I Never Used to be an Office Worker

For a couple of years, I worked in manual labour. I worked in construction, I was a crop harvester, a welder, a mechanic, all of that jazz. I used to say that I would never get a 'normal' job, a 9 to 5, an office job or anything that had me sitting at a desk for hours on end.

I wasn't very academic in school, let's say. I got average grades, I even dropped out of university after a semester. But I was an artist, a creative person. I had things I was good at: Things like theatre, music, art. I sang, I played instruments, I was in school plays and musicals, I painted, drew cartoons, all of it. However, I realised quite quickly, that doesn't make you very much money unless you have insane luck. So, I got into trade jobs instead, getting qualifications and gaining some experience. Everyone sort of knew I might get into that sort of thing, seeing as I wasn't the best at school.

At one point at the end of 2025, I was looking for 'that perfect job with my hands', as my mother would call it, but I had a short term, part-time job doing database entry tasks. It's, I think, at that point, I realise how much more productive I could be at a desk. 

It was a slow dawning for me, my mother says, but apparently when I announced that I probably should try getting an office job, seemingly out of the blue, she nearly fell out of her chair. It was a shock for everyone when I went into manual labour, but it was even more of a shock when I became a journalist. 

My parents think that I matured somewhat in my thinking, my mindset. I realised I needed consistency, routine and a calm working environment that manual labour jobs never really have. I thought I needed a job where I used my hands, it turned out I needed to use my brain more. I had underestimated myself growing up, as I was sort of underestimated by teachers and schoolmates.

Becoming a journalist who works in an office was the best thing to ever happen to me. I'm happy, hardworking and productive. My day to day life is absolutely wonderful, going here and there, getting things done. I feel accomplished, really. Thoroughly enjoying my little life.