Cleaning: My First Job and Earnings

I always smile when I remember my first earning and this was immediately after senior WAEC. I can still remember how happy I was to collect and wait for month end to receive my salary. Let me try walk you through my experience.

After secondary school, I had always wanted to get things for myself and assist with paying for some things at home. I had always had this sense of responsibility being the firstborn, and I wanted to taste what it would feel like earning and supporting the family.

Looking for a job as a teenager who had just finished secondary school was not easy because I had no experience, so I was basically a beginner. I informed my parents, friends, mentors, and alot of people that I was looking for a Job. Some people had advised me then to focus on preparing for university, and I should use my time to study more, while others had understood where I was coming from, and they informed me that they were on the lookout for me.

I received a call from my mentor, and he asked me to come to his office. I was very excited because I felt I would be working in the office or he would find something more suitable for me. My mentor was like a second father to me, and he knew I showed some interest in dog training, and he was a dog owner (a male Pug). So in my head, I had assumed that I would be taking care of the dog (a dog handler), and I was more excited thinking about this.

On getting to his office that morning, I believe it was a Saturday. He informed me that I would be cleaning his office three times a week, and the pay was 10,000 naira per month. At first, I was disappointed and happy at the same time, as the amount sounded very big in my head (I literally did not know or have anything specific to use it for).

I guessed my mentor might have sensed the little disappointment in my face, but he kept quiet, waiting for my answer. So I told him I would do it, and he informed me that I need to resume at 7 am and make sure to have mopped and cleaned the floor before the office resumes by 8 am.

Trust me, for the first week, I was very punctual and diligent, but although I was not good at cleaning, my mentor would always check and confirm if everything was well cleaned. During the first two weeks, he would always supervise me and point out all my mistakes, such as using too much soap or dusting after cleaning. I was patient, and I kept encouraging myself that everything is a lesson and I need to learn from it.

At three to four weeks, at times I would come late, and he would complain, and I would always try not to repeat the same mistake again. Eventually, it was pay day, and I was very excited to receive it, and I can remember vividly that it was kept in a white envelope, as I had no bank account then. I counted the money and confirmed it.

I had this sense of fulfilment, and I could remember feeling very happy as this was my first earnings. I thanked my mentor as I was really grateful. So I had asked why I was not given the roles of a dog handler, and he made me understand that Life would not always give us what we want, so we need to make do with what we have. That was the moral lesson he was trying to teach me, coupled with punctuality, being hardworking, and diligent.

I continued working with my mentor for about 3 months before I gained admission, and I had to prepare for school. I am always grateful for the experience as it has taught me to be very diligent at what I am doing, irrespective of the type of Job (a decent job). This was how I earned my first earnings, and the feeling lives on in me.