Experience: everybody wants some!

Have you ever noticed that when you are looking for a job, everyone wants you to have x years of experience? You will hardly ever see a wanted ad that says "no experience required," and if it does, you probably don't want it (sitting and answering phones all day or making cold calls might not be what you're looking for). I find it incredibly annoying that everyone wants you to have experience, but no one wants to give it to you! But I don't just mean this in the employment world - in life in general.

For example, I went to play Racquetball with Joe and my brother-in-law the other evening. I was kind of excited to go and play, but that excitement was quickly sqmashed when I saw that they didn't REALLY want to play with me because I wasn't experienced enough (basically, I wasn't good enough). Every time it was my turn to serve, Joe would return it so hard or in such a way that there was no way I could move fast enough or skillfully enough to catch it. After a few serves (strictly following this routine) it got rather annoying. Both Joe and his brother were not particularly interested in going "easy" on me. Every time they got up to serve, they played while I basically sat in the back corner trying to stay out of their way. After the first game, I gave up and went and sat out so they could play a "real" game and didn't have to play "around" me.

I guess I just got frustrated that Joe wanted me to come and play so bad, but when it really came down to it, he wanted to REALLY play and not "play" with me. He wanted me to play, but didn't want to play at a level where I could improve...only one where I could chase the ball around the entire court, run around in circles or run into the walls. That isn't exactly my idea of fun. I love to play when I can play those at my level, but not when I don't get to participate.

After I decided to sit out, it got me thinking about why they wouldn't let me play (well, they didn't TELL me I couldn't play, they SHOWED me they didn't WANT me to play). Joe wanted someone to play with, but only someone who was at his level (his brother). Did he want to help me get to his level? No, not really. He just wanted to play his brother or play me in a way where he got to watch me chase the ball around (I think this was his was of "proving" that he was better than me--our points always had to be 2 to 15 or so). He wanted to hit the ball hard and in a manner I'm not used to (I'm still learning where that silly little ball bounces after it hits various spots on the wall).

After I thought about this, it made me realize the world is JUST like that! The world is just like my mean-racquetball-hitting-husband!

I remember applying for the job I have now. They didn't want to hire me because I didn't have any experience (I had never sat in front of a computer typing blog entries all day!) They finally hired me when they realized how cheap I would be since I did lack the experience they were searching for. Since I didn't have experience, they didn't have to pay me the average wage for someone applying for my position. I'm very grateful they gave me the position and are still giving me the experience I lacked, but I still consider myself lucky to have 'earned' it even though I lacked the experience.

I guess it just seems wrong to me that this is the way the world works.

It actually reminds me of a line from my patriarchal blessing. It said that some of the things I'd go through in life would give me experience and greater understanding. Not necessarily experience in the working world, but in my personal life (whatever that may be). I guess you could say it gives me hope to know that the experiences I go through now, will give me greater experience and learning- whether that be learning to help my husband, or gaining experience to help me to someday raise and teach my children, or even to strengthen my testimony and give me experience in standing steadfast and immoveable.

Not everyone wants to GIVE you experience, but that doesn't mean you can't obtain it on your own. I think that is what I've learned through this. You can't always rely on others to teach you or give you that experience, sometimes you just have to do the best you can and hopefully learn along the way. You need to put forth the effort yourself (get help when you can!) and learn from those experiences placed before you. Not just learn, but put into action.

That was my great "learning experience" from the other evening. I seem to learn a lot from being frustrated--it's the only way I feel strongly enough to change something!


“After awhile you learn that what you really are is all the experiences and all the thoughts you've ever had and all the people who have touched your life, no matter how briefly.” -unknown

“The hardest part about growing up is letting go with what you have been accustomed to and moving on with something that you haven't experienced yet.” -unknown

“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.” -Eleanor Roosevelt