Thursday, March 27, 2014

The Job that guaranteed my Bachelor's Degree.

My least favorite job?  How about the job the ensured my completion of college!!

It was summer 1982 and I got a job working at the Jafra Cosmetics and Perfume factory in Westlake, California.  I thought, how hard can it be to work on a production line?!  I'm smart and athletic...outta my way!!

I was put on the line where the spray tops are put on the perfume bottles.  This is done buy hand...seriously...this skill is not in my wheelhouse.  I started by watching this woman pop these tops on  super fast...boink, boink, boink.  Then travel to the end where another lady puts them in a box.

I've got this!  No problem I am thinking.  This is not like on I love Lucy where you can eat the chocolate.  I do believe this job gave me my first panic attack ever.  I lasted exactly 4 hours.


While I was eating lunch with my coworkers, they were telling me how they had been doing this same job for 5 to 10 years.  I went to the manager and said this is not for me.  I finished out the summer in the shipping department filling orders.

I worked my way through school, while raising a family and it took until 2000 to finish but I did it.  Today I am finishing up my last two classes to sit for the CPA exam.

Thank you Jafra for lighting my path.

5 comments:

  1. I found out I was pregnant with our oldest the week I finished grad school. Once she was here, I thanked God every day that I had not been trying to finish school and learn how to be a mom. I have real admiration for women who can do that simultaneously. So, kudos to you! I hope the exam goes exceedingly well for you.

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  2. I honestly look back and have no idea how I did it. It was divinely inspired. I love your site May! Thank you for visiting mine.

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  3. Good for you! And, good luck on your exams. I was propelled into school a different way, but it was the best thing I ever did, too. Like you. I was newly divorced with 5 small children. I had only two choices. Feel sorry for myself or make something of it. So, I made something of it. It took me 7 years to get my Masters Degree. It was a huge accomplishment and I grew in ways I never imagined.

    You should be very proud of yourself! And, you can be my accountant!

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  4. I would have been stuffing the spray thingys in my pocket or down my shirt and it would have been much like I Love Lucy. I can totally envision it.

    Like you, it took me awhile to earn my degrees but in the end, it was a fantastic journey. Thanks for sharing. M

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Mama Kat

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