Good Morning Readers! Thank you all for the positive comments and questions, it really helps me get through the day. This job is so much easier to do with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. A happy Mailgirl makes the whole office better.
I’m gushing so I should probably get to today’s question:
Cave asks: “If you don’t mind me asking, how did you come to find this job?”
Well Cave, once Mailgirl Six was just your average American college student attending a major university. Now I wasn’t the best student, partying a lot on the first couple years and almost being academically excused for my low GPA. It wasn’t the schoolwork, I was smart enough to handle that. I was failing on attendance, too many skipped classes and tardiness violations. I had a roommate with a lot higher alcohol tolerance and she REALLY liked to party. I just kind of got swept up in her wake.
We ended up getting kicked out of the dorms on an alcohol violation, not my bottle but it was my room 🙁
As I barely slid into my junior year I had to step it up and get a job to afford off-campus housing. On top of that I wanted to redo some classes I had failed so I really had to knuckle down, take the maximum credits per semester and summer session. I was working so hard to get all of this done in the remaining two years that I managed to get all the credits to graduate but I did not meet the requirements; I had to complete an internship.
As a Business Major with a Minor in Human Resources, I had a good resume to get one but by the time I applied all of the paid internships were taken. I would have to wait for fall semester and graduate late or take something unpaid.
I did what anyone would do in my situation, I went to my Academic Advisor’s office and bawled my eyes out. He could look at my transcript and see how much I pulled my grades out of the toilet. He obviously felt sorry for me. He promised to make some calls and see if they could make an exception.
Needless to say I was excited when my Advisor told me I could graduate on time, walk in the spring ceremony and receive my degree if I completed the internship over the summer semester. In that moment I could have kissed him. I might even do a little more as I would not have to pay for another fall semester… but then he explained there was a catch.
I would be working as a Mailgirl.
On top of that the internship was unpaid.
My Advisor explained that he knew a company that wanted to try a Mailgirl program because they heard of the efficiency benefits, but DDE’s program was expensive and they were not sure how the employees would react. Their Board of Directors approved the concept but budgeted it with no money, trying to have it both ways. DDE said they would lend the equipment but this company would have to produce a volunteer.
So if I agreed I would be an UNPAID MAILGIRL for two months, but I could keep my Bachelors Degree and they promised to offer me a permanent position if I competed the internship. If I didn’t the University would pull my degree.
Now to my international readers, internships in the US are either paid or unpaid, you perform menial tasks or entry level work for college credit. It’s a scam. You are supposed to build professional contacts and “get paid in experience”, everyone kind of knows it’s a scam. Interns are cheap or free employees so companies don’t have to pay benefits and taxes. While you are doing your internship you are paying the college to attend as if it was a class. A summer semester, which is an abbreviated schedule and maximum of six credits, at my school costs about $8,000. A fall semester is 24 credits and costs about $30,000!
So my only remaining graduation requirement would cost me $24,000 if I waited till the fall semester and got a normal position, or I could take the unpaid Mailgirl internship and be done with it in August.
Yeah, I was over a barrel.
Five years later I can say I made the right decision.
So that’s it for today kiddies! I hope you all can understand the decision I made and my reasoning behind it. It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do and it was even harder to sign my first real Mailgirl contract, but like anything else it has its ups and downs. At least I’m getting paid now, LOL!
Keep the questions coming and keep a positive attitude.
And remember, health and efficiency matters!
Wow, that is quite the rollercoaster. Sorry you had to go through those hardships, but congratulations on making it through! Although I can’t imagine how difficult that decision was, thank you so much for answering my question.
Great question Cave. That sounds like an awkward start Six. I commend your bravery and I hope that you have also had your fair share of good times as you struggled to get used to this unique job. Also thanks for this very cool blog!