You Have Not Because You Ask Not

*****This post is not about sewing. It is about something near and dear to me right now. Just a story of what I feel I need to share. I pray it helps someone to keep their head in the game and don’t give up.*****

     There were many different "things I wanted to be when I grew up" but I have always had the passion to work in the medical field. When I was young, it didn't matter where as long as it was medical. Within the last 10 years, it still didn’t matter as long as I was helping to make a difference in other’s health.

     Fast forward to 2006- mid 2008. I decided to go back to school to get some education under my belt. No joke and I am a jokester at times. My career advisor asked me why did I want to become a Medical Assistant. My reply: “Because I want to wear scrubs. I think they are cool.” No joke. I said that. I graduated with my AAS in Medical Assisting and landed my first job as a Medical Assistant with the pediatric facility I'd completed my intern. I worked there for a year before another twist in life came along. Right before I returned back to the Upstate, SC, in November 2008, I had decided to pursue my career for Healthcare Management. In order to do that I had to have the education. I enrolled in Excelsior University, later I’d transferred to Park University, so that I can obtain my BS in Healthcare Management.

     Well into classes I found out that most positions would require me to also have my RN to work as a case manager. Oh, no! I was not going to start over. Not again. Not me! Hmph with a lot of attitude. I entertained the thought of getting my RN. I quickly washed away to the back of my mind because , frankly, I was NOT going to do any more schooling than I’d already done. I mean really, even though I’d had my VA benefits, I still had college loans to be repaid. And soon. I’d done some research on positions that did not require me to obtain or already have my RN. That journey was unsuccessful.

     Still going to college working towards my BS, I’d put in for several other positions. I mean literally - HUNDREDS - of jobs. Some I knew dag on well I didn’t qualify for. I put in for jobs in other states; even in other countries! Let’s see here. I put in at all three local hospital systems in Greenville. From Account Specialist to Patient Transporter to Environmental Services. I’d put in with public school system. I thought since I had worked for them previously, it’ll be easy peasy to get back in the system. NOT! I’d put in for Cafeteria Worker (which I am more than well qualified to work). I put in for After School Worker, Office Personnel, ISS Aide (the position I held when working with them previously), Special Education Aide: I even put in to be a custodian.

     The DMV. Just about every temp agency. Non-profit organizations. The local newspaper, work at home gigs, community and technical colleges, daycares, WalMart, Bi-Lo, Fed Ex, car dealerships and the list could go on on and on. I’d have interviews but landed no job. I even tried finding acting jobs. No joke.

     I started to entertain the fact that I wanted a job where I could wear some really cute clothes like a skirt and nice top and a pair of sick boots. Or maybe jeans on Friday with a dress blouse and wedges. A job where I had meetings with the big dogs or I was a big dog. I had made scrubs for my scrub love and now I had started planning my dressy; casual dress; dress down position I had mentally charged in my head.

     One day I told God what I wanted. It wasn’t clearly thought out or written down; it sord of just rolled off my tongue and out of my mouth. I was like, “Lord, you know I have a passion to help people.” I believe my passion for it grew stronger when sickness and ailments hit close to home. My own family. My Dad was alcoholic. How could he be helped? My Mom has high blood pressure. How can she manage this and still not have to donate her heart to help pay for it? Still even closer - I and my three younger sisters suffer from bad headaches and migraines. If that doesn’t do it, then my husband has epilepsy and sarcoidosis. My oldest son suffered from asthma when he was younger. My youngest son also have epilepsy and a heart murmur. My oldest daughter has an irregular-regular heart beat. The middle daughter has nothing but a case of being a kid. Thank goodness for that. The baby has a list of things that right now I care not to name.

     I told God, I was unsure. I knew I was unsure but I let him know the desires of my heart. I wanted to be in the medical field. I wanted to be able to help those who maybe didn’t have the monetary means to help themselves. I wanted to help the homeless. The poverished. I wanted to be able to make decisions on who to call for what situation. I wanted to help someone manage their failed attempts a weight loss. I wanted to be able to help the young pregnant mother find resources to help her and unborn baby flourish. I wanted to be able to help the man I see coming from under the interstate bridge asking for money, food, or a job obtain healthcare and place to live. I wanted to be able to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in another person’s life. Oh, yeah, I wanted to have the option to wear my scrubs if I felt like it or my business office attire. If I felt like it.

     Let me tell you. When God has His hands on your life it’s no, NO, stopping you! I went to the Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day affair that is nationally known. I actually took my husband there so that he can have his prostate screening done. It was free so why not? I was supposed to get my breast exam done but I spent my time networking for a job instead and by the time I went they were closed.

     Anyhow, I went to just about every station looking at the literature and getting information from car seat safety to weight loss to abuse. And at every station I asked the representative, “Do you know if your company is hiring?” Every single one gave me the website and possibly a name that I could speak to about landing a job. The very fist station was with New Horizon Family Health Services. A federally sponsored medical center that has grown to become almost, almost, as effective as the local hospitals. This was the only company I simply emailed my resume to. The others, I’d made a profile and log in information, filled an application, and left my resume to be thrown in the field of technology to no longer be heard of again. 

     Glory behold, it wasn’t a week when my cell phone rang and a lady named Grace asked to speak to me. It was concerning my resume that was submitted. Ok, now before she actually told me the company, my mind automatically went into over drive trying to figure out Which. Company. This. Could. Be. because I promise just about every company in the Greenville and the surrounding area had a copy. Grace told me she was with New Horizon and she wanted me to meet with a head nurse for the facility. Sure. No problem. Just tell me when and where and I’m there.

     We met. She’d given me the spill about the company’s history. She asked the infamous interview question, “So, tell me about yourself.” As long as I have known, since high school that is, this is my time to shine! My time to show and make the interviewer believe why I will be the right person for this position. I did a good job. And my known strategy has been for every interview I’ve been on was to refer to the position as if I already have it. Now granted, it has worked but not with all employers.

     I thought I’d went in there for a Medical Assistant position at their Greenville location. Somewhere the conversation changed to me possibly working in Greer office since I live closer to that location. The interviewer started talking to me like I has already gotten the “You’re hired” statement. Or “Welcome aboard!” She told me my position would be like a traveling Medical Assistant servicing the 13 counties of the upstate where I would possibly also double as a driver. That’s a plus because being a traveling nurse was once a thought I’d fancied. Although I didn’t want to actually do the driving. But since I’d had experience moving military vehicles that was another asset. She recommended me to have a second interview with the program manager at the second location.

     I got a call a few days later from human resources saying that I am to have a phone interview with the program manager. I waited anxiously until d-day. The call was 40 minutes long. Within this phone call I went from being interviewed as a traveling medical assistant to actually being interviewed for a Medical Support Assistant. Ok! Now what exactly am I supposed to be hired as again? Lol

     A week later, I’d gotten a call saying that the Program Manager wanted to meet face to face before I actually started to work. I’d got to get the quick start run down of the job description, meet the rest of the staff, and tour the facility and the mobile unit. I was shown where my office (which I’d be sharing with another person) would be and my desk with it’s manuals and forms that are necessary in order to complete my tasks. I’ve never had an office before. Whow! I mean seriously, my longest job I’ve held was raising kids and next to that was being a enlisted soldier in the military. Who have you known to have their own office in these two fields?

     Again, I’d gotten yet another job title. This time it was Referral Coordinator that will still do the jobs of the two previously mentioned job titles. Ok, this is starting to sound like I will be the gopher of the facility. Am I to work front or back office? Drive or sit? What in the hell am I supposed to be doing? Lol

     So, before I left I found out that in a nutshell my job title is Case Manager. I will be working in the front administration and back clinical office. I will be a back up driver to a regular driver they are in the process of interviewing. I will be the Referral Coordinator. I can wear scrubs if I choose. Or I can wear business casual if I prefer. What in the world did I just get myself into?

     JUST. WHAT. ASKED. GOD. FOR! I am about to walk into my dream career! God had opened the doors that NO MAN can close. In 20/20 hind site, he has closed doors that no man can open! I am going to walk into my blessing and I thank God for being God alone! When He shifts your atmosphere don’t be afraid to go there. Even though it may not be exactly what you want or asked for it to be, if it’s God’s Will you will be more than exceedingly blessed to be in the position He has authored for you to be.

     In the past two years things got so rough there were times when I wanted to give in and give up. But my faith in God and the faces of my five kids wouldn’t let me. When I tell you I wanted to lay down a just die, it is the truth. But I held out and held on. And God came, not when I wanted him too, but right on time.

     In the words of many gospel song artists, “Speak into the atmosphere” and when God start “shifting the atmosphere” in your favor “Go get your blessing” because “What God has for you it is for you.”

     So, now I have to put my other talent to into overdrive because I need a few trousers and blouses for the office and I would love to have some chic new scrubs to wear when ever I chose to wear on what day I choose to wear it.

To God be the Glory!

~Scheryka