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About Me

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Chapter 10 | Downtown Girl

If I hadn't married Mr. Fleece after graduation, I probably would have stayed in Austin, roomed with some girls, and done my best to secure a full time job at a local events venue. Strange to think how different life would have been! Instead, I gladly followed my newfound husband across the United States and started my job search from scratch, with no network or contacts. Upon the recommendation of a friend, I applied to a local temp agency in order to start meeting people and get some money in the bank. This was a great tip and one I would recommend to anyone caught in the coils of unemployment. I was skilled enough to secure a receptionist position and fortunate enough that it was located in downtown Seattle, only a 10-15 minute bus trip from our little duplex.

I staffed the front desk for Tetra Tech, an engineering consulting firm, coordinating packages, answering phone calls, helping organize files, etc. The office as a whole was welcoming and I made acquaintances with the two other females under the age of 30, easy to spot in an office mostly filled with older men. I enjoyed this brief stint and low-stress position but was left constantly wondering "what next?" because mind you, temporary is temporary. 

After helping format and edit one of the lead engineer's meeting notes and agenda, he recommended I look into the consulting firm, EnviroIssues and said he would put in a good word for me. Looking back, it's such a clear marker for me that completing unassuming tasks with excellence can lead to bigger and brighter things. I really do think that excelling in those small requests and my overall cheerful demeanor made a difference and gave me an "in" and a connection that ended up shifting the trajectory of my time in Seattle. More on that in Chapter 11. 

Although I was only in the office for three months, I have fond memories of commuting to the office, glad to have purpose in my day and a mandatory lunch break to wander the nearby fashion district or meet up with a new friend. 
A nice and easy start to adulthood,

SJW


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