Got my first Full time Job.

Things don’t always work the way they are supposed to. My big plans to be an EMT didn’t exactly go the way I wanted them to. I never took the final exam and I quit working as a chair car driver at Armstrong Ambulance simply because the job was very stressful. I had a lot of growing up to do.

Being unemployed was very hard. I was living with my parents which helped BIG TIME and my boyfriend, Johnny helped pay for the little things such as going out to dinner. My last paycheck and savings account were quickly reduced and I was left with only $10.00 in my account.

It was not like I was being lazy or anything; I was actively looking for another job. But everything that I really wanted (Nurses assistant, dispatcher, police station secretary) I was under qualified for. I did however get a brief job as a Mall Cop at my local mall. Let’s just say I wasn’t quit into the whole mall security like everyone working there is. So intense!

Finally I had to figure some things out. Since I was turning 19 in December, I needed medical insurance FAST. My parents could only have me on their insurance if I was younger then 19 or a full time student. I needed to find a job fast!

It came down to a job that I really wanted or a job that I knew I would excel at. I went with the devil I do know and started to applying at banks. It was where my skills from Foodmaster would come in handy.

Several banks received my resume but they either were not the right bank for me or never ended up calling me. My boyfriends Mom was a secretary at a bank and told me they were looking for Tellers. This was not the first time she mentioned a job opportunity at her bank. Looking at my empty account I applied as a Teller.

A few days went by and I got a phone call from the bank looking to do an interview with me! Yay!! I dressed as professional as possible with clothes I borrowed from my Mom. Went in the bank and did the best interview I knew possible. A few days later I got a call to say I got the job! I was so relieved and happy!

Working in a bank you need to dress with a sense of professionalism. Hard to do when I only had $10 in your account. With $20 borrowed from my parents, I went to the used clothes store on my lunch hour and bought clothes for work. It was enough to get me through a week even though the clothes fit poorly and the shirt had a small stain.

I spent the first week watching, learning and making ribbon pins for 9-11 to hand to customers. Payday finally came and I was never so happy to see money go into my account. Even though this is not my dream job….its a job with a weekly paycheck and benefits.

Witnessed 9/11 Live on TV

I was 18yrs old, living with my parents and unemployed. It was still hot at my parent’s house so I slept on a mattress on the floor in the living room (the only room with an AC). My Dad was the only one home because my Mom was at work, my sister was living with her ex husband in Cambridge and my brother was at school.

I remember hearing the phone ring and my Dad picked it up. It was my sister. She told my Dad to turn on the news because there was a plane accident in NYC. My Dad turned on the news and Live coverage was showing one of the towers on fire. What a shame I thought. This is why I don’t like to fly.

As we were watching, the TV showed a low flying plane hitting the tower. I thought someone caught the plane accident on camera. What I didn’t realize was that I just witnessed the second plane hitting the second tower live on TV. When I finally did realize what I was watching I sat straight up. What was going on here? Then the news shifted to another plane crash at the Pentagon. When the 4th plane crashed in Pennsylvania, I was terrified.

My eyes were glued to the TV. Panic and fear went through my body thinking that Boston was the next target. Anger also went through me when it was said that it was terrorist attacks against the USA. I watched in horror as helpless people waved out the window of the twins tower and watched the people jump to their deaths. I was confident that the fire would be under control. But then the first tower fell.

My heart broke watching the icon of NYC fall. The first thing I though of when it fell was “I guess we can’t call it the Twin Towers anymore.” Its weird what goes on in your mind. But then the second tower fell to the ground. I swear to you there was 1 minute of pure silence. It seemed like everything stopped except for the falling of the tower.

When the silence ended, chaos began. It looked just like a set for a disaster movie. Everything was covered in ashes and dust. It didn't look real. This whole thing must be some kind of dream or some kind of sick joke. Sadly, it was real. What scared me the most was that those planes came from Logan airport. That's the airport that I would need to go to if I was to travel.

So many people lost their lives that day. Men and Women who were going to work, headed on vacation, pr looking to just go home. Also we lost many brave men and women who went in that building to save other peoples lives. I wanted nothing more then to go down to NYC and help out in any way I could. I kind of wish I did. During this time I felt so privileged and honored to be an America. Everyone seemed to just come together. It was such a bittersweet feeling.

A collection of people who lost their lives in 9/11

Due to everything, there were no planes for the first couple of days after the attack. You may never notice planes overhead but when they are gone you do notice. Its a crazy, haunting silence. I was lying on the couch and it was late at night. Everyone was sleeping except my Mom and myself. It was very quiet and then I heard a the first plane in days overhead. For some reason this really bothered and frightened me. I told my Mom I was scared and she held my hand until I fell asleep. That was also the night I realized that life does go on.

I can’t tell you where the rest of my family was that day or if I ever went to visit my boyfriend that day. I don’t even know if I called Johnny. I can’t remember if I cried or not. Certain pieces of that day tattooed themselves in my brain. I don’t ever want to forget this day. This day I realized that America is a great country and that we can not be taken down. Despite the terrorist attempts, they just made us stronger.

I graduated High School!

Class of 2001

After 12 years of school I finally graduated!! I am not going to lie, it was not an easy road. But I finally did it and on this hot June day, I walked up and excepting my diploma! My family came to watch and they could not have been prouder!

Thank you everyone who has made my years in school a little easier:

My Mom and Dad

Cant thank them enough for all the projects, sporting events, plays, parent-teacher conferences, and time that they always gave me. Even though I wasn't the easiest kid to deal with my skipping classes, running off to Maine without adults, detentions, broken bones, difficult math teachers and my many F's. They have always been there for me. Thank you both and I love you very much!

Becca

My friend since second grade. Thanks for always putting up with me.

Ms. Finn

My art teacher. A great woman who everyone loved. I was so lucky to be in her class.

Ms. Colozzo

My 6th grade teacher who pushed me to read. She was also the teacher that taught the girls in the class how to play football. I will never forget her for those things.

Mr. Freeman

My elementary gym teacher. Was the nicest guy. Always tried to get us to laugh (he was once a clown). He always quoted the golden rule for us.

Next adventure for me? College? Work? Being a bum? We will just have to see. Right now I am just living for the moment and enjoying every second of it.