Homemade KFC bowl. I’m 25F
I’ve worked in a transition program at a community college for 1.5 years supporting adults with intellectual disabilities (5 years in the field in total). I was so excited when I got this job. I love the students and my coworkers are like family. It’s meaningful work, I get decent time off, yearly raises (until I hit $27/hr), and a decent work/life balance
The problem is I’m burnt out, and I’ve had some issues at work. Management is .. management (derogatory), the job can be so emotionally draining at times, and there’s very little room for advancement. There are around 6 full time staff and 20+ part time staff. I work part time (24 hours a week, 11 months per year). I have no idea when the next full time position will open, and there’s no guarantee I’d even get it. I don’t make enough money, so I sell on eBay on my days off
Before this, I worked at a family owned restaurant for 8 years. Sometimes I actually miss that environment. It was stressful as hell but I always felt good at the end of the day. I don’t agree with what Starbucks does but it’s the only place that called me back for an interview and I think I’d be alright in that environment. I live in a very small town and I don’t have a lot of options
The biggest problem I’ve had at my current workplace is that I made a mistake when a lot of people were making the same mistakes, and I was the one who got made an example of. I broke a procedure but the part of the procedure that I broke wasn’t written in the procedure document. I don’t agree with how it was handled but I did not want to fight it so I signed a last chance agreement. So unfortunately I think I already know deep down that I have to move on from this job. On the other hand, many of my coworkers told me if management and HR did not want me there they would have just fired me. I still think the smart thing for me to do is leave on my own terms. Idk I am just at war with myself. There are so many layers to this and it might be confusing, but the manager that went to HR for the LCA has been bringing in her own friends from a different company to work with her and she’s fired other good workers and other things she’s done has left a bad taste in my mouth
I just don’t want to be the fucked up daughter who left what could have been a good career to work as a Starbucks barista and I don’t know what to do !!!! I feel like I’ve failed at life already. I need advice, encouragement? I don’t know what I need. I’m freaking out