I consider that my first job was when I was 1️⃣6️⃣ years old, when I did an internship to graduate from high school. Since I was in a commercial school, the last evaluation period of the last year of study consisted of one month in a company, as an intern, to put into practice what we had seen on campus. How did it go? What did I learn? Please come with me.

I was assigned to the government institution in charge of public mail,✉️ which was many years old. It was located in the very center of the city. There I was placed under the supervision of one of the most senior ladies, and I no longer remember her name. In fact, she was waiting for her retirement in that very year. My job was to review some of the forms that were used for shipments. And guess what? The lady had a lot of accumulated spreadsheets to review and the intern would pay the piper.😒

The work was simple, repetitive and somewhat monotonous. Also, once I was up to date, it allowed me to take a walk around the facilities to talk to some co-workers, learn about other facets of the institution and even attend to the public. But something relevant was what I learned about the work environment.

⛔️The Mrs. who supervised my work said few good things about others. Several times she would arrive late and leave early. It seems that she had entered that stage of disinterest that some people fall into when they are looking forward to retirement and imagine themselves in other places. I clarify: someone, someone, not all do it like that. And since one generally gets back what one gives to others, the other people in the institution could tell me very little about her.

✅However, at the ticket office, serving the public, there was a lady almost her own age and time of work. She radiated happiness, friendliness and that very appealing maternal aspect - it makes perfect sense that she is serving the public! She sought to teach me about her work in the afternoons, when there were fewer tasks, and even allowed me to attend to the public on occasion. It was not part of my job, nor could I attach it to my report. But I remember it fondly.

This job taught me the value of fostering a good work environment. Although, as a young and new person, I was able to cope with my supervisor's actions and words, I admit that it was difficult to achieve harmony in the office that we shared with others when she was there. Sometimes I just didn't want to listen to her judgments about some of them. How do you get through office hours when you harbor animosity toward others in the office? One is the biggest loser when we don't do our part to get along with others.

On the contrary, when we are kind, cordial and work as a team we can enjoy the hours within those four walls. No one had an unfavorable comment about the lady at the ticket counter. Everyone said she was caring, diligent, hardworking, and so much more. Everyone felt at ease in her presence. And also, the others in the office had funny moments with each other when my supervisor was not there. I will tell you one of them, which I think hurt my mind, so I hope it hurts yours too: