lack very few classes to set for the CPA exam. So I decided to go back to school, get a second degree in Accounting, and take the CPA exam sometime in the near future. That being said, I applied to UAB and State considering that I didn't know where I would be. After many (okay, numerous) attempts to get back to Mississippi, I've decided to stay right here in Alabama. I've had more job opportunities arise within the past three weeks that are just too good to be true. I'm convinced more now than ever that I'm here in Birmingham for a purpose. I don't know the reason/and or the purpose but I know that God can do infinitely more than I can ever imagine, and I pray that his will be done. As easy as it would be to pick up and move back to Mississippi, back to my friends and family and everything that I've ever known, back to Mississippi State..there is a reason that I'm here. I'm confident that I didn't receive three job offers with one still pending for nothing, and I'm excited to see what the future holds. It's so hard to see beyond some circumstances, but there is light at the end of the tunnel..and I'm just glad it wasn't a train!!

That being said, I accepted a job three weeks ago working at a bank here in town, and I absolutely LOVE it!! It's a bank that's headquartered here in town with over 3,000 employees, and I haven't met not one person that I haven't just loved!! All of my co-workers are amazing; I wish that I could put into words just how wonderful they all are! It's such a fun, high energy environment to work in and I absolutely love getting up and going to work each morning. Each and every one of my co-workers love their jobs and enjoy getting up to go to work everyday, and that makes all the difference in the world. Although I'm making almost half of what I would be at the publishing company, I'm beginning to learn that money doesn't always mean much. There is so much more to life than that; life is entirely too short to wake up in the morning dreading going to work. I've formed some really good, genuine friendships in the short two weeks that I've been with the bank and I cannot wait to form many more!

I began classes at UAB two weeks ago, and for the first time in a long time I couldn't be happier! As odd as it sounds, it feels so good to be back in school and back in Accounting. The best part being that my new employer is paying my tuition! I cannot wait to see what the next year holds! I'm taking Intermediate Accounting and Income Tax this semester...I'm excited to get them all out of the way and onto the next chapter in my life! UAB is so different from State; Mississippi State University will always have my heart!! But so far I really like it and the professors are great!!

Happy First Week of Football!!