My fellow Kossaks,
I want to take this opportunity and tell you of my personal hardships the last few months. This is going to take strength and humility from my part to tell you. You see, I am a reserved person and I do not like to broadcast my life for all to see. However, the last five months have shown me that there is compassion in the world and that Liberalism is a beautiful and wonderful thing. Hence, this diary will tell the reason why I am a liberal and I why I am damn proud to be one. This diary will also show you that compassion is to be found in those we care and love the most. I am trying my hardest not to tear up while typing. This diary will not be all doom and gloom for at the end I will provide a happy ending. Follow me bellow the flip.
Back on June 20, 2007, I was fired from my job for certain computer policy infractions. I guess reading Kos at work is not good. Just kidding! In any case, I was let go from my job and that was that. The higher ups in my former job showed no mercy or compassion. That night I was visiting with my brother and after a few drinks I got emotional. I broke down crying and my brother consoled me saying that I would find a job. He was there immediately to offer me hope in the manner of encouragement. He said, "A man like you with two master's degrees will find a job soon." So I listened to him and kept my faith.
A month went by, and I find out that my former employers refuse to pay unempolyment benefits and I am left without any income. Therefore, I file an appeal which took about two months to go through. Then, I get called to interview for a library position. I was confident at my interview and I thought I did really well. A couple of weeks later, I received word from the library that someone else was hired that fit the position. No harm no foul. I felt that the job was not for me and that the perfect one would come along. However, I began to worry for I did not have that much money and rent was coming up soon. I had enough only to cover the month of July.
I kept interviewing come the month of August without any luck. It was in this month, during the second week, that I defaulted on my lease and had to leave my apartment due to lack of money. I finally built up some courage and told my brother about my situation. He immediately started to help by renting a moving truck and a stroage unit. He said, "Move in with me. My place is not that big, but at least you will have a roof over your head." I broke down crying after the move and I thanked my brother profusely. He told me, "Bro, I am not going to leave you alone. You are blood. If I were in this same situation, Iknow you would help me. My home is your home. Just don't give up hope and keep searching for work."
The month of September came and I was applying left and right, but no one would call me. My money was running short; I could not go out or buy anything. What is even worse, at my appeal I made a call for compassion on my unemployment benefits to no avail. I received letters later that said my appeal was denied and therefore not entitled to benefits. I had to preserve whatever money I had. By this time, I was beginning to lose my hope, faith, and willingness to live. I came to the point that I began to think my life was not worth living anymore and I told my brother my feelings. He replied, "Don't think like. You are worth more than you think. Don't lose your hope, the job you seek will come along. Just be patient and pray." So I kept at it.
October came and I had one of my worst birthdays. Even though I went home to visit my family on my bithday, I still had this problem in the back of my mind. I was getting desperate because no one was calling me. At this point, my brother told me, "You are going to have let go of your pride. Apply for jobs that you are over qualified for. Even it means working at McDonalds because some money is better than no money." So I started looking for jobs in construction, as a leasing consultant, and so forth. I had two interviews for leasing consultant jobs and both jobs went to somebody else. However, after my birthday I received an e-mail from a college library for a phone interview. I interviewed via phone and the gentleman was very impressed with my passion, credentials, and knowledge. I do not hear from this job until October 30, when the president of the campus calls me to set an in-person interview. My interview went well and I had good feelings about the job prospect, but that was just a feeling. I remained cautiously optimistic.
Come Novemeber, I am at my wist's end and I do not now what to do. I applied for jobs at a cleaner, Banana Republic, and more construction jobs. No one calls back and I am losing hope because even jobs that don't require that much experience and education do not call me. Until, a glimmer of hope comes my way. It is two days before the Thanksgiving Holiday and I receive a call from the same college library for second interview. It was scheduled for the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and I am hopeful but in a cautious way. I call my brother to let him know and he tells, "Go and knock them dead. Show them who you really are. Let them know that you can start to work right away. Show them your ethusiasm and desire to work." The interview day finally arrives and I meet with the president of the college. Immediately, he takes me on a tour of the campus and shows me the construction of the builiding. He also shows me the library that is not even finished yet. We go back to his office and he asks, "What is your time frame? When can you work?" I reply, " I can start today or even tomorrow." We discuss the upcoming Christmas Holiday and my plans and we agreee that we both will be out of town. He says, "Let me type your offer letter and then we will settle on a start date." I am overjoyed and I cannot believe my ears. I call my brother after the interview and we both are on the verge of tears. I get home and I get a call from a lady who interviewed me before for a leasing consultant job. She had offered the job to someone else, but it did not workout. She called me to offer that position and I was stunned. When my brother came I told him and he said, "You are on a roll dude." Afterwards, my brother, his girlfriend, and I celebrated the outcome.
Now in December, I have received the offer letter and I have signed it and accepted the position. I have let the lady from the apartment complex know that I have a job and she says to give her a call in the future if I change plans. I will be a college librarian repsonsible for starting many of the informational services from scratch. The catalog, the library, collections, and databases will all be started with my input and other of my future co-workers. My start date is December 17 with an orientation date of December 13. I am ready and excited to start this new job.
My life took a turn to the worse and I hit rock bottom. However, in this time I was able to somehow reconnect with my faith. I have been a Catholic all my life and I attended a seminary, but I lost my faith somewhere along the road. My job loss added to this lack of faith, but I forced myself to reach out to God for help. In these desperate times, the almighty answered my prayers and my faith is stronger than ever.
Why do I write this diary? I write because I want to share my new found happiness with all of you Kossacks. I also write to illustrate that liberalism is a beautiful thing. We, liberals believe that society functions better when we all help each other. In this traumatic event of my life, I would have not perservered if it had not been for my brother's help and support. He offered me a home when I lost mine. He helped me financially, when I did not have money. The result is that I will now be back on my feet. We all need to help each other in this world. No person is an island. We need to reach out to those who are in need. When my time comes, I want to help someone who is in need because I received help from those I care. Believe me when I say that my brother can count on me for whatever he needs. I cannot repay him for the help he has given me.
What is my future now? My brother and I will move in together to share expenses. I will now have a greater appreciation for my work and be the best I can in my new job. I also will show my faith and appreciation to God. I will start attending Mass again and dedicate my new job to the glory of God and to the benefit of humanity. This job is the best Christmas gift I could have received. I do not need any other gifts because I have the best one already. Kossacks, my advice to all of you is to treasure what you have; family, work, friends, and financial stability. Live everyday in perpetual gratitude. We do not know the future and we may lose some of those things. Hence, be thankful and help those who are in need. After all, being a liberal means giving back to those less fortunate than us in gratitude for our blessings. Liberalism is not dead, it is alive and well. It is a beautiful gift and my brother is proof of that gift.
I say good bye for now with tears joy in my eyes. However, I want to thank all of you for reading this diary. I wish you all the best in life and nothing but blessings. Please share in my happiness for it is the only gift this humble and thankful man can give. Remember that we are all working together for the improvement of society. We cannot do it alone we need each other. My thanks once again and receive love from my heart. Happy Holidays to all of you and God bless. Thank you for listening.
With sincere gratitude and joy,
El Barragas