Jake Whittaker
Mr.Barnhart
ENG-091
03/08/2015
Social Literacy Narrative
As I approached the doors of Crescenta Valley Water District at 7am on a Tuesday, I was filled with mixed emotions. I was a cocky and arrogant 19 year old kid ready for my career, but a part of me still wanted to live the college life. My mind was racing with possible compare and contrast thoughts between college and work. I would not be enjoying the luxuries of winter break, spring break, and summer vacation anymore. Work would be a strictly enforced 7am-3pm , Monday through Friday operation, but I would be getting paid god money. I made up my mind that I was going to choose work, but then I started getting anxiety about meeting all of these new people. This made me hesitant to open the doors leading into the break room where the workers gathered before heading out into the field. I have never had problems making friends before, but for some reason, the thought of trying to become friends with middle aged men seemed a lot more stressful and difficult. After about two minutes of standing outside the doors, I decided to give myself a little pep talk before proceeding through the doors. I told myself to act how my grandpa had raised me. I'd go in there, be kind, respectful, and confident in everything that I do. And also to keep in the back of my mind that how I act has an effect on everybody around me, negative or positive.
As I pulled the doors open, there was about 15 rugged looking men standing around the break room, "shooting the shit" as they call it. All eyes suddenly turned to me. A rush of nervousness filled my body. In that moment, I pictured myself the new kid at school. I describe the feeling as wanting to curl up in a ball, and hope that nobody would see me. It was the type of feeling that could either make or break someone. It was up to me to own this moment, and make a good impression on these guys. I went around the room introducing myself, remembering at the same time to be kind, respectful, and confident. All of the guys got a real kick out of me because I was so young. I think the next youngest guy that worked there was 31 years old. They made jokes to me saying that the principal would be mad that I skipped school today, or my mom packed my lunch with a note in it saying that she loves me. I took their jokes as a sign that I made myself look like an open person to joke with. This gave me a boost of confidence because I felt that I made a good first impression on them.
I was hired as a temporary meter reader, but on occasion I would get sent to work with the construction crew whenever I was done with my reads early. The construction supervisor did not have a great reputation. Apparently he yelled all of the time, asked his workers to do 20 things at once, and would trash talk you the entire time. A lot of his workers would snap on him because of his condescending attitude. Whenever I would work with him, I treated him with a kind manner. I would ask him how his day was going, or I would just talk to him as a friend. The supervisor ended up liking me because I would treat him differently than the other workers. In return, he would treat me with kindness and respect. When I read George Saunders' Advice to Graduates commencement speech, one quote made me think about how my actions of being nice to my supervisor made him react to me. Saunders says, "[w]ho, in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth? Those who were kindest to you, I bet" (Paragraph 10). Since I was nice to my supervisor and never gave him any sort of disrespect, he remembered and treated me the same way that I would treat him.
I took these 8 months working at Crescenta Valley Water District as a very important life lesson. It taught me that whatever interaction you're having with someone, or someone you're about to meet, to treat them with kindness. People will respect you because you are treating them with respect and attentiveness. Nothing goes a longer way then treating somebody nice because they will treat you the same way in return. They also remember that you were a stand up person, and they you keep you in good standings. Ever since this experience, I live everyday by treating people nice. Not only does it make me feel good, but I can possibly brighten up someone's whole entire day by simply being nice to them.
Work Cited
Wallace, David F. "DAVID FOSTER WALLACE, IN HIS OWN WORDS." More Intelligent Life. The Economist Newspaper Limited, 19 Sept. 2008. Web. 09 Mar. 2015. <http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/david-foster-wallace-in-his-own-words>.
Mr.Barnhart
ENG-091
03/08/2015
Social Literacy Narrative
As I approached the doors of Crescenta Valley Water District at 7am on a Tuesday, I was filled with mixed emotions. I was a cocky and arrogant 19 year old kid ready for my career, but a part of me still wanted to live the college life. My mind was racing with possible compare and contrast thoughts between college and work. I would not be enjoying the luxuries of winter break, spring break, and summer vacation anymore. Work would be a strictly enforced 7am-3pm , Monday through Friday operation, but I would be getting paid god money. I made up my mind that I was going to choose work, but then I started getting anxiety about meeting all of these new people. This made me hesitant to open the doors leading into the break room where the workers gathered before heading out into the field. I have never had problems making friends before, but for some reason, the thought of trying to become friends with middle aged men seemed a lot more stressful and difficult. After about two minutes of standing outside the doors, I decided to give myself a little pep talk before proceeding through the doors. I told myself to act how my grandpa had raised me. I'd go in there, be kind, respectful, and confident in everything that I do. And also to keep in the back of my mind that how I act has an effect on everybody around me, negative or positive.
As I pulled the doors open, there was about 15 rugged looking men standing around the break room, "shooting the shit" as they call it. All eyes suddenly turned to me. A rush of nervousness filled my body. In that moment, I pictured myself the new kid at school. I describe the feeling as wanting to curl up in a ball, and hope that nobody would see me. It was the type of feeling that could either make or break someone. It was up to me to own this moment, and make a good impression on these guys. I went around the room introducing myself, remembering at the same time to be kind, respectful, and confident. All of the guys got a real kick out of me because I was so young. I think the next youngest guy that worked there was 31 years old. They made jokes to me saying that the principal would be mad that I skipped school today, or my mom packed my lunch with a note in it saying that she loves me. I took their jokes as a sign that I made myself look like an open person to joke with. This gave me a boost of confidence because I felt that I made a good first impression on them.
I was hired as a temporary meter reader, but on occasion I would get sent to work with the construction crew whenever I was done with my reads early. The construction supervisor did not have a great reputation. Apparently he yelled all of the time, asked his workers to do 20 things at once, and would trash talk you the entire time. A lot of his workers would snap on him because of his condescending attitude. Whenever I would work with him, I treated him with a kind manner. I would ask him how his day was going, or I would just talk to him as a friend. The supervisor ended up liking me because I would treat him differently than the other workers. In return, he would treat me with kindness and respect. When I read George Saunders' Advice to Graduates commencement speech, one quote made me think about how my actions of being nice to my supervisor made him react to me. Saunders says, "[w]ho, in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth? Those who were kindest to you, I bet" (Paragraph 10). Since I was nice to my supervisor and never gave him any sort of disrespect, he remembered and treated me the same way that I would treat him.
I took these 8 months working at Crescenta Valley Water District as a very important life lesson. It taught me that whatever interaction you're having with someone, or someone you're about to meet, to treat them with kindness. People will respect you because you are treating them with respect and attentiveness. Nothing goes a longer way then treating somebody nice because they will treat you the same way in return. They also remember that you were a stand up person, and they you keep you in good standings. Ever since this experience, I live everyday by treating people nice. Not only does it make me feel good, but I can possibly brighten up someone's whole entire day by simply being nice to them.
Work Cited
Wallace, David F. "DAVID FOSTER WALLACE, IN HIS OWN WORDS." More Intelligent Life. The Economist Newspaper Limited, 19 Sept. 2008. Web. 09 Mar. 2015. <http://moreintelligentlife.com/story/david-foster-wallace-in-his-own-words>.