“Up every morning just to keep my job, I gotta fight my way through the hustling mob/
Sounds of the city pounding in my brain while another day goes down the drain.”
The Dave Clark Five

This is the working world and the drama inherent to it. I’ll say this if you’re considering getting into the field of non-profit make sure you have the intestinal fortitude. It’s not that it’s dangerous (but it can be). It’s not that it’s trying (but it is). It’s the money! See if your company is doing bad you know you should look for another job. If your non-profit is doing good, there are still several reason why you may not have funding to continue. Hell most non-profits get shook when republicans get into office. Grants aren’t always continued and for real alot of times money is or isn’t awarded to people based on the realtionship with between the funder and the organizational contact. So here I am chugging along (sputtering occaisionally). The co-worker who was the target of my practical jokes is gone. I honed in on a new victim, but they turned in their resignation yesterday. In two years under the current director about seven or eight people have left. That’s not good for an organization especially considering that when the last person to submit their joint is gone there will only be 9 people left, including one who is part-time and started yesterday. Additionally another persons days will come to a close before the New Year begins. All of this is bad for me because young people crave stability and the same comments have come from several young different groups of young people everytime someone has left over my 6+ years here: “Everyone’s always leaving”. Yeah they are. Yeah they do. Sad thing is as much as I’ve tried to hang on I called one of my old clients yesterday to see about getting in on a profession I helped him get in on. Industrial painting. I could easily switch professions for an extra $3 - 28 dollars an hour. It’s not just the money though, it’s the stability. That’s something I try to help my clients achieve and sometimes you gotta follow your own advice. Practice what you preach. I’d rather be an example than a person describing it…it’s easier on my credit score. Not to mention some of my general gripes about this field, like the way success is measured, the turn-around time funders want and the restrictions put on who you can help. I mean if a kid can’t score an 8th grade reading and math level don’t they need help? Does it make sense for an organization to say, “Sorry, when you do better on this test we’ll help you get your GED”. Them not doing well academically might have something to do with why they’re coming to you. Maybe. The worse thing in the world is when you’re chosen profession is to help people and you find yourself sneaking to help people at times. If they were felons on the run that would be one thing, but they’re kids and they at least said they wanted help. I already know I can’t help everyone, but shouldn’t I at least be able to help the ones that ask? This crap is starting to weigh my down and I want freedom. I’ll gladly perform skilled manual labor for more money. No problem. The systems sucks, the director as well, the city is dying and I just want to enjoy life and help some people…too much to ask?