Help My Friend Keep Her Dream Job

Did you ever have a dream job when you were growing up?  Did you want to be an astronaut, firefighter, or police officer?  Maybe even now, you secretly wish that you were doing something more interesting, more challenging, or more satisfying than your day job?

I suspect that most people are like this.  They have some idea of what their Dream Job is, but for one reason or another, they’re doing something else — and although I know many people still dreaming about their Dream Job, my friend Lauren is not among them.

That’s because Lauren is working her Dream Job.  Often times she’s admitted that she catches herself pinching herself at work wondering “Is this really real?”  Hearing her talk about her job is uplifting, because when you witness her passion for the work she’s doing it becomes contageous.

Unfortunately, due to these troublesome economic times, cuts are being made and positions are being eliminated.  It’s probable that Lauren will lose her Dream Job.

When she first told me, I didn’t do much other than think “Well that sucks.”  In a way, I expected her to think the same thing and then simply wait for the axe to fall.

Turns out she’d rather fight to keep her position.  She created an online petition with a goal of 1000 signatures.  When I saw her message in my Inbox, I immediately signed the online petition — but I wanted to do more.

I realize that maybe the petition won’t change anything.  Even if the goal of 1000 signatures is reached, she may still lose her job.  She realizes this too, but is determined to go down fighting for what she loves.

If you support the idea that people should be entitled to jobs they enjoy, then I encourage you to sign the petition.  It will take 5 minutes of your time.

NOTE:  If you’re worried about spam, remember to uncheck all the boxes when completing the second page of the petition.  You’ll receive one confirmation email thanking you for “signing up.”  Click the Unsubscribe link, then click the “No, unsuscribe me from ALL” button (the wording tries to trick you into only unsubscribing from this single petition’s updates.)

Lauren’s original email is below:

Please help me keep my job!!

My dear friends and family,

You may not have heard – my school district is planning to eliminate six media specialists this year, and due to my low seniority, I would certainly be one of those six. It is heartbreaking for me because I love being a media specialist and truly adore and care for each student and staff member at my school.

This proposal to cut media specialists is ludicrous! Especially when we know technology and reading are such integral parts of student learning. Even after we’ve seen numerous research studies stating that a full-time media specialist has tremendous positive effects on student learning and achievement – this cut is still under consideration.

Please take a moment to sign this online petition discouraging the Troy School District from cutting media specialist positions. It only takes a minute, and it would mean the world to me!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/troy-school-district-media-petition

Thank you,
Lauren

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8 Responses to “Help My Friend Keep Her Dream Job”

#1 Lauren on 24, Apr, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Thank you Shaun! You are amazing!!!

#2 Shaun Boyd on 24, Apr, 2009 at 7:41 pm

My pleasure! And no you are!

#3 Mark Foo | TheBigDreamer.com on 30, Apr, 2009 at 4:39 pm

Signed! All the best to your friend, Lauren. It’s great to have a friend like you Shaun. 🙂

Cheers~

Mark

#4 twenty-six on 04, May, 2009 at 6:49 am

# 666:3:46 am PDT, May 4, Twenty Six, Malaysia

Done! best of luck.

#5 nodeen on 05, May, 2009 at 6:32 am

Good luck for Lauren :). And for Shaun, reading your posting is remind me of one of Celine Dion’s song : The Power Of Dream. Keep on dreaming guys,bcoz thats what keep you alive 🙂

#6 FlatPepsi on 09, May, 2009 at 9:23 pm

While this sounds like a good idea, I gaurentee that attempting this is either a Career Limiting Move, or a Career Altering Move. (read: public job suicide)

I’ve seen this attempted, and it only comes off as someone attempting to be a control freak, trying to run a business like a popularity contest. Especially in a school – union regulations trump everything. The net result is annoying the people in charge.

I hope I’m wrong for your friend’s sake. Do post updates.

#7 Deano on 23, Jun, 2009 at 1:58 pm

Mmmm… The delicious smell of pre-destined failure.

Instead of your friend trying to save her dream job, she should be getting into bed, ready for the next dream. Standing still is the surest course to hating life there is. Either she’ll lose her job, and realize that there are more dreams than can be accomplished in a lifetime, or she won’t – and the latter course just makes the whole effort seem silly (or, as flatpepsi pointed out, possibly career-damaging).

Just get over it!

#8 Laura on 03, Jul, 2009 at 4:48 pm

Hi Shaun,

I noticed you haven’t been updating much lately, and I just wanted to say I hope you’re all right. I’ve greatly enjoyed the posts you’ve made so far and was very sorry to hear about Cassie’s medical problems. I wish you both the best of luck, as well as my prayers, should you want them. Hang in there!

Laura

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