Mirror Magazine

 

That big break
By Ishani Ranasinghe
After A/Ls and wondering what to do? It is indeed a time when conflicting choices are staring in your face. This is the time when paths may diverge. Many straightaway head to universities abroad, many take time off from studying to chase the A/L blues away, and some of us decide to do something productive and highly beneficial like starting work.

Working for the first time is a whole new experience. It's a time when we are really breaking free from home and striving to be independent. It also means actually getting into society.

For most of us, working is a way of showing that we are finally adults and ready to take on the world. For many of us this is the first time we are spending so much time away from home and are allowed to make our own decisions, away from the watchful eyes of our parents.

With this new freedom comes both reward and risk. The reward of being able to assert one's independence is tempered by the fear of and the risk of making huge mistakes.

Many or almost all young working adults head out to the society, head held high, confident that they can handle whatever is thrown at them, though maybe also aware of what could go wrong. Their parents, even though they have confidence in their offspring are nevertheless worried about how they will cope with the stresses of working life and handle their freedom too.

So, what is this 'freedom' like for the young adults and what does going to work really mean to them. The Mirror Magazine found out:

Dilini (19): -When I first started working right after my A/Ls, I was obviously thrilled. It's really great to do something and actually get paid for it as well.

Nilanthi (19): - Working is a whole new experience altogether. In school we basically hang out with people who are like-minded and we tend to avoid people who are different from us. But once you start working, it is a whole new situation altogether. We have to get along with people who are very different from us.

Sonali (19):-The first few days I had to call my mother every time I had to go out, and also when I got back to work. But then, after a while that wasn't necessary. I guess they are just worried about us.

Minoli (19): Working is somehow different and fun. You meet such diverse groups of people that you start to wonder whether all these years you had been living under a stone.

Hasini (19): Starting work was both exciting and frightening. Here you are, away from everything that is familiar to you. Not only are you concerned about first impressions, but you also have to cope up with all the responsibilities that come your way.

Shey (19): - Working was indeed a whole new and wonderful experience. But what I really like about it is the fact that I get paid. I am finally able to buy my family gifts from the money I earned by myself and not from the pocket money I get. I am really proud of that.

Exciting and fun it may be for the young adults, but what is it like for the parents? Were they anxious and worried?

Mrs. V. Perera : -It's really nice to see your child all grown up and heading out to contribute in society, but you do tend to worry about them. When my daughter started working, I was a bit worried because she had to travel by bus and at times, she gets late to come home. But I guess you do have to let your children grow up, make their own mistakes and learn from them.

Mrs. L. Seneviratne (name has been changed): - I guess for me it wasn't that bad because it was my son. I mean, I worried but then you know how boys are, he was always very independent so it wasn't very different.

Mrs. N. Gunaratne:- I always thought that working is the best way for a young adult to really see society. They always go around thinking that they are grown up and that they can handle anything but this is the time they really understand what life is about.

Mrs. P. Weerasinghe: (name has been changed): - When my daughter started working, naturally I was worried. But then I was also glad. I didn't want her to stay at home and do nothing. That is such a waste of time. So when she started working, I was happy and proud of her and trusted her to make all the right choices.

Mrs. G. Fernando:- Well, everyone has to start working at some point, so when it was my son's turn, I was at first reluctant because I thought he might ignore his studies. But I must say, I was amazed by how he managed to handle both his studies and work.

I feel that now he is more responsible than he was before.

Working is a wonderful experience, but one that needs to be handled with enthusiasm and dedication, maturity and responsibility. No doubt, we all make mistakes along the way, but it's how we deal with them that matters.

Tips for your new job
By Barbara Mulligan
Make a good first impression. Your first day will form the basis of what many of your co-workers think about you.

Come into the work environment with an open mind.

Be humble. You may have good grades and three internships under your belt, but so do your co-workers and many of them have years of experience, too.

Handle your freedom. No one is going to stand over you with a time clock. People do tend to notice, however, if you are tardy, if you leave early, or if you take long lunches.

Learn as much as possible early on the job. Take advantage of courses or workshops offered or financed by your employer.

Watch and learn to handle office politics by watching your co-workers.

Be polite. Follow the basic rules of conduct, courtesy, and appreciation. Don't forget to thank coworkers who help you.


Dear Coz

Torn between two
Dear Coz,
I'm a Buddhist girl. I have a boyfriend who is studying abroad and he is a Christian. One of his best friends also loves me very much and I accepted his love. I didn't have much of a physical relationship with my boyfriend, though our affair has been going on for a long time. But his friend is quite the opposite. My boyfriend doesn't know of this but I think it will be ok with him. I can't choose between the two. Last time I asked you, you told me "give yourself time to get to know both guys, who is it that you can be yourself with and you can't do without?" That's true, but this is Sri Lanka. I can't hang around two guys.

Torn between two hearts

Dear Torn between two hearts,
Face reality. You're already hanging around two guys. Just because one guy is abroad, it doesn't change the facts. I'm sorry you misunderstood. What I meant was to break things off for sometime and get to know both guys as friends - not lovers. Think about it. Who are you most compatible with? Whose ideals and goals are on par with yours? Make up your mind soon. Whether one guy knows of the other, I don't know, but they're not going to share you forever. You just might end up losing them both. Ever thought of that?

Let him wait

Dear G.G, (Letter withheld on request)
Get your priorities straight. Do you want to pursue this guy or your studies? You parents have plans for you. So will they approve of this guy? These are just a couple of things you'll have to consider before you rush headlong into this. You have a high standing in school. Keep up the good work. Don't ruin everything you've worked so hard to achieve. Talk to this guy as a friend. If he's still interested in you, ask him to wait. If he loves you he will.

Like a sister
Dear Coz,
I'm a guy of 30 from Colombo. There's a friend of mine, a girl whom I'm very close to. She's more like a sister to me than a friend. But recently, I realised that I've fallen in love with her. My problem is how to tell her the way I feel about her. We're really close and I'm afraid that if I ask her out, she'll misunderstand. I can take rejection, but I can't afford to lose a good friend who really cares about me. Coz, please help me express my feelings for her without losing our friendship.
Confused Loverboy

Dear Confused Loverboy,
Say you have something important to say, but whatever the outcome you don't want it to affect your friendship. Make sure she understands that. As in all things, there's no guarantee how she'll respond. It's a risk but then nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Sam and Kate to wait
Mum knows best and Mrs Winslet reckons that her daughter is in no hurry to wed her latest beau

According to rumour, Kate Winslet wept with joy when American Beauty director Sam Mendes dropped to his knees and asked her to marry him.

Sam was supposed to have cemented the gesture with a diamond and ruby ring but, as Kate's mum Sally reveals, wedding bells are some way off yet.

"It's not true," she says. "Kate would've told us. She hasn't even got a ring."

And Kate's dad Roger agrees: "If she was getting married we would have been the first to know and she hasn't said anything to us."

Despite the marriage denials, the Winslets - who live in Reading, Berkshire, where Kate was brought up - still give their daughter's latest boyfriend the family seal of approval.

"Sam's a lovely man," continues Sally.

"We have get-togethers and we met his family.

"Kate and Sam are very happy just going along as they are. They are taking their time, getting to know each other and enjoying each other's company."

The last few years have been a roller-coaster ride for Kate, 26, so it's no surprise she's not rushing down the aisle again.

In 1998 she married assistant film director Jim Threapleton, just a year after they met on the filmset of Hideous Kinky, and in October 2000 she gave birth to their daughter Mia. However, Kate and Jim separated within a year.

They now share custody of Mia and were divorced last December.


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