Thank you for calling Shaw@Home, my name is Adam. How can I help you?
My Jr. High computer teacher, Mr. McCoy helped arrange an interview for a part-time phone technical support job. I hopped on the #3 bus heading downtown to the Shaw headquarters. Showcased in the middle of the lobby was the impressive Network Operations Center (NOC), encased in glass with seemingly hudreds of displays showing TV shows, internet status and a handful of admittedly rather bored network and cable administrators. Exiting the elevator I introduced myself, why I was there to the rather confused receptionist, and with a skeptical look I was asked to wait.
And I waited.
I waited for over an hour still with some embarrassment as if I did not belong there. This was 1996, there were no smart phones. And so I sat. And waited.
Did I belong here?
A rather apologetic receptionist informed me that the person I was here to see wasn't back from lunch yet, and to call them back. At a later rescheduling, I got the job and became what was likely the youngest employee of the company, and at 13 years old in 1996 I was making $13/hour. I didn't realize how good I had it.
Did I belong here?
A rather apologetic receptionist informed me that the person I was here to see wasn't back from lunch yet, and to call them back. At a later rescheduling, I got the job and became what was likely the youngest employee of the company, and at 13 years old in 1996 I was making $13/hour. I didn't realize how good I had it.
One thing is for certain, I would never have had that opportunity it if I didn't show up that day and wait outside of my comfort zone, ignoring any embarassment.
With the income from that job, my home computing systems were nothing short of unreal at that time as I taught myself the various forms of Linux, different UNIXes, system admnistration, networking and programming.
It wasn't to last forever, and as teenagers may do, after a couple of years I was fired for lying about time worked and spending that time on Internet Relay Chat (IRC) while on the job, a good run while it lasted.
I sometimes wonder if I got the job out of their sheer embarrassment for making me wait that long, but I've mostly been rather lucky in my life.
One thing is for certain, I would never have had that opportunity it if I didn't show up that day and wait outside of my comfort zone, ignoring any embarrassment.
I belonged.
I belonged.