there has been some changes in my career lately.
I've been working with the Department of Education (DOE) and Macy's.
Here's my updates
1) Department of Education
In the Fall 2011 semester, I was working part-time as a para-professional tutor (PPT) at Palolo Elementary School.
I am no longer employed in that position this semester.
Time to start fresh!
Don't get me wrong, I'm still grateful to have been a part of that school. The school's principal Ruth Silberstein is the best leader a school like that could have. She's the perfect combination of stern and compassionate! A great person to talk to whenever there's a problem.
That school is located by a public housing project that is very notorious for decades. Many of the families are recent immigrants, mostly from the Micronesian islands, though are also some from the South Pacific and Asia as well. Even with the challenges those students faced, the school has been gaining momentum in the test scores! So don't give me this garbage about "poor kids can't learn, no use teaching ghetto kids, certain races can't achieve, certain races are doomed to life of inferiority"! It's all nonsense!
Even though I'm no longer a PPT at that school, I'm still in the DOE system!
This time, I'm just working as a substitute teacher.So I'm back to what I have been doing for 6 years (it will be 7 this coming May)!
Speaking about schools, I've also been working on my master's in elementary education the last few months, from the University of Phoenix.
2) Macy's
My lst job at Macy's was a seasonal worker the previous winter at Kahala Mall. I was a recovery associate, meaning I was folding clothes and making sure things are organized. I did help customers but I wasn't a cashier.
In the summer of 2011, I was hired by another Macy's store, this time at Ala Moana. And this time, I had a different position - sales associate. I was working in the "textille" section, selling towels, rugs, pillows, bed sheets,etc.
When the winter holiday season came up, I decided to switch to the recovery associate position, just like what I was doing at Kahala Macy's the previous winter.
While I appreciate being hired for the sales position at Ala Moana this past summer (a shout out to Donnie A. for the hiring!) and really appreciated the sales manager for textilles (Gregg Kikukawa, everyone's favorite manager), and really learning new things as a sales associate, my true passion was in recovery!
Some workers thought I was CRAZY for switching from sales to recovery! But I don't regret it at all!
My 8 weeks working in recovery at Ala Moana had to be one of the funnest times in my life! I really felt an ohana spirit with the recovery team! I really enjoyed going to different sections of the stores and organizing stuff! I felt the pride and turning messy piles of clothes into beautiful pieces of art! I also enjoyed interacting with the customers while I was organizing stuff!
I have gotten to know the store and the staff a lot more better than when I was just doing sales up in the 4th floor!
Don't get me wrong, I am NOT ruling out sales work forever! In fact, I did pick up a shift being a cashier in the Women's Shoes section in the 1st Saturday of 2012! I am happy to have that experience!
The recovery associate was just a seasonal position. And the holiday season has ended! My time as a recovery associate at Ala Moana Macy's is officially done as of today!
As of right now, I'm just on hiatus from Macy's! I plan on coming back soon, with whatever position fits my schedule, whether its sales, recovery, support, whatever! Macy's will probably calling some seasonal workers for long-term positions next month! If they call me, I plan on being there!
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The only side effect of my time working in recovery, was my conflict with Scrooge (aka Michelle Range) , which I have mentioned in these 2 blog posts
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2011/12/i-stood-up-to-scrooge-of-macys.html
http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2011/12/part-2-of-me-vs-scrooge-good-news.html
I did win the battle against Scrooge (aka Michelle Range), and I don't need to brag! But I did find evidence of what a hypocrite Scrooge (aka Michelle Range) is, thanks to my facebook friends at Macy's
This was from some event nobody told me about! She's one of the green hats, 2nd from right!
I wish I knew about this photo when I wrote about the eariler blog posts!
And Scrooge (aka Michelle Range) has a problem with my Santa hat?
TOO BAD, because #1- I kept it on and
#2 - everyone else in the store turned against her
# 3 - I'm going to go back to the store next winter and WEAR THE SANTA HAT AGAIN! :)
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