Religion Hawes

I miss looking at life with an elementary state of mind… that is after all, when I learned the most fundamental skills. And, it’s when I wore red, knee-high, gogo boots religiously.  One of my most memorable teachers was Mrs. Julie . She was the one who duct taped those red boots to me when the zipper broke. But beside teaching me that a little tape goes a long way, the most impactful thing that she taught me was how to carry myself. We had these big posters littered around the room- a woman carrying dozens of shopping bags with the word “prepared” stamped on it. Her iconic oversized sunglasses and impractical sunhat are forever glued in my mind. My favorite had to be the poster that looked like a billboard, an enormous- laminated Cinderella, with the word “prompt”. There were 6 total posters that looked like this, all representing the 6 P’s. Prompt, prepared, polite, produce, presence and perseverance. Now that I’m old enough to start making my way in this big scary world- I still think back to these 6 ideals and use them to guide me. As you embark into the real world and begin to venture for a job… it can be hard to knowing where to start. The starting point should be the characteristics that you already have. The basic principals that have been instilled in you from the very start. These basic principles still play a vital role in my life today, each of the 6 P’s being highlighted by the posters of my childhood. So what about these posters made them last the test of time? 

Today I’m going to use these posters to illustrate the preparation aspect of getting a first job. 

Well, starting from a base, you need the poster paper- having a strong base is crucial for making anything formidable. The paper correlates with being prompts and prepared. Being prompt is about more than setting an alarm clock. It’s about being on-time consistently, no matter the circumstances. Being prepared is an indispensable characteristic to be successful.  If you are able to get somewhere on time, but are unprepared and don’t have everything you need… then your hard work is useless. Employers deeply appreciate when employees are prompt and prepared, proving that they are well equipt for the workplace. 

Once you have your base, a poster needs prints and images. It’s the bulk of the poster, and what makes it stand out. This is perseverance, and presence. From the age of four to the time of earning your first job you’ve been given time to marinate, proving and perfecting these skills. Somewhere along that path one learns what other people value and appreciate. Going into the workplace, employers value when you show perseverance, and your presence is positive. Are you kind to others? Easy to work with? Have a positive attitude? Your presence is how you affect people, and how you react to situations. The definition of perseverances is “doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.” More simply, this means you keep trying no matter what. This is equally applicable when getting a job either within the workplace, working to my full ability or by simply preserving through rejection, and continuing to apply and reach out even if you are turned away. 

Lastly, once you have a poster board and some text and images to spruce it up, you need to laminate the poster, especially in a school full of sticky little kids. The lamination makes the poster shine and lock all of the other components in place. Being able to produce good work and being polite are the finishing touches needed. Being kind and respectful to others will get you highly regarded, in life , and it will most certainly help you obtain your first job. Having thoughful words, and being attentive to your work will make you the complete package! If you can prove that you are capable of producing consistently good work it adds the final shine to your resume.  When laminating occurs, it’s the finishing process. By refining your work you add the final shine to your characteristics. 

Back to one day in kindergarten, when I was babbling about how my feet were too big. Mrs.Julie  intervened saying “you can’t build a skyscraper on a pinpoint”. Looking back I understand that she was saying that I need a solid base. But little did she know, her 6 p’s posters were the ugh base that I used to get my first job. Getting your first job is a pivotal part of growing up, as you begin a never ending journey into the big kid world, but the characteristics and values are one learns throughout childhood are able to guide us into the scary future. While wearing my taped up red gogo boots, I absorbed so much information about presenting myself properly. Although I have shed the boots, I will never shed the information that I gained. I will continue to utilize the pivotal life skills I learned within all aspect of my life, from giving a speech, to getting a first job, the 6 P’s prevail.