Bosnia After the War Essays

My First Earned Money
By Mirza Bahic
March 2000

It started out as a desolate summer. After I successfully finished the qualifying exam at Filozofski fakultet, I didn't have anything that really interested me. The euphoria of achieving my goal had left me, so my time was really monotonous and boring. It was passing uselessly. Fortunately, one day I met my cousin on the street. He asked me to stop by his business, a small printing company, the next morning. The invitation was unexpected to me; I had almost forgotten that I have this older cousin. Little did I expect the significance.

Filled with curiosity, I met with him in his office as we had agreed. He was busy, but he motioned me to sit down. I couldn't imagine what to expect. "Would you be willing to work here during the summer?" he inquired. "You will get a salary. Your parents approve."

I recovered myself from the surprise and accepted his offer. My happiness was immense: I wouldn't have to ask my parents for money for every trifle! I would have my own money! However, my enthusiasm somewhat lessened when I heard that work starts at 6 a.m. In spite of that, I was quite optimistic about my job. I thought everything would be perfect and simple. I didn't know I was under a big delusion.

I didn't sleep the night before my first day of work because of excitement. Consequently, I arrived a bit foggy at 6:35 a.m. I felt like a zombie. The older, experienced workers looked at me with distrust. They must have guessed that I was an immature, incompetent boy who got the job because of family relations.

The job itself was relatively easy, but I was awkward all day, partly because ofmy fatigue, partly because of my exaggerated attempts to showmy skill. Papers kept falling out ofmy hands. I spilled ink twice. That was enough to feel sorry that I had ever agreed to this. Finally, I proved my inexperience beyond a doubt when I cut my finger on the paper. My original elation was replaced by disappointment, and I went home thinking about quitting.

I didn't go back for the next two days, so I could think about everything in peace. It's amazing that I didn't get fired. I considered the pros and cons and decided that I wouldn't give up because of my first failures. I returned to work, determined to endure all the difficulties that had arisen before.

The following days were also hard, but I went to my job with bigger morale and self-confidence as I gained more dexterity. I felt that I was doing more than just merely making money for myself. I was developing a rapport with my co-workings. I was gaining the discipline of labor, 6 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Eventually during one of my shifts, my cousin came into the printing plant and called me to a corner. He put money in my hand, my first salary. My first earned money! I felt that I had learned something really important in the school of life - how to take care of myself, how to take responsibility for myself.

By the end of the summer, it was time to enter university. The profound lessons that will guide me in the future had already begun.