Since graduating college in 2005, I struggled with myself. I failed to come to terms with my time in college because things didn’t work out. I denounced ever attending Slippery Rock because nothing came of it except working a menial job at Kings. I mellowed out a little when I got hired at WIS but things were shaky for a long time.
The turning point came in the Spring of 2013 at my friend Gary’s memorial service. I knew Gary from the church I attended in college (to this day Slippery Rock United Methodist is the best church I attended in all my years of going to worship). I learned a lot about Mr. Wakefield and was saddened to see that cancer had taken a great man from us.
After the service was over and we were well-fed, I drove over to campus and took a walk around the university. Eight years after the fact that I graduated, I took in the sights and finally accepted my time at Slippery Rock University. That time alone was what I needed to make peace with my past. Even dinner that night at Eat’n Park reminded me how great I had it when I worked at Park Diner. I didn’t have to feel like a failure because a girl I liked didn’t return the favor, or because I had a degree yet worked a menial job.
Unfortunately the good feeling didn’t last long and I was back to feeling like I wasn’t good enough. The following years were better but it wasn’t until the late 2010s when I began to see real change.
April 13 is a day that brings a lot of significance to my life. Six years apart, April 13 helped me come to terms with my past and it saw me enjoying myself amongst friends at the annual District 13 Toastmasters conference. Soon after those events, I fell back into my struggles at work. That Spring of 2013, I was dealing with evil trolls 😈 at work. The Spring of 2019 was difficult amidst the fun I had attending speech contests and the Spring conference.
Grandma found out she had cancer in February and tried to remain strong even through Easter (which she traditionally hosted). Eventually she gave up and by May, really went downhill. She passed away early on the morning of June 2.
2019 was sad but it was a good year too. Going back to WIS was the right decision at the right time. I got through the tragic events of the year. The inspiration I got (from my work and Toastmasters family) helped shape me into who I am today. I got through the last few years dealing with Covid, a health scare which hospitalized me for almost a week, and getting out of a bad relationship with the help of family and friends. I’ve been able to find new work close to home at Giant Eagle and have really begun to put the old days behind.
2022 continues to see me in a good place and, picking up some new interests.
Stylish 🍒 