Don Khuth Chronicles

It’s a very quiet and gloomy day at the office today. There was an announcement that the plant will be closing down next year. It’s a shock to everyone because it seems like a move that just doesn’t make sense. Why would the company pour money into the plant only to pour it down the drain? When I first started working here, I saw this plant as a place where I could retire from but now it doesn’t seem like that’s possible. The news will give everyone about a year and a half, if we’re lucky to do something about it. It’s sad news to hear but at the same time, I feel as if a heavy burden was lifted off of my shoulders. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still scary to hear that you’ll be out of the job soon but I think that a year and a half is a good length of time to be notified.

I wasn’t sure where my career was going before working here. But after working here for almost three years, I started to see it as a place where I can further my skills and improve myself. There were a few times when I wanted to jump ship because I didn’t quite understand where the company was going. I saw where the company was going but I couldn’t follow where my organizational unit was heading. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to grow professionally in my current role when the next role I could get was a manager position. I don’t think my manager would like it too much if I told him that I wanted his job.

My first few months in the company were great. My manager knew how to manage people and get things done but as the days go by, my manager slowly drifted away. Eventually, he was promoted and another manager took his place. After a year or so, that manager was replaced. The bad thing about getting these new managers was the fact that they were stationed at another location. This made things harder because when I needed to get in touch with them, it had to be done through email. Sometimes I would get a response and other times I would be waiting days, or even months for a reply. These managers have their own subordinate to take care of so my coworkers and I were always second priority. It was bad enough when he basically told me that my job can be done by any random person off the street. Apparently, he’s not here often enough to see the type of work that I do so he doesn’t know what I’m capable of. My first manager knew exactly what I can and can’t do. You can’t manage people that aren’t under the same roof as you are. It’s hard because there’s no visibility. You can’t lead if you can’t see where you’re going.

I’ve been doing the same task every day. Well, not exactly the same task but it does become a bit repetitive. When I first started working in I.T., I assumed that I would fix a problem and would hear about that problem anymore but as it turns out, the same problem keeps occurring. And this isn’t just problems that are caused by the users, these are problems that are caused by other I.T. guys. After a while, my job doesn’t seem as challenging as it once was. I even try to get training for other I.T. task in hopes that it might make things a bit more challenging but even my request for training was shot down. I’ve been applying for training for a couple of years now and I still have heard back as to whether it has been approved or not. Now, it seems like it’s pointless to ask for any more training.

A while back, there was a project that was started to save the company money. This meant that a lot of things had to be cut in order to provide a savings. It’s a weird internal structure that I didn’t quite understand. At the end of the day, the company saving money is the same company who’s doing the charging. So in order to keep me at my site, my job had to be justified. The daily work that I do justifies itself. I don’t know how much they charge for my work but they must be charging a lot and paying me a little.

I like working here because the pay is okay, job is good, the people are great and it’s close to home. There aren’t a lot of people these days who can say what I say about my job. Yes, there are a few people whom I have problems with but that’s a part of almost every job. This plant seems to be big but at the same time everyone knows who the other some is. I could walk around the plant and wave to just about everyone I see. It’s a very laid back environment to be working and I’ve never worked in an environment like this. I highly doubt and can only hope that my next place of employment will be like this. I’ve been told that my two coworkers and I will be relocated but I see this as an opportunity to move on to something bigger and better.

One night while I was driving home I had a little incident with my car. I stopped at a red light and waited for it to turn green. As I stepped on the gas to accelerate I started hearing the sound of metal scraping against the road. I wasn’t sure if it was mine but the noise sounded pretty close. I turned off the music to listen closer and that’s when I noticed that it was my car. I turned on the four way flashers and turn onto a quiet street. I checked underneath the car and saw that the muffler was sitting on the ground.

It was the middle of the night and driving down the street would wake up the neighbours. I drove along very slowly, attempting to make as little noise as possible. I didn’t want to just pull over to the side because there wasn’t any light so I wouldn’t be able to investigate. I drove for a bit until I came to a parking lot. There were light posts around which helped a little. I got out of my car, looked around and that’s when I saw it. My muffler had fallen off because the rubber support mount had broken. There was no way I could drive the car home with the muffler off.

I called around to see if there was anyone could help me. My brother was first on the list because he’s a mechanic and would know what to do but unfortunately, he was out with his girlfriend. Next on the list was my dad. I didn’t want to call him because he’s also a mechanic, the best mechanic I know. When I was growing up, he wanted me to be a mechanic but I didn’t follow in his footsteps. I still remember the look of disappointment on his face when I told him that I wasn’t going to be a mechanic. Nonetheless, he still gives me a hand when I need help with the car. He rubs it in sometimes saying this is what I get for not being a mechanic but at the same time, he wouldn’t be getting all this computer help if I hadn’t gone into computers.

My dad didn’t live far from where I was waiting so he arrived at the scene within a few minutes. He assessed the situation and found a temporary solution. He found a metal coat hanger and hung the muffler back onto its mount. When I started up the car, it was a bit loud and sounded like I had a modified muffler system but I didn’t mind the noise since it meant that I could get home.

The thing with my dad is that I’m very appreciative of him. He has always been there to give me a helping hand. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a “No” from him when I ask for anything. And every time he does anything, whether it’s for me or something else, he does a very good job at it. None of this half ass stuff. I think I get my work ethics from him. When I feel like slacking off, I’m reminded that my dad works hard to get to where he is and that puts me back on track.

Last summer, my dad had to quit his job because of work conditions. My mom was rather upset about it because it meant that they wouldn’t get any income but the way I saw it, that work place was hazardous to his health. The company wasn’t willing to do anything about it so it wasn’t a good company to work for. They lost the best mechanic they had.

He’s been doing the odd jobs here and there with contracting. He’s done some roofing jobs, interior renovations, fixing stuff here and there, just about whatever he can to bring home some money. But it’s now winter and he can’t do those odd jobs anymore. He managed to save up some money from working but his bank account is slowly depleting. The bills are starting to catch up to him and right now is the worst time to be unemployed.

I wish I could get him a job at my work place but the company isn’t in any condition to hire right now. Whenever there’s an opening, I question it to see if he’s qualified but the people in HR are currently giving priority to those who were laid off recently.

It’s time like this that I wish I could help more. I wish life was fairer and hard working people didn’t have to work so hard to bring home an income but as it turns out, life isn’t so fair. Those who work hard are usually at the bottom of the totem pole. Things happen that are beyond your control. Some people do not realize how good they have it right now. I feel guilty and get a little depressed whenever I open my mouth to eat something knowing that my parents may not have the same luxury. It’s times like these that people need to stick together and help each other pull through. No matter what happens, I plan on being there for my dad too.

I think that due to the recent recession, a lot of people’s goals in life were slightly placed on hold. Some people are at dead end jobs that seem like a waste of time. Some people are unemployed and are trying to make ends meet. Everyone seems to be having a hard time doing something these days. I am no exception since I am also having some problems as well.

I’m sure that there are a lot of people who are out of the job right now. My company recently let go about fifty employees. There were news that they were going to lay off some people but some of the people that were let go came to as a shock for me. Some of the people had years of service with the company. I spoke with one employee about a computer problem only to find out that she was let go a few minutes later. It’s pretty quick how things can change.

A lot of students expect to find themselves a good job as soon as they finish post secondary but that’s not always the case. When I graduated from Mohawk in October 2005, I was working as a security guard at the Hamilton Public Library. It took me two years of applying before I landed the job that I’m at now. My patience and persistence certainly paid off in the end.

When I was twenty five years old, I working in security which had nothing to do with what I went to school for. It was a job that was paying my bills and I accepted it. I wasn’t motivated to find a job in I.T because I was already working. I didn’t feel the need to find another job since I already had a job. It wasn’t until I started hanging out with a few guys, whom all were not working that I felt the need to do something about it. Between the ages of twenty five until twenty eight, I must have worked at three different places, four if you include my current job. But I had to go from job to job before landing the good job.

Even thought I have a good job, I still compare myself to others. I’m the one with the good job but I don’t have anything to show for it either. My two younger brothers both have new cars and I’m driving around in a car that’s slowly falling apart. And yes, I feel kind of bad for not having anything nice to show for it but on the other hand, I am saving in a way. Comparing yourself to others doesn’t necessarily have to be bad. Once you’ve realized that they’re doing better, you have to find the motivation to do just as good. If others aren’t motivating you, you have to be a self motivator and get to it.

Right now, it’s hard going to work and attending part time school. It’s hard to get out of work and head to school. The work hour has already made you tired and you want to go home to relax. No one can tell you what to do so you have to tell yourself to get to school and keep going. I’ve always had to rely on myself to do the motivating because I was always doing something that others weren’t. I had to take summer school while others are out having fun. I was staying in and saving money while others are out at the casino gambling their money away. I’m hoping that all of this hard work will pay off in the end. Although I’m already working at a good job, there is always room for improvement. There’s no telling where my degree will take me.

I had to work hard to get where I am today and I’m proud of all the hard work that I’ve done. There are people who got to where they are now because of connection but I’m not too fond of them. They got the easy way out but there’s nothing that you can do to change that. Since I work hard to get here, I have peace of mind knowing that I got to where I am by earning it. I respect people who earn what they have.

To all of my friends who are down right now, I say to you to keep your head up. The storm is over now and the sun’s going to be shining soon. It’s only a matter of time before things start going your way. Rant, whine or complain all you want about how well others are doing but keep in mind that you need to do something about it than just bicker. People will boast about their accomplishment because it’s human nature to brag. I don’t like bragging about my accomplishment but you have to realize that some people do not even know that they’re doing it. You have to try and hold back any anger that you feel towards them and just move on.

It’s that time of year again where the kids are all getting ready to go back to school. I’m sure that the shopping malls are going to swarming with parents and children as they buy school supplies. I remember those days where I would be shopping for school clothes and school supplies. It was something that, sadly I looked forward to. I try not to bother my parents for money but it seems like my younger brothers are in a different mentality.

Money is tight around my parent’s house so I try to help out when I can. My mom told me that my two younger brothers need shoes for the new school year. Their old pairs of shoes are starting to get worn out. I gave money to my mom so that she could take my younger brothers shoe shopping but it turns out that I shouldn’t have done that. I should have taken them shopping myself.

A couple of days ago, I asked my mom if she had a chance to go shopping with my younger brothers. She said that my youngest brother didn’t need shoes this year since he said that his shoes from last year are still good. Instead, my other brother used the money to buy shoes. When my mom told me how much he spent, I started to get a little mad.

My brother thought it was necessary to buy $140 pair of shoes. When I asked him why he spent so much money on shoes, his reply was, “because that’s how much it cost.” That got me even more upset. This kid does not appreciate the value of a dollar. I gave my mom money in hopes of helping with their school supplies. I wasn’t expecting them to waste the whole thing on one pair of shoes. I have to work about two days to make that much money and he blows it all in a matter of minutes.

My youngest brother is more responsible with his money. It’s a little odd to hear that he knows more about money than his older brother but it’s true. A few Christmas ago, I told him that if he saved up for half the cost of an Xbox 360, I would pitch in the other half and get him one for Christmas. Sure enough, he had more than half saved up. I didn’t take his half to buy him the Xbox. I only said that so that he would save up. Ever since then, he has been saving up to buy whatever he wants. Mostly, it’s been video games but as least he knows how to save up for what he wants.

The other brother, unfortunately, does not know how to save up. He has a cell phone which he can’t afford air time on and the only reason why he wanted to buy it was so he could be reached by my mom when he’s out. That’s not a good reason to buy a cell phone. All he uses it for is text messaging any way. That’s just money going down the drain when he could be saving it. He’s planning on going to college next year but he doesn’t have a single penny saved up. He knows how much it’ll cost but he hasn’t started saving up. He plans on finding a summer job before college starts but that plan sounds a little last minute.

I have a feeling that my brothers don’t fully understand things because I didn’t do a good job as a role model. From what I can tell, their behaviour mirrors those of my first and second brother. I wasn’t around the house much because I was either at school or at work. I think that if I spend more time upstairs in the living room instead of being cooped up in my room, I would have played a better role. For that, I am trying to make up now by teaching them a little bit about their finances. I just hope that I can get through to them in time before they throw their lives away.

If I could write a letter to myself in the past, it would contain a lot advice pertaining to life. I’d tell myself to smarten up and work harder in school, make a lot of friends and be less shy. There are things that I would like to change about the younger me but if I changed all of that, would I turn out the way I am now? It’s unlikely because according to Chaos Theory (The Butterfly Effect) a small change in the past will result in a radical change in the future. My letter to my younger self would be as follows:

Dear Young Don,

You are probably surprised to read a letter from the future but trust me, I am who I say I am. Knowing you, or knowing me rather, you were probably somewhat excited to find something like this. I know how much of an imagination you have so this shouldn’t freak you out too much.

I have decided to send this letter back to the year 1992. You should be moving into the new house and your room should be across from the washroom. You sleep in a bunk bed that you share with your younger brothers but your bed on the top bunk. Just so you know, a third sibling is on the way. No, it is not a girl like your aunt will say. She is just teasing you so don’t get your hopes up about getting a little sister. It’s all boys all the way.

Hess St. School is a whole new school for you but you’ll have no problem making friends. It’s a lot different from the previous school because there are a lot more Asian kids in this school so you’ll fit in just fine. You’ll probably get into a little fight with the bratty white kid who thinks he’s better than everyone else but don’t let him scare you. He’s just pretending to be tough.

Your elementary years are probably the years that will shape you for adulthood. You’re not quite a teenager yet but when you are, you will start to become curious about a lot of things. I know that you’re not going to ask your parents about any of it and the internet isn’t around to help you but try and bring up the courage to talk to your parents more. Despite what you might think, they are there to help you through life. They may seem strict at first but that’s because they care about you and they want you to be safe. They will set a curfew to make sure that you are home before the sun goes down. They will tell you not to wear baggy clothing because they do not want you to end up in the wrong crowd. Some of their reasoning may sound stupid but that’s because you do not fully understand things yet. They are not ordering you to do things but instead, they are advising you. Take their advice and do what they say.

One thing that they will want you to concentrate on is education. You’re going to slack off every now and then, especially in high school. Don’t be a slacker and don’t settle for mediocrity. You’re capable of achieving more if you strive for your goal. There will be teachers who will not understand your full potential but you will run into the few that will believe you can do better. Ignore those who doubt you and follow the guidance of those who will guide you to excellence. You will need all the help you can get.

One day, you’ll meet a beautiful girl who will love you with all her heart. Treat her well and love her back. Make sure no tears fall from eyes for any reason. Comfort her in her time of need and support her in every decision that she makes. You will experience some bumpy roads along the way but make sure that you learn from your mistake. Do not give up in times of despair because you can overcome anything so long as you are willing to fight for it. And believe me, there will be fights. Whatever you do, do not run away from her in hopes to ignoring the issue. That will only make matters worse. Stay and talk it over until you come to an understanding.

Thanks to her, you will get off your lazy ass and see what the world has to offer. There’s more to it than a small city in Canada. You will start to see that the world is a big place. Even though Canada offers a mosaic of cultures, you’ll be able to experience them firsthand when you’re out there. Keep and open mind and don’t be afraid to try new things.

Whatever it is that you plan to do in life, make sure that you work hard at it. Don’t take the easy way out and cut corners. Put in all the effort that you’re capable of and make sure that the job gets done right the first time. It will save you the headache down the road.

Last but not least, keep your sense of humour. You’d be surprised what humour can do. You could get you out of some tight situations.

My youngest brother recently graduated from middle school on Monday and will be going to high school in September. He’s the youngest of five boys so he gets spoiled rotten. I even find myself treating him a lot better than the other guys. But he’s getting to that age where he has to stop getting hand out from his older brothers. We give him many things from games to money but eventually he has to learn to get all of that on his own.

By the time I was his age, I was working the odd jobs here and there. I worked on the farm during the summer to earn spending money so I wouldn’t have to ask my parents for allowance. The jobs that I did weren’t hard but they were tedious. I would be up by 5:00am to get to work for 7:00am. I learned the value of hard work during those summers and I was proud that I was earning something on my own. Some of the jobs were piece work where you would get paid by how much you actually work. For example, picking strawberries. The owner of the farm would pay so much per basket so depending on how much you picked, you could earn quite a bit of money.

My youngest brother, Kevin doesn’t work right now. At least I don’t think he’s working. He spends most of his time outside playing sports with his friends or indoors playing Call of Duty on Xbox Live. I tried to teach him the value of a dollar but I failed at it because I was spoiling him too much. A couple of Christmases ago, I told him that I’d help him get an Xbox 360 if he did some chores around the house. If he took out the garbage every week, I would give him $5. I agree that $5/week is a lot for five minutes of work. I’m not sure what I was thinking but I might have to try this again with a lower amount.

Now that he’ll be going into high school, I’ve recommended to him that he starts saving for college now. Kevin’s a good kid and he understands the concept of saving up to buy things but it’s the concept of saving over the long run that he doesn’t quite grasp yet. Usually, he’ll save up for a video game and once he has enough, he’ll go out to the store and buy it. But lately, I’ve been conveying to him that the idea of gaming can be placed on hold when it comes to his education. Of course, he being a gamer made a remark that he could get a job as a game tester. If he’s lucky enough to find a job that will pay him to test games, good for him. But I told him that testing games should be a backup plan to finishing his education.

He has four years of high school and if he starts saving now, he’ll have enough to start post secondary. I’ve been putting a little bit aside for him and Tonee but my saving alone will not be enough to pay for all of his schooling. I’ve been saving for about two years now so Kevin has $2,383.70 allocated to him so by the time he’s done high school, I’ll have enough to help him out with first year’s tuition because after that, he’s on his own.

I’ll continue to hammer the idea of savings into his brain and I hope that he’ll learn to save now and more so in the future. Everyone knows that there will always be a case where you will need cash for emergency but hardly anyone is willing to save up for it. It doesn’t hurt to start saving young because compound interest is your friend.