In the spring of 2001 I was working for Rite-Aid. I was already working for the company for almost two years. Then I was transferred to Bolton Hill. At the previous store, I was working in my own neighborhood. I knew everyone and everyone knew me. It was an okay job, with the usual pros and cons. When I was transferred to Bolton Hill, I was transferred to a bad neighborhood, and I saw things and heard stories that shocked me. The side effect of working in a bad neighborhood was not only were the managers suspicious of the customers, they were suspicious of the employees as well. I was trusted at the previous store, and had other responsibilities that really weren’t required in my status at the job. At the new store I was treated as a criminal and I was questioned like one when I offered to help with some manager responsibilities.

I was driven to the store, and home, by the managers of the store because I didn’t drive and, ironically, they did this because they considered me a valuable employee. But I didn’t feel like one. All the managers were men and each one usually told me about their problems, including ones about the store. I usually kept my mouth shut during those problems, because I didn’t think I should be hearing these problems the mangers had with the other employees. I also found out that two of the managers had marriage problems and therefore they had problems with driving me home. At the time I didn’t know why the managers had problems with their wives and me. I was just a girl. But now I can understand why they had problems. Their wives weren’t looking at me as a girl, but as a woman. A woman who was with their husbands.

I was already looking for another job but, after all that, I immediately quit my job in July of 2001. The job I applied for was a teller position at a bank at which I had an account. When I asked for an application they were very professional and took their time to help me. They told me that they were accepting applications but they weren’t hiring until August. I always liked the people at the bank and believed it was worth the wait.

I prayed often about the job and that summer I learned about patience. I went in to take care of my banking, and they always told me they were still waiting for openings. I finally got an interview and it went well. A little more time went by and I was hired by mid October.

God hears our prayers, but he will take care of us and give us what we need when he knows we need it. The job I received is flexible with my school, and I am making 1/3 more money than I did at Rite-Aid. Not only do I have employee respect with longer breaks, but I also have respect as a person. The people trust me and everyone is friends and we know about each other’s problems and we try to help each other. I actually enjoy going to work.