Hello, fellow nerds! It's me again, the biggest nerd in Bakersfield. Honestly, not many people read this, but I mostly write for myself, so bear with me! LOL! I start my new job this Monday, the 12th, and I'm hoping it goes better than my experience at Sevita California Mentor. I have my doubts, though. It seems like I’m always going to be treated poorly, no matter where I am. It's frustrating because I consider myself a good person, but it feels like nowadays, being good means being disliked, while being bad gets you popularity. It’s a sad realization. I recently had an E.D.D. hearing regarding my unemployment claim against Sevita California Mentor. Not only did they want me fired, but they also wish to deny my unemployment benefits! It feels incredibly unfair, especially since I did a lot for that company. I was let go over a minor issue—leaving a client unbuckled in a shower chair during a heated staff debate—when nothing actually happened! No one was injured, and I don’t understand why they would fire someone when no harm was done. But this seems to be the fate of “The Chosen”: always facing criticism. If you go even one mile over the speed limit, the police will be on high alert. If you take up a bit too much space at Starbucks, the staff will ask you to move. And even when you’re just enjoying a video game, people may feel entitled to criticize you for not “using your intelligence” to pursue a more traditional career. It feels like I’m being pushed to stay indoors, and everything I do is wrong! And this negative treatment doesn’t just come from strangers; it starts with family! There’s often a sense of displeasure from them as well, which can lead to low self-esteem and struggles in personal relationships, like finding a girlfriend or having a fulfilling sex life. I can’t help but think this is somewhat similar to how Jesus might have felt during his time on Earth. Good people have always been disliked, and sadly, that hasn’t changed in the 21st century. On a more positive note, I am excited to start my new part-time job! Although it's not full-time, it’s better than nothing—especially since I owe E.D.D. $1,805 due to the judge’s ruling during my hearing. I need to get to work paying that back; otherwise, I won't be able to receive E.D.D. benefits again. I also received a call from E.D.D. stating that I was overpaid these past few months, so I had to fax over my first and last pay stubs from Sevita. Unfortunately, it looks like I'll owe money due to those overpayments as well. So, right now, I need to find a job ASAP! The good news is that my application for a state-certified medical assisting position has progressed to the interview stage! This is an exciting opportunity as working for the state would provide a higher salary for medical assistants. If I get hired for the state job at the prison, I will likely leave my part-time job at the group home. It feels like there's a lot ahead of me, and I’m eager to catch up on everything. Fingers crossed that I get there! Anyways! Mahalo!