[Junerain]

I work in an afterschool program for children...when school ended June 24th...so did my job...they do not offer summer employment

My employer is the YMCA, I even applied in March for their summer camp....but didnt get it..

I do believe I have appiled at 80 jobs or so since March, to no avail...

The worst thing of all is not having anything to DO or BE or FEEL!!! I am used to having 30 different activities and places lined up on my agenda each day.........I feel extremely useless, dejected, rejected, empty and as if I have no place in this big ugly world.....

My friends notice I am off kilter, they don't know what to do...

I cannot believe out of all my interviews & second interviews SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE couldnt have hired me?!!! It would have prevented myself going on welfare, for heaven's sake!!!! And a lot of sorrow!!!

On the 29th I begin a 2 week stint as a camp counselor at a christian camp; so I will feel more productive then, I am sure....

Meanwhile I am so mad my job just 'ends' for the summer- just like that!! How can they DO this to me??!!

I guess I am very angry, although I never, ever express this emotion, just burns.

Well I do have three interviews this and next week,, they look quite promising...

If only there was a way to jump ahead in time just a wee bit........

I can feel that future contented feeling of belonging to a job/place of work.....

I cling to this hope...............

[splitimage]

Junerain,

I know how easy it is to feel useless when you're not working. I have a friend who's an educational assistant who doesn't have work over the summer, and he feels the same way. But you're not useless. You just happen to have a seasonal job. If the interviews you have coming up don't pan out, could you find something volunteer to do. even something one day a week would be good. I'm unemployed at the moment, but am deliberately not job hunting just yet - I'm taking a bit of a break first. But I volunteer one night a week on a support line, and that really helps me to feel good about myself.

--splitimage

[Perna]

A friend took my husband and me out to dinner last night because he got a job. . . after 17 months not working. It's only a 6-month contract and is in another state several hours away (and he's commuting on weekends back here).

It's rough out there. Glad you have the Christian camp job in a week or two. Hope something else materializes for you.

[Rohag]

Hi, Junerain!

Once upon a time, I lived among people for whom "doing something" was less integral to their self-concept. They were more comfortable with "idleness." Consequently I've come to believe there's a significant cultural component to the discomfort, even severe discomfort, many of us on these forums feel when we're not actively working.

May that camp revive you, Junerain

[Rose3]

Hi Junerain - sorry that you're feeling useless. There are lots of things to get involved in that could alleviate that feeling. Volunteering won't substitute for a paid job, but can be a way for meaningful human contact. Join Amnesty International. Oh, there are lots of things.