My previous job was working at a fine dining restaurant, and now Monday, I start work as an electrical apprentice with Local 98 South and I’m damn excited about it.
One of the best parts is that I left my job on good terms and always have that as a backup, shit, some regulars are even requesting that I come in to serve their party – it really is like one big dysfunctional family.
But here I am, about to join Local 98, and you know what? I’m going to document every sweaty, confusing, probably-going-to-make-an-ass-of-myself moment of it. Why? Because transformation happens in the trenches, not in the comfortable spaces where we pretend we’ve got our shit together.
Here’s the truth: I’m nervous as hell. There’s this whole culture, this brotherhood/sisterhood thing that I know nothing about. I’m going to mess up. I’m going to say the wrong thing. I’m probably going to use some term that makes the veterans roll their eyes so hard they’ll see their own brain stems.
But that’s exactly why I need to write about it.
See, most people spend their lives avoiding discomfort. They stay in jobs they hate because change is scary. They don’t speak up because silence is safer.
F*ck that.
Growth happens when you’re willing to be the idiot in the room. When you’re willing to admit you don’t know what the hell you’re doing, but you’re going to figure it out anyway. And maybe, just maybe, by documenting this journey, I can help some other nervous newcomer realize they’re not alone in feeling like a complete impostor.
So here’s the deal: I’m going to write about everything. The good, the bad, the moments where I want to crawl under a rock and die from embarrassment. I’ll share what I learn about the trade, about union culture, about myself. No sugar-coating, no BS, just raw reality.
Why a blog instead of video? Because writing forces you to think. To process. To dig deeper than just surface-level observations. Although, I might *try* and do both.
Because why half-ass something when you can whole-ass it?
Starting Monday, I’m stepping into a new world. I have no idea if this blog will resonate with anyone. I don’t know if it’ll last a week or become a 10 year-long chronicle. But I do know one thing: it’s going to be real.
This should be interesting.
Joe DiAndrea 