Source: Peninsula Clarion
I recently attended a local event in which we had some state representatives present a bill that was aimed at securing pension for public workers. At this event, I kept internally cycling all the woes and complaints I have as a teacher. In my mind, no one has it worse than me. Yes, I know, “boo hoo.”
Though I kept my complaints silent, others did not. A public assistance worker stood up and voiced her frustration that her specific profession was not acknowledged in the presentation, and you could feel everyone else tense up, because, of course, don’t we all want to be specifically acknowledged? It can feel as if no one seems to know or acknowledge how hard we have it.
However, in a humbling turn of events, it became very apparent that the weight of working for the public extends far beyond what I was aware of or acknowledged. When you are a public worker who works for and with people, you see the sides of humanity that others get to pretend don’t exist, and that’s a burden.