Grind how you Grind

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To my Polynesian Sisters ( and brothers),

More often than not, I see a lot of eye rolling when people hear about where I am employed and where I have previously been employed.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Lydia, 19, currently residing in Sydney Australia and I am employed in Serviced Apartments , apart of an organisation recognised internationally. My previous employment was in the Employment Services industry, behind a desk working a 9am - 5pm. Not once as a teenager did I know that I would excel in ""office jobs", but it was something that just happened over time. Just like everyone else, I had and still have my fair share of early morning wake ups, long ass train rides, arriving home at ridiculous hours and yes, a fair share of assholes in the workplace.

But for some reason, the fact that I did not wear a high visi vest or pick and pack boxes, automatically allowed those who did, to look down on me. I wore ballet flats and heels instead of safety boots and so I was low key discriminated against. I held a hand bag and not a duffle bag or cooler bag and so the assumptions that I had it "easy ", rolled in one after the other. The most disappointing part of all of this, is its my own people who belittle me. My own Samoan community who assume that my life is all sunshine and rainbows because I "sit" behind a computer screen. Ladies and gentlemen, I kindly advise you that IT IS FOOKING IS NOT. Although a lot of my brothers and sisters are in a workplace where physical strain is of the norm, is does not mean that all other employment that is NOT a warehouse/factory, isn't. Some of my sisters will understand that working these white collar jobs tend to have a very big and negative impact on the mind which eventually lead to physical strain. Although the business day comes to an end, the mind is constantly stressed over paper work that is due, meeting weekly, monthly and yearly targets, ensuring client and guest details are up to date and what not.

I get it, being Polynesian, the faalavelave's come at you from left right and centre and so the quick fix is the factory and warehouse jobs. Mum and Dad are already struggling as it is with all the church things, on top of our own financial struggle. It has also become stereotypical for the Polynesian community to end up in the factory or warehouse which is NOT a bad thing, but please don't belittle those who aren't. Understand that the effort that goes and went into your high schools studies, the late night essays, the early morning bus rides and constant sacrifices; all play a role in determining what your future looks like.

I did my fair share of catching the 7am bus to study in the school library, staying back late after school for extra help, picking up extra session with teacher, visiting the library on the weekend, all for this very moment. I do not regret rejecting blue collar work for white collar work. Grind the way you grind, and I will continue to do the same. If you think otherwise, then shove that opinion up your...sleeve.



cya x

For more blogs, follow the links below

http://lydiarees11.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/oh-hey-there-2018.html

https://lydiarees11.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-new-year-welcomes-us-i-am-more-than.html
Flying into 2017

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