Growing In The Field That I Love
I am a working Mom of 6 children and a Licenced Practical Nurse in the state of Illinois. My husband has been unemployed for almost 2 years and is no longer eligible for unemployment. As you know, the economy of our country is in dire straits at this time and the job market is scarce to say the least. My husband applies for many jobs, but the pay is just enough to pay for the gas to get him to work and back after taxes. He continues to apply and interview, but it has gotten to a point where some companies say that he is over qualified to work the line in a factory. Monthly bills come in and they get paid, but as they do I see that we as a family unit are staying afloat by the edge of our noses, and with a home of our own, this is not acceptable. I lived on welfare all of my childhood and most of my adult life. I never want to go back and sit in that office and be undermined by a Case Worker who may think I am just too lazy or that my husband is too lazy to work. It has gotten to a point where I thought we would never have to turn back to, which is going to a food pantry for help. I would love to be able to take on a second job as in the nursing field there are truly many, but I notice most places are looking for RN’s so my personal job market has also become scarce. Either way I am physically incapable of working two jobs as I have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis for over 10 years now. Most importantly, my future with Multiple Sclerosis is and can be at the hands of the disease. Multiple Sclerosis exacerbations come and go and I never know if the next exacerbation will be the one that will keep me from working in the Nursing field and providing for my family. As I work in the medical field now and will always want to be a part of it until God decides it is time for me to stop and rest, I find that becoming a medical transcriptionist is the perfect opportunity to do so. I hope as I grow in experience I can provide for my family by working from home. I spend a great amount of time on my computer per my current employment requirements so an online typing job is a perfect fit. I am familiar with many diseases and medical terms. All I need is another opportunity to grow in the field that I love. This is also an excellent opportunity to teach my children the necessity of having multiple work skills and how continuing education plays a huge role. Three of them are in the high school/college chapter of their lives, so they need to understand that determination and the want of knowledge is the only way they can succeed. Seeing mom continuing her education can only prove to be a light for their path.
WRITTEN BY: Christina Marie Santiago
