"One of 75 from 1500"
My parents push me to apply to jobs anywhere I can, but my motivation is dead. Still, there's an ad in the newspaper for a Belk opening up in a rural area nearby (40 minutes or so away) and my parents wake me up somewhat early one Saturday and tell me to go. I put on a cream turtleneck and black jeans and a huge, beautiful coat I have, and go on my way.
The drive is hopeless in a way. I listen to music. I'm nervous but casual cause I don't think I stand a chance. My dad heard about it from the other Belk he visits but didn't tell me anything about it, just to go.
The community center has been taken over by Belk. Nearly fifty, sixty applicants are waiting inside. I cheerily sit by myself and fill out the in-person application (I filled out the one online already). My name gets called. I go and shake hands with a nice black man, we talk, I make him laugh and nod and smile. He asks if I can stay around for a second interview, I say of course. I go sit down and am called in not long after by a long-bodied, dark-haired woman who I engage gracefully. I ask her how she likes her job, how long has she worked for Belk. She seems pleased. She says she'll possibly call me back for another interview. The possibly is a strong possibility, I sense, she generally implies. Cool. Go home. Tell parents. They're super proud.
I get the call in a used romance bookstore, my partner standing near me. They want to hire me as a part-time temp for six weeks. I'm balking, but I say yes, fine, whatever. It means money, and my parents off my back.
The days and weeks wind as I go into training at Belk. For the first few weeks we mix unloading clothing with training for way too specific happenings that I am intrigued by. The other people are genuinely themselves and are a heavy mixture of "never been working retail" (a few, like me) and "I've worked at Belk since the 80s." People keep thinking I'm 18 and cute and hardworking. I don't know if I have a future yet, I haven't gotten any word from graduate schools. I applied in November and December, and it's March, and I'm going slowly crazy.
It is still, however, a self-esteem booster on the first day of training. We sit by the future break room in the future lingerie section facing the future kid's section. The manager of the store announces from a podium surrounded by "Belk Idol" fanfare that we are the 75 people they hired from the 1500. We are special. We had what they wanted.
Me, in the back, my name on my chest, next to women with country accents but fashion style hidden under hardy work clothes - I wonder what it was that I did or said that got me here.
I said the truth: I love helping people, I love teams and team building, I just graduated early from college, I am available 100% anytime, I am hardworking. I made each person laugh, though my third interview was by a hardass. I realize when I get to my first day the dark-haired woman and black man are -leaders- at the Belk: the woman leads the entirety of the crew who takes in merchandise and the man is the manager for Shoes and Accessories. I persuaded and swooned managers. I get a fuzzy feeling that briefly overtakes my anxiety.
My confidence, sense of humor, work ethic, friendly attitude, and devotion to whatever is at hand got me here. Allright. So maybe I'm not going to fail at life like I was feeling...
In the next two months, I receive my acceptance letter from a university. I get the notice they're going to be giving me a teaching assistantship - I won't be paying for college, basically. I'm going to get my PhD.
I tell one person, the Bridal consultant. She's so happy for me I leave work that day more giddy than I came in.
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