Daily Prompt: What jobs have you had in your life?
I started working at the tender age of six. My grandmother placed me in a job known as “handing tobacco” — passing tobacco leaves to be strung and hung in the barns to dry. While the work was simple and uneventful, I wasn’t alone. My young relatives were there too, and together, we used our creativity and energy to turn the mundane into something fun. We didn’t fully understand what “work” meant, but we were excited to contribute.
Imagine my surprise years later, at twenty-one, when my mom handed me a check for $5,000. She had saved my earnings from that time and invested them in a Certificate of Deposit. That moment taught me the value of hard work and the quiet sacrifices of love.
By fourteen, I was babysitting for neighbors under my mother’s supervision. The pay varied: sometimes $2, $5. At sixteen, I began babysitting younger relatives. Again, the pay wasn’t fixed, but the experience taught me responsibility and trust.
In college, I worked in retail during summers and holidays, earning $3.50 an hour. Though the jobs were short-term, they gave me a strong foundation in communication, service, and human connection.
I’ve always been drawn to writing and listening. I loved hearing people talk about their lives — their present reality and the futures they dreamed of. That natural curiosity led me into a career in social work, a calling that fit me perfectly.
Then, life took a turn. An unexpected illness changed everything. Physically, I could no longer continue as a social worker. But that detour led me into a new chapter — one filled with writing, coaching, and public speaking.
Today, I’m the author of two books:
The Invisible Child: A Memoir
Angels in Action
Every job, from tobacco fields to bookstore shelves, shaped who I became. They weren’t just jobs — they were stepping stones on the journey to purpose.
Share your story in the comments — I’d love to hear what work taught you.
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