I Want to Be a Multi-Media Artist Not Just a Low Wage Earner

by Melissa

(VA)

Since graduating with my BFA in May 2009 I have been looking for decent employment. I have had 5 low paying jobs to get by that didn’t work out for various reasons (1. being a victim of sexual harassment) and then I found a job that had nothing to do with what I love to do – I became a used car salesperson! Unbelievable! It paid more than what I had been receiving previously. I worked hard and struggled with putting my artmaking and photography on hold.

My goal was to work there until I could save some $$ to start my own studio business. Well after 44 hours a week for 3 months to that job I was recently fired. It was not for misconduct; there was an agenda to get me fired without warning – it was political.

I was told on many occasions that I was doing an amazing job there. “It just isn’t working out” they said. A week before I was asked to submit a biography of myself to add to their website with long term employees…that was a big deal and reflected that they wanted me there for a long time.

I just had my fact-finding interview on Friday and I am pretty confident I will receive benefits (but they aren’t much because I had not worked much in the past few quarters). I came to the realization that I shouldn’t wait to start my own business rather take this opportunity to research and apply for loans. My plan of action, before, was to save money to be in a better position to start a business. Not anymore.

I have dreams of running my own business and answering only to myself. I want to make something beautiful out of all of my misfortunes – because despite it all I have learned something from every crappy job I have had. My mistake when I graduated was to take anything I could get because I needed $. I know now that is incredibly unhealthy and only ends up hurting your marketability later. This is a really hard time to find a job and with my niche it is even harder – so I am on a mission to start my own business RIGHT NOW!