(Edit: I’ve been told that this first paragraph may strike some people as a bit odd so I would like to clarify.  Typically, I seem to have a lot of trouble finding work which has led to periods of unemployment such as what I dealt with this summer.  There are numerous reasons for this; laziness not being one of them!  Professional positions, like the kind I’m trying to find now that I’ve completed school, can take time to find when you’re just out of school and not experienced.  Many other positions rely on networking which in itself can be a matter of luck.  Being highly educated and capable can be a hindrance when looking for a position in, let say, a retail chain.  Unfortunately, this is just the world we live in and I have worked hard at trying not to be just another unemployed statistic but sometimes, luck hides on me.  And this is where this post comes from; I’m happy to be working again!)

Technically, this post should have come a few weeks ago but I wanted to wait a bit before announcing that I’ve finally found a bit of work again.  It’s only part time and temporary but it’s so nice to be working again.  I love the feeling of actually being useful.  Especially in this case where I’m helping this group finish up some work left behind by their summer students.

And, believe it or not, I’m back in a lab again too!  I didn’t really think that that would happen again after taking my professional life in a new direction but I have to admit that I’ve missed doing science.  Yes, I’m still extremely eager to start my career in occupational health and safety but at the same time, returning to a lab after everything I’ve gone through is a bit comforting; like being home.  I’m not sure what the future will bring but having this chance to get centred – and give my finances a bit of a boost too – will hopefully be what I need before embarking on any journey to come.

I’m also looking at this as a learning experience too.  Regardless of what field my OHS career takes me to, all workplaces have some similarities and being in any workplace environment, even in a lab space, is important for me before starting an OHS position.  Yes, I’m also keeping my skills as a lab technician sharp but I’m learning new things too.  Most of my career in science has centred around bacteriology.  Handling yeast is similar to work with bacteria too so, no worries there.  But mycology (fungi) is a different world indeed!  And, not only am I learning more about that world but, I’m keeping my learning skills sharp too.  Okay, that sounds funny but I’ve always been able to be thrown into things that I know nothing about and have been able to excel at them.  This doesn’t happen over night though and it’s important to keep your mind pliable enough all the time that when faced with something new, you know how to learn it.  An invaluable ability in any job, wouldn’t you say?  Particularly in a new career.

In the meantime though, I’m working hard at my job search, learning what I can for my new career, enjoying the bit of free time that’s afforded to me by my current situation, and I’m having loads of fun with my new friends: fungi!