Biola University First Year Student Journals

My First Job

December 1, 2005 | 3 comments

I have never had a job. Before coming to Biola, I knew I needed to get a work study job to pay for my expenses. To say I was worried about funds is an understatement.  I experienced everything from panic attacks to unexplainable fits of crying.

My parents and I had stayed in touch with my Admissions Counselor Madelyn.  To my surprise, I had received an application in the mail for a Biola Work study job doing telecounseling.  At that time I had no idea what a telecounselor was, but I saw it as a means to pay for college.  Madelyn had recommended me for the job and I was somewhat relieved I had a chance to apply somewhere.

I filled out the application and sent it in.  The idea of having a job seemed a little out of my reach, but I thought that I would at least apply and say I gave it a shot.  A week of so later I received a call saying I had an appointment to be interviewed.

Now I was nervous. What would the interview be like? My head was reeling with all the changes that were taking place. Honestly, I did not feel confident going into the interview.  I was well dressed and I had a somewhat confident smile plastered on my face, but once I was asked to sit down I wanted to turn and run from the room.  Fortunately, I had prayed a million times before going in so I believe the Holy Spirit filled my feet with lead.

I felt like a little kid again sitting awkwardly in the chair with my feet barely touching the ground.  The room seemed to be getting smaller by the minute.  Three pairs of eyes started back at me from across the table.  I felt like I was a specimen under a microscope or magnifying glass.

My worst fear was that I would blank out on the first question and not be able to form proper sentences.  To my great relief the first question was not so bad, “How are you doing today?”  My clouded mind began to clear and I could feel myself relaxing.  The three pairs of eyes were accompanied by friendly smiles.  The interview went by quickly.  I answered all the questions and at the end of the interview, I was given the opportunity to ask a couple questions of my own.

I left feeling a great weight being lifted from my shoulders.  For my first interview, I thought I did the best I could. I came prepared with questions, dressed professionally, and I had prayed prior to the appointment.

A couple days after doing the interview my mom and I were in WalMart shopping for some dorm supplies.  My cellphone was vibrating in my purse.  Upon answering the phone, I was informed that I had received the job!  I had never jumped up and down in a store before, but there’s always a first time for everything.

God is good.  After I was done making a fool of myself, I stopped and thanked God for the new blessing he had given me.

Since then, being a telecounselor has been a most rewarding experience.  I get to call prospective students and talk with them about the school I love.  They ask me questions about Biola and I answer them and give them my own testimony on what college life is like. I have chatted with quite a few students online and gone to a college fair - all of which have been great learning experiences.

I have always been passionate about helping others.  Being a telecounselor is how I can counsel other people.  I think God has used this job to help me relate to other people and prepare me to one day be a counselor myself.  To be a Psychology major and have a job communicating with people and helping to solve their problems is evidence of God’s perfect plan for my life.

Journal Entries

• Gray Hairs
• The Best Birthday Ever
• My First Job
• Change
• Chapel
• My First Snow Day
• Starting Over

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