Homework #2

In modern day society, it is so hard to please everyone. Kathryn Stockett's novel "The Help" gives a perfect example of not being able to live up to everyone's expectations through her two characters Miss Skeeter and her mother Mrs. Phelan. Mrs. Phelan had plans for her daughter: She wanted her daughter to marry young and get a simple job as a secretary or something simpler. She also wanted her daughter to try her hardest to be beautiful by not wearing high heals due to her height and by brushing her hair constantly because of how frizzy it was. Miss Skeeter had other plans. Eugenia wanted to go to college, become a writer, and make something of herself. She graduated from college and applied for many writing jobs as journalists. Her mother was very disappointed at her daughters lack of enthusiasm about getting married or the fact that her daughter doesn't mind dressing on the boyish side. Miss Skeeter's mother constantly brings her down and heckles her to find a man instead of trying to become a writer. Mrs. Phelan is very doubtful of her daughters abilities and tries to make her into a different person. She wants her daughter to live inside what the norm was for women.

In my own life, I have disappointed a few people. Fortunately, my family is very relaxed and are very proud of me no matter what I do, but I have upset a former employer of mine. If you have ever been up to York, Maine, then you must know about the notorious "Goldenrod" restaurant and if not then you are lucky. The Goldenrod is famous for essentially "slave labor on teenagers". It's a very conservative candy store/soda fountain. All the employees wore the same outfits, wore their hair the same way and behaved the exact same way and if an employee didn't follow any rules, or even had the slightest hair out of place, the owner would yell, and I mean YELL, at the employee. It was a very strict atmosphere that I had the "pleasure" of working for. I worked there my junior year of high school. I, personally, am not a conservative or a conservative looking person. For 8 years of my life, I had bright purple hair. I have a few tattoos, piercings and am very open about my opinion. The Goldenrod was definitely not the type of place a person like me was expected to fit into, but I did it anyway because money is money and at the age of 17 I should have had a job. I wore their gross mint green shirt and navy blue waist skirt as well as wear my choppy hair in a tight bun. Each day, I somehow managed to disappoint my employer with the dress code. I either had a strand of hair out of the bun, my shirt wasn't tucked in correctly, or my shoes had a noticeable brand name on them. Even my behavior wasn't acceptable. Of course I tried my hardest to live up to their expectations, but every day I seemed to be doing something wrong. From making a suggestion to the way I counted change. Every day I worked there was a disappointment until finally in the summer before my senior year, I kissed the Goldenrod goodbye and found a job that didn't make me feel like a loser. I will never forget my work experience at the Goldenrod though. On the plus side, every job I'll have will be easier than the Goldenrod.