Jennysha's job log: 21
Jennysha Patel
- January 2010.
The story so far… Jennysha graduated three years ago, and is looking for ways into publishing. Meanwhile she has been combining work in a library and a bookshop.
Life-changing news
So here we are. We’ve come full circle. I am of course referring to a new year, no doubt, but also, more personally to the fact that I’ve now completed a year of writing my blog for Prospects.ac.uk I have just been looking back at my first ever blog, mostly in an attempt to write one for this new year that’s just as satisfying for me to read, but also to see how much of this one is going to read the same as the first.
New year, new beginning. Nothing changes there. I once read the only constant we can really rely on is change. Isn’t that the funniest thing? It’s the kind of statement that is so contradictory in itself and yet so true that you’re forced to either laugh or cry at its absurdness. Ok, I think I’m starting to get a little confusing now.
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Since writing my last blog, a lot has happened. My life last year was definitely the most hectic I’ve ever experienced, particularly on a social level, but it was all by choice. A good choice in my opinion. I feel I more than fulfilled promises that I made to myself and in some cases, even exceeded myself. I’m not sure I made much progress career-wise though, with regard to getting closer to publishing. In fact, I think I might have pulled a 180 and been discouraged altogether as a result of my involvement at a bookshop and having to tolerate the competitive world of business and selling; not quite a world I can see myself playing a major part in.
So competitive in fact, that the bookshop is now over. Non-existent. Defunct. Finished. Terminated. Basically, (as some of you may have seen or read of in the news), the bookshop I was working for (beginning with the letter ‘B’, rhyming with the word ‘Hoarders’- you catch my drift?) went into administration and ceased business on Tuesday 22nd December, with all employees (hence me) being made redundant on Christmas Eve. Blame was put on internet sites, notably Amazon for its amazingly competitive prices and offers which the entire bookshop company could not top, thus leading to its steady demise, starting with us selling refreshments and Barbie dolls in the same line as Man Booker prize novels and other bestselling reading material. Other employees could see what was happening and were able to predict the unfortunate but likely future of the company. I, on the other hand, with my total lack of business nous, had no idea whatsoever but actually was pretty indifferent about the entire situation. If you’ve read my previous blogs, I’m sure it’s quite obvious that I favoured my job at the library a hundred times plus infinity over my job at the bookshop, so this news was actually quite a relief for me as it would solve the issue of me wanting to quit the job but not being able to in the current climate as that would just be foolish. Of course, I’m not as heartless as all the vultures that descended upon the store as we went into full closing-down mode. I do feel immensely for my fellow ex-colleagues. However, I am a bit of a spiritual soul and believe that this might actually be a good thing for the people at my specific branch as most if not all employees seemed to dislike working at the store and so hopefully, with this outcome, should be able to pursue other things in life, and with a bit of luck it will be something they actually enjoy and gain pleasure from.
So there is my life-changing news. As for what’s on the cards for me this year, I am going to request more hours at the library, work on my writing in the hope of someday getting published and simply enjoy the spare time that I’ll have now I’m not working at that depression of a workplace. And hey if you’re going to start anything new, what better a time than at the start of a new year. Happy New Year to you all!
Read my previous job logs
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