Trancey, I’m 37 years old, and I’m scared because I’m not working (I got laid off a week ago). I am taking seriously, so let me give you my take on things.
You asked
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why does my spelling and the way i type on a message board matter? its not like im writing a damn essay
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No, but the only way we have to know you is by how and what you type. For better or worse, you are making an impression, just as the clothes you wear would if you were meeting someone in real life. Now, I don’t know what it is you’re looking for here at SDMB, friends, advice, or simply somewhere to let off steam, but your style of typing is the equivalent of turning up in the rattiest old pair of shorts and t-shirt you can find. As I told a teenage friend once, it’s not that people will think you’re smart if you use correct grammar; it’s that they’ll think you’re stupid if you don’t.
Working retail is tough, as Guinastasia, I, or any number of other people on this board can tell you. I’ve worked 12 hour days in a department store at Christmas and days which felt 12 hours long at a McDonald’s. I’ve also worked at that department store while having anxiety attacks myself and covered them so well that a co-worker complimented me on my confidence. This surprised me because I had none at the time. The problem is, that’s where a lot of jobs available to teenagers with no work experience are. I can’t see how working in a sex shop would be any better, especially for a young woman. I don’t know much about these things, but I’d be worried about getting too much unwanted attention. Considering I got a bit of that at McDonald’s ( :o ), I’d say it’s a fair concern.
As to expecting you to work, you’ve got to understand that I’m from a long line of Lancashire peasants. I have a hard time understanding not working. Taking a year off to raise money for college is a good idea, but you may not be able to get a good job. You say you’re interested in graphic and interior design and you’ve majored in it in high school. Have you looked into any companies in your area which do that sort of work? Even if you get a job as a clerk, which you should stand a pretty good job of doing if you type as fast as you say, you can still learn a lot and build some connections for later. Also, if you can’t stand the idea of working retail, look into temp agencies. Office work can be better than retail, but check with your parents about the temporary aspect. One point to use is temporary work can turn out to be for longer than originally planned, or even permanent if your work’s good enough. That, by the way, is from personal experience. I wouldn’t go back to that WalMart, but I’m afraid they’re not the only business which looks askance at labor laws.
Money management, I’m afraid, is part of life. I’m one of the people raising their eyebrows at your allowance, simply because I haven’t received one since I got my first job at 16. Even when I was in college, I held down a 20 hour a week job, first in the cafeteria, then in the college’s East Asian Library because all my parents paid for was housing, some food, and tuition. Smoking’s expensive, but you already know that. I’ve also talked to people who’ve given up drinking and cigarettes and there’s no question in my mind which is harder to quit.
Look, you’re welcome to call me a nasty, old bitch and compare me to the worst of your teachers if you like. Believe me, I’ve been called worse! Looking for work and starting a new job is hard, and it is frightening. It also doesn’t get any easier as you get older, as I’m finding out the hard way. So, put a list of your best qualifications together, using language that would leave us humble Dopers in awe of your eloquence, practice your best “I’m the best employee you’ve ever seen or will see again look” (mine adds at least 6 inches to my height), and face the world knowing at least some of us are behind you. If it helps, I’ll be doing the same thing on Monday. Who knows, if we both pull this off, maybe a few years from now you’ll be the hot new designer who’s going to do the graphics for the latest indispensable database I’ve designed.
Good luck,
CJ
