What Do I Do For A Living?
This is from college, not at my current job (no pictures of the kiddos allowed), but you get the gist!
Since my junior year of college in 2014, I have nearly always worked two jobs. I think it was my two stints working at Walt Disney World that conditioned me into functioning properly only when I filled my weeks with laborious tasks (I worked an average of 60 hours a week at Magic Kingdom, one week hitting my record at 74 hours). It was also financially necessary, as I paid most of my way through college. One summer, I even had three jobs on top of school. I started my custodial job at 4 a.m., went straight to class afterwards, stopped in the Alumni building to work at the university magazine, walked home to write articles at a commissioned rate, and then started my homework for the 21 credit hours of classes I was taking (almost double the regular course load, for those not familiar with college credit hours). In retrospect, I have no idea how I am still alive after that semester...but I digress.
Paraprofessional
For the past year, I have worked as a paraprofessional at a local elementary school. I consider this my main job, though it is a stepping stone on my path to a full-time career as a school psychologist. I work in two different settings - one-on-one with ID (intellectual disability) and/or ED (emotional disturbance) elementary students, or in a classroom of about four to eight early childhood special education preschoolers, all with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). I do everything from provide visual transitions to kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to tube feed those with cerebral palsy (CP) to teach the littlest three-year-olds to communicate when they have to go potty on the toilet. It's an eclectic handful of job responsibilities, but that is what keeps it interesting!
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
My second job, which I initially only applied for because the school year was coming to an end, may just be the most perfect in the world for any bookworm. After I was offered the position, I called my mom to tell her the news, saying "I just got my dream job! Where have I wanted to work since I was twelve years old?" Though stumped at first, I could almost hear the revelatory click as she suddenly exclaimed, "Barnes & Noble!" Yes, it's retail, but it's also the most chilled out environment in which I've ever worked. I shelve books, recommend titles, conduct the weekend story time in the kid's department, and love every minute of it! What started out as a summer job is definitely one I plan on keeping for the long haul. I mean, I have to pay for my book addiction somehow, amirite?