“Package Handler”

BY HEIDI WATERSTRADT

He is a young package handler employed in a mail-delivery warehouse. It is through this job that he learns hard work and what that means to him: “Without working there, I would have never learned how to work for the benefit of those around me; I needed to see what would happen if everyone just didn’t care.”

I pick up the same cardboard boxes and put them back down every day. It’s boring, it’s fast-paced, and it’s not easy to do consistently. Many people don’t last past the first week of training, and those who do seem to give up pretty quickly. I refuse to let this be me, to stoop to the levels of those who don’t care anymore when I know I can do more.

 I often feel exploited because of the work I’m willing to do, but I will never do less in protest because I have seen the effects. I never felt this passion for work before starting this job. I simply didn’t put a high value on my own work ethic. I would think, why do I need to put in my full effort if using half won’t affect me? Helping each other out is part of life, but so is helping yourself. How can I expect my neighbors to take the time to help clean up my mess if I’m not trying to clean it up myself? 

I don’t want others to bear the consequences of my bad work or even bad days. Everybody always tells me I’m trying too hard for a company that doesn’t care about me, but I don’t see it that way. I see it as trying for those around me so they don’t clean up messes created by the inertness of coworkers.

 I know my job is hard, and I know my own work ethic is the reason for the level of difficulty. However, it is through the building of this work ethic that I learned a level of industriousness and community I never had before. It has transferred to many different parts of my life, and I have found that a willingness to help myself has doubled the willingness of others to help me when I really need it.