A hot-take on first responders and COVID-19

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Let me just start off by saying I do respect what first responders are doing to combat COVID-19. My opinion is, as someone who lost their job due to Coronavirus, I think it is unfair of first responders to be upset about working during this time.

Granted, I am a waitress, the world doesn’t need my job, people would survive without going out to eat. I understand this. I am not surprised my restaurant got let go for the time being. That said, I did not sign up to be a first responder with my job.

I know many girls who I went to high school with that recently graduated with a nursing major. The girls who were so proud and excited to get a job in nursing and I was happy for them to be working in a hospital after all their hard work. These same girls are now complaining of having to work with the ill, being tired, and “not having weekends to myself” as one stated.

By signing up to be a nurse, a police officer, a paramedic, these people had to understand they would have to deal with not-so-glamorous working conditions. One fellow high school graduate stated “I do have to say, when I always dreamed of being a nurse, I definitely didn’t picture myself having to work six days in a row every week. I miss having a day to be alone.”

As someone who lost their job during this time, there’s nothing I want more than to be working six days a week. I miss making money. I filed for unemployment, I’ve been grabbing groceries for neighbors to make $10, I had to ask to pay my bills late, I had to cut back on my spending to make sure I had enough money to feed my pets.

I have not had a job for 21 days and I can’t imagine how hard it’s going to be in the months following. Because of this, I find it silly that my friends who are police officers are mad about working long shifts and making extra money on overtime. Upset about making more money than normal? I wish I had that problem.

One worker at Ralph’s grocery store, Amanda McCormick said, “We had two cashiers, one deli worker, six courtesy clerks, and two stockers call out today. I normally just bag groceries, but I had to work in the deli and bake 160 cookies because the bakery girl broke down crying. The guy waiting for the delivery truck was crying between loads. We’re all exhausted here but everyone wants to thank nurses and not the people keeping toilet paper and water on the shelves for them.”

And yes, please, I do understand that I don’t have job security, my job isn’t great. I’m not upset about losing my job, I’m upset that people who are working, are taking it for granted and are complaining while my coworkers and I are trying to make ends meet.

Doctors sign oaths, officers are sworn in, when the world is in need, first responders are expected to come forward, not sigh and protest.

This is for everyone out there who still has a job, be sympathetic. Thank you to the medical and law staff who wake up each day and do what it best for the community. I feel for your hectic shifts and short-staffed facilities.

People’s true colors are coming out with the difference in the people who wanted to job to make the world a better place and the people who wanted to job for the title and not the responsibility.

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