I have been offered a job at Fort Henry!

[jaala]

(Job description here. Fort Henry website here.)

They need to hear back by Monday. At this point, I'm leaning towards taking it.

Pros:
-I would make a fair sum of money working all summer. This money could be put towards something like, say, a term abroad later.
-I've heard from various people that it's a great experience. It says something that they have such intense competition for the positions.
-It would look great on a resume.
-Regular job hours would keep me (force me to be?) disciplined through the summer.
-My fife playing skills and co-ordination would be improved. I also might get to play recorder when acting in the role of an officer's wife.
-I get to wear a historical uniform!
-I've been told that the Fort Henry crowd is quite social, so I'd have some company in the summer.
-I will be here for much of the summer because I'm taking flute lessons--might as well make it the entire time.
-I would occupy my room (for which I'm paying rent) for the summer, and I'd get used to living in a house (taking out garbage, cooking, cleaning, etc.) before the school year began.
-I could take a correspondence or evening course if I thought I'd have the time. German is being offered!

Cons:
-I would have very little time for anything else. The job lasts right through to Labour Day. Special requests for time off are taken, but only up to two days.

-I couldn't participate in family trips to visit relatives, at least not ones of substantial length. My great-aunt and uncle in Chicago are not long for this world.

-I wouldn't get to participate in the Wolf Project and a result would have to apply for re-admission next year.

-My time at any OGW event would be restricted.
-A (near-future) housemate told me that her friend who worked there "grew as a person but wouldn't do it again". I was warned at the interview that the experience is physically and emotionally gruelling. We're trained "according to the methods of the Canadian military in the 1860s".
-I have a tendency to be late which would probably be severely punished.
-I have to wear a wool historical uniform in the sun. ("We provide sunscreen," they said at the interview.)
-I'd have to turn down most social opportunities in favour of practicing.
-I couldn't take any day courses.

Comments

[michaelsjournal.livejournal.com]

Wool isn't that bad in the sun... it breathes really well, so in some ways, I actually think it'd be better than heavy cotton... but I could be wrong?

DOn't you want to grow as a person?

Good luck with the decision.

[echomyst.livejournal.com]

CONGRATS!!! Great jobs are hard to come by in Kingston, I hear. You should keep your evenings free to give yourself some "relax" time. It's summer, after all, and you'll want to have a break before the regular school yr starts again.

[turtleturtle.livejournal.com]

Go for it!
It's only for the summer, right?

[serod.livejournal.com]

Hey, you don't know me, but I found this through a post you made in the queens community. My ex-girlfriend worked at Fort Henry for three summers and she found it a gruelling experience. You'll have some solid experience on your resume when you're done, but everything people have mentioned about hard work, heat, etc. is true. She also said some of the people can be real jackasses, but that is true of any workplace. Hope this helps.

[jaala]

True. If I take the job, I should probably lay off the summer coursework.

[jaala]

It is for the summer, but by "summer" I mean May to September... which is a fair length of time.

[jaala]

Thanks. I'll take that into consideration.