Seven years, one month, and thirteen days ago I walked into a State Farm office to start my first day of work and take the next step in my life....or finally accept that I was a grown up and working at a bar would not be pretty when I was, say 60. I was scared to death. I mean who goes from a job running around constantly with people much younger than you are to an office with two other people, one of which is your mother, where you sit all day long in front of a computer talking insurance. YAWN. However I was given the opportunity and here I am, over seven years later, a changed person. At the end of next week I will say goodbye to the job that has finally made me an adult.
As much as I am ready to run out the door, seven years is a long time. My mom worked there for 20 and the agent I first worked for worked for 40, so 7 isn't actually all that long, but for me it has been the longest job I have kept, the longest relationship I have had. I learned a lot from this experience and as much as I am ready to move on to the next, I do find myself scared, confused, sad, and just filled with anxiety as I gather my things to go.
Along the way I have gained so much. Who can say that they worked with their mother...and enjoyed it. I got to see my mom as someone other than a mom. She became my coworker, my teacher, my friend. I learned from my mom and the customers that she worked with daily that she was a hard worker, an intelligent woman, and an over the top patient and considerate person. Things I took for granted as just having her as my mother, but came to respect and use as a guide in the office environment. With the help of her, I became the hard worker I am today. When she retired a little over a year ago I was sad to see her go, but happy for her and happy to have had the chance to work with her. The customers were sad to see her go as well, which brings up my next point...
Working in an office like I do at State Farm you get to know the customers. Not just the bad, you get to know the good too. The ones you see every month, the ones that ask about your races, notice you are engaged, and generally care for you, and you for them. I have developed relationships, ones that are hard to walk away from even though it is necessary. People I know when they walk out the door this week or next that it may possibly be the last time we meet. I can't tell them goodbye due to circumstances, so to them it is just another day, but to me it is more than that.
Also while working for State Farm I have gained the knowledge of insurance. YAWN. Actually no. I mean most people actually cringe when they need to deal with insurance but now I know why it is important. I have seen it impact people lives. I have seen and dealt with total loss, the unspeakable, the unthinkable...and I know that those people had something in place to take a little of the burden away in their time of need and that makes me see that what I do helps, even if it isn't the most exciting thing.
So I may have a few tears in the next few weeks. This has been a huge change in my life. I got my degree while working at State Farm, met the man I will marry while working there, started running again and making myself healthier while working there, and grown into person I can be proud of and love. So even if I am sad, scared, etc...I am excited to see what the future holds. I hope my next step takes me to an even better experience than this one has, and even though the last year has been one of the hardest I have had, I will leave State Farm knowing that it has been a good experience in my life and has helped me grow!
Thanks State Farm and to all that helped me along the way, especially the last year!
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