Page 465 - Wordsmith A Guide to College Writing

Student Michelle McAllister’s essay shows the surprising effects of
working in a clothing store, a job for which she felt completely

unsuited.

Lessons Learned within the Clothing Racks

In a small photo album, tucked away in a closet, there

exists a photo that captures how my interests have
remained unchanged for the past twenty years of my

existence. The image is of me as a toddler surrounded

by books looking at the pictures. This image

foreshadowed my love for books and my desire to work

in a setting where reading was the focal point. I have

thought of being an author, a journalist, or an English
teacher, an editor, and recently I have been interested in

working in the publishing world. All I need is to work with

words, put them into sentences, and read others’ work,

and I will be more than satisfied with my occupation.

When I set out at age seventeen to apply for my first job,

I first began applying to work in bookstores or libraries. I

envisioned being surrounded by books for hours, and

the idea that I would be paid was even more exciting. I

applied to every book-related part-time job that would
hire a seventeen-year-old. I called to follow up with my

applications and eagerly waited to hear from the different

places. Not one single place called for an interview and I

began to get discouraged. A few weeks went by and my

parents continued to harp on me to find some form of