Dear Unsealers,

I worked as a hostess at the same restaurant for 13 years, which is extremely rare in the service industry. My mind, body, and soul were exhausted at the end of each week. I grew to hate my job. I had friends who worked at other restaurants; they were friendly and went out with their coworkers. But, all of my coworkers were married or had significant others, so they did not want to go out and party like me, a single woman. And most of the small team was lazy and difficult to work with; they left me to pick up their slack and perform menial tasks like clearing off tables and running dirty dishes to the kitchen.

To make things worse, I worked this job as a college graduate with a journalism degree. I was embarrassed that I could not find a job in my chosen field. In some ways, I hated myself for settling into a job that would go nowhere as much as I hated the job itself.

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Due to both local and national lockdowns, the restaurant closed temporarily, so I lost my hostess job. I did not know it at the time, but it was one of the best things that could happen to me.

I already worked a part-time remote job as a proofreader. The freedom of working from home appealed to me greatly. So, I sent out resumes and applied for hundreds of jobs. I finally was hired as a copy editor for a company that produced online newspapers. I was ecstatic that I had found a career job in my chosen profession. My self-esteem grew and I no longer hated working.

In addition to finding a new job, I started several new hobbies during the COVID lockdown. I began to paint with watercolors and acrylics. I worked on cross-stitch and embroidery kits. And I had more time to write in my journal and describe my innermost feelings, dreams, and desires.

Many people became ill with COVID or stressed due to the lack of social activities and mental stimulation during lockdown. But, I excelled at my new job and pastimes. I am a loner by nature, so it was not unusual for me to go days or weeks without seeing friends or family members. I thrived during the government-sanctioned quarantine and got to know myself better.

I enjoyed the time alone, especially after spending so many years working in a restaurant, where I had to deal with impatient and aggressive customers. I learned that you have to work to make a living, but it is possible to have a career that is fulfilling and lets you use your skills and talents.

My advice to my younger self would be to keep striving to achieve my goals. I know myself best, and I knew that I was capable of and deserved a job that would make me happy in addition to paying the bills. Because I lost one job during the pandemic, I was able to accept another that I felt comfortable in and was great at.