"Oh, it is excellent to have a giant's strength, but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant." - Shakespeare

Yesterday I turned in my team-member badge and said farewell to the unblinking red eye of Target.

"Why?" you ask, "Why would you give up your job at such a hip, fast, fun and friendly place as Target? It's not like they're Walmart!"

After my first three weeks at the Distribution Center, I started noticing that none of the employees had that those glossy red-schemed "Happy to be here!" faces. Everyone complained about physical injury and how disrespectful the bosses were, and I soon found out first hand. Physically, the work in the DC is grueling. Even so, there is a continual push for higher and higher production numbers -"But you better not submit an ORI, so help me... !". Much of this mentality I can suspect results from the fact that the people in charge haven't done the job, there is simply no respect.

Coming from a farming community, where every one's started from the bottom, and where I've always been respected for a good days work, it really started to get me riled when my Boss would scold me for not being able to push out more 100+ pound cartons in a day when I was coming home every night exhausted and hurt.

So I already thoroughly loathed my job when I was told I wouldn't be able to use any of the equipment for another month because of a slick turn of corporate politics. Without the use of equipment, my opportunities at the DC were limited to the one most backbreaking, for the rest of the peak holiday season.

So, I decided to leave, citing "The uncaring push for production combined with the physical stress of the job and corporate culture." And I'm really OK with this. I'm 18, I'm a young gun, and to work a job that makes me miserable, not to mention could damage me, isn't worth the money. Life is so much more than money, and it's not like I'm out on my buttock. I still live with my parents, who have been so supportive and caring. I won't starve.

What's next? Who knows. Sparrows and Lilies eh?

Grace and peace