The first of many

When I was 14 years old I was ready to start to work. According to Colombian law, I was not allowed to work without my parents' permission. My dad was against that idea, so I have to wait while feeling jealous of my brother Agustin, who is just 2 years older than me, was working at my dad's uncle's electric store during the holidays, making money.

As soon I turned 18 I started the job search. After sending a couple of resumes with the blank spaces where my experience should go, I got finally hired at a restaurant. I was a thrill, the time to making my own money and grow independent have finally come! The restaurant, "La Parrilla de Martin", was an Argentinean style steak house just a couple of blocks away from my house and on the same bus route from my college. I set out my schedule: I will work 3 lunches and 2 nights, for a total of 5 shifts a week. 5 shifts a week and the full-time school didn't sound that hard for the 18-year-old me, but in reality, it was impossible.

Back then I was going to college Monday to Saturday for classes. From Monday through Friday I had class at 6- 8 am and class at 6-8pm, Saturday from10 - 2 pm. The idea was that I will be going to class in the morning, working from 10am -'til 4pm, and going after to my night class. Saturday and Sunday working nights and all back over again...WHAT WAS I THINKING?! No days off, no time for school work... At the end of my second or third shift, I was so tired that I decided to finish the week and quit the job.

It is interesting how some things that you look forward to getting are not always the best at the first try. My first job experience lasted me one week. The longest and hardest weeks of my life, well maybe no the longest, but memorable because it's given me the independent feeling I was looking for, while the impulse and experience for some of the other jobs that came along.