"How I wish it were hypothetical… // Weekend-Engagement: WEEK 235

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^@Merlysmont

In this weekend-Engagement week #235, like every week, there are many interesting questions I would like to answer. However, since we are only asked to answer one question per week, this time I chose the following:

"Imagine you were fired from your job today meaning you'd have no income from tomorrow onwards. Does it affect you emotionally and mentally, how do you handle it, what steps do you take and why? "
^{weekend-Engagement week #235}

This question caught my attention the most, and unfortunately, I don't need to imagine the scenario of being suddenly fired as this happened to me a few weeks ago. So instead of presenting it as a hypothetical case, I will tell you what I have been doing since my dismissal, being left without income and facing all the challenges that come with being unemployed.

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^{This is a photo with my former coworkers}

I am 19 years old and have had more than 5 jobs, being fired in two of them and resigning in the other three. My last job was at a local bakery and pizzeria, where I worked as a sales advisor and waitress. I was there for just over 4 months and was fired without any explanation, which took me by surprise. Since then, it has been almost a month since my dismissal, and I have not actively looked for another job during this holiday season, aware of labor exhaustion and how companies take advantage of their employees in these times.

I remember the first thing I did was say goodbye to my colleagues, hand over my uniform to a supervisor, and talk to human resources about my social benefits as I didn't want to leave without any compensation. They asked me to wait for my settlement payment to be deposited that same week, but it hasn't happened to date. I have been collecting payment receipts and other necessary documents to file a complaint with the Ministry of Popular Power for Social Protection of Labor in my country to expedite the process and enforce my labor rights.

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^{These are photos I took while waiting to be seen at the Ministry of Labor.}

Regarding the above, I am still waiting for a response and doing everything possible to conclude the process soon. My main goal is to receive payment for the services I provided.

Furthermore, I have been looking for other ways to generate income to cover my personal expenses, such as bus fares, university supplies, snacks, and outings with friends. Although my basic needs are still covered by my family, I am looking for money for other less essential expenses.

I have been selling small items at the university, such as paper, pens, and snacks, and I have also been helping other students with their academic tasks in exchange for money or materials. This has helped me cover those mentioned expenses, although at times, I still have to rely on my family to buy certain things, so I am looking for more ways to generate income and not depend on others.


	^{These photos are from my mom's birthday, from a day doing chores with my friends, and from processing my bank card. Things I wouldn't have done if I had been working.}

I use my free time to focus on my university studies, which were neglected during my job, and to exercise, spend time with my family, watch pending series and movies, and publish more content on my Hive blog.

I am not sure if I will allow my period without employment to extend beyond December. If I manage to generate my own income, I prefer that option to fulfilling other people's schedules and demands. Otherwise, I will have to look for a job again to cover my expenses. It all depends on what happens in the coming weeks.

And already on the mental and emotional side, thanks to this situation, I can say that it depends on the day and the perspective from which I look at it. This is because sometimes I feel bad since I cannot fully cover and take care of my personal matters as I would like, and I also wonder a lot about what I did to get fired without prior notice. But I have also come to feel better because I have more time for myself and for my own things, and I feel more free with one less commitment on my list of responsibilities, thus having a more open schedule.

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^{All the photographs in this post are my property, taken with my Iphone XR phone and the cover was edited on the BeFunky website}