Unit Three - Short Response

I did not go to college right out of high school. I had a job managing a movie theater and I absolutely loved it! I did not really see why I needed to go to college so I stopped stressing and trying to over achieve and never took my SATs. I graduated my senior year with a 4.0 and felt that I had done enough in regards to education. Eventually I left Oklahoma and my job at the theater for a better opportunity in Virginia. My aunt, who never went to college herself, had a great job at a defense contracting company making  A LOT of  $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ and she offered me a position. I had always looked up to her and thought that this was the best decision for me. Seperating from my mother was extremely hard though. I had been with her my entire life and I was suddenly leaving and moving several states away. My aunt took over the role of my mother in a way and helped my transition "out the nest" go smoothly. Little did I know that the transition into her world would be the worst experience I have had so far in my life.

I was born in Virginia and visited my father almost every summer, so I had friends when I arrived. The only problem was that they were still goofing off in life and not really going anywhere. When I started my new job I was broken down and retrained, not unlike a marine. I was told that everything I thought I knew about life and working was wrong. I was not allowed to stand up for myself in anyway. I was to understand that I was always wrong if someone above my pay grade said I was. I worked many hours every day of the week and began to resent the job because I wanted to goof off with my friends. I was told to get serious about my life and stop hanging out with them. It was time to be an adult. I fought my aunt for a while insiting that I knew how a business worked and that she had no right to tell me to drop my friends. I tried to contradict her and make her see things my way. I wanted to, and tried to, leave several times but I always ended up bowing down to her. Eventually I caved in and let her reprogram me.

I worked for the company for over eight years and things only seemed to get worse. I became the worker-drone I always hated. I did not see my family or friends as I believed that my career was more important and that I was doing important things. My office became my home and my fellow employees became my family. I became fully integrated into the ways of the defense contracting world. I talked the talk and walked the walk. I was a very important memeber of the team and thought I was proud of myself for such an accomplishment.

As I said before, things only got worse over the years and after my drill instructor, oh I mean aunt, left the company I began to think for myself again. I was sick to stomach at how many years I had buried myself in the work and shut out the world. I finally realized that I had become a worker-drone that I never wanted to be. I was offered an opportunity to quit and go back to school full time, and even though it took me two years to transition into the idea of it, I eventually took the offer.

Transitioning back to school has been a little bit rough but very exciting at the same time. It has been over 10 years since I have been in a learning environment and I felt a little overwhelmed when I could not remember how to outline an essay. I use to write wonderful essays and I could not remember how to form a thesis statement to save my life! I took a deep breath and got myself in check. I started making lists and applying the time management skills I learned in my job to my school work. My ACDV class has also helped a lot. I am still transitioning back into school, but feel that step is coming to a close. I have not fully seperated from my job as I do work on a part time basis when I need $$$$$$, but plan to by next semester. I think I will fully integrate at that point.