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Dealing with Setbacks and Moving Forward
Redemption
Posts: 3,749 Community Veteran
I've been feeling really demotivated lately, especially with my volunteering role. Even though I plan to keep going with it, I was hoping to gain some experience on the tills. I got the chance twice before, but I think I was a bit slow, and now they've told me I can’t do tills again because I’m "not suitable." That feels like another setback, and they even asked if I wanted to continue coming in. I’ve asked if I could do other tasks, which they seem okay with, but it’s frustrating because I really wanted that till experience.
I feel like I just needed more practice, considering I’ve only been on the tills twice, and I was being supervised both times. If I had more chances, I could have improved, but they don’t want to give me that opportunity. I can keep doing other tasks, which is fine, but this whole situation is really getting to me because being told I'm unsuitable makes me worry about how this might happen in an actual job. What if I get into a workplace and keep being told I’m not suitable for things?
The thought of being permanently out of work really scares me. I know logically that it’s not likely, but sometimes I feel like it might happen, and that fear has been with me for a long time. I never want to be stuck out of work forever. These setbacks, like being told I can’t do tills, just add to that fear. It makes me feel like I won’t be able to find anything, and sometimes I struggle to have hope. I end up dwelling on setbacks because they just keep happening, and it’s hard not to when they feel so constant.
I might just volunteer somewhere else, but at the same time, I really want to move toward paid work. I feel pushed back by things like this, and while I think they’re being a bit unreasonable since I’m working for free, I also know that I have to take responsibility. It’s not always just other people—it has to be something I need to work on too. That said, it’s not like I was fired or anything. I don’t think you can even get sacked from a volunteering role unless you do something really bad, but it’s still not what I wanted.
Honestly, I find the role a bit boring sometimes, just getting up and going every week. I was hoping they could switch up my tasks, and it sounds like they’re open to that—just not letting me do tills. I just didn’t expect to be talking about another failure or setback again after all the previous ones, but unfortunately, I am. It’s not the worst thing, but it’s still frustrating. That said, I do believe I will move forward soon. I have a few potential options, so hopefully, things start improving.
Even though I go through a lot of these struggles, I’m really grateful for the support here. I know I repeat myself a lot, but I couldn’t appreciate it more. You’ve all been the real ones, giving me ongoing support when I’ve needed it most. True people stick by you during your journey, whether for the whole time or even just part of it, and you all have done that.
Hopefully, even though things haven’t worked out yet, I’ll get to where I want to be soon. You’ve believed in me and been here through the hard times, and when I’ve felt like I didn’t have many people to talk to, you’ve been there even for the heavier topics and everything. When I finally get to where I want to be, I’ll remember who was there for me during the tough times and at the start of everything.
At the end of the day, I know it’s got to happen at some point it’s just a matter of a little more time, maybe a bit of luck, some support, and continuing to push forward. I’m doing everything I can and staying determined.
I feel like I just needed more practice, considering I’ve only been on the tills twice, and I was being supervised both times. If I had more chances, I could have improved, but they don’t want to give me that opportunity. I can keep doing other tasks, which is fine, but this whole situation is really getting to me because being told I'm unsuitable makes me worry about how this might happen in an actual job. What if I get into a workplace and keep being told I’m not suitable for things?
The thought of being permanently out of work really scares me. I know logically that it’s not likely, but sometimes I feel like it might happen, and that fear has been with me for a long time. I never want to be stuck out of work forever. These setbacks, like being told I can’t do tills, just add to that fear. It makes me feel like I won’t be able to find anything, and sometimes I struggle to have hope. I end up dwelling on setbacks because they just keep happening, and it’s hard not to when they feel so constant.
I might just volunteer somewhere else, but at the same time, I really want to move toward paid work. I feel pushed back by things like this, and while I think they’re being a bit unreasonable since I’m working for free, I also know that I have to take responsibility. It’s not always just other people—it has to be something I need to work on too. That said, it’s not like I was fired or anything. I don’t think you can even get sacked from a volunteering role unless you do something really bad, but it’s still not what I wanted.
Honestly, I find the role a bit boring sometimes, just getting up and going every week. I was hoping they could switch up my tasks, and it sounds like they’re open to that—just not letting me do tills. I just didn’t expect to be talking about another failure or setback again after all the previous ones, but unfortunately, I am. It’s not the worst thing, but it’s still frustrating. That said, I do believe I will move forward soon. I have a few potential options, so hopefully, things start improving.
Even though I go through a lot of these struggles, I’m really grateful for the support here. I know I repeat myself a lot, but I couldn’t appreciate it more. You’ve all been the real ones, giving me ongoing support when I’ve needed it most. True people stick by you during your journey, whether for the whole time or even just part of it, and you all have done that.
Hopefully, even though things haven’t worked out yet, I’ll get to where I want to be soon. You’ve believed in me and been here through the hard times, and when I’ve felt like I didn’t have many people to talk to, you’ve been there even for the heavier topics and everything. When I finally get to where I want to be, I’ll remember who was there for me during the tough times and at the start of everything.
At the end of the day, I know it’s got to happen at some point it’s just a matter of a little more time, maybe a bit of luck, some support, and continuing to push forward. I’m doing everything I can and staying determined.
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Comments
that sounds really tough, and i completely understand why you’d be feeling frustrated and disheartened by it. you put in the effort, wanted to improve, and weren’t really given a fair chance to do so. it makes sense that this would bring up bigger worries about work in general, but i just want to remind you that this setback doesn’t define your abilities or future!
you’re absolutely right that with more practice, you could have improved on the tills. a lot of skills take time to develop, and it sucks that they didn’t give you that chance, but the fact that they’re still happy for you to do other tasks shows that they still value you being there. it’s frustrating when things don’t go as planned, especially when you’re already trying so hard, but this doesn’t mean you won’t find success elsewhere - whether in another volunteering role or in paid work.
i know these setbacks feel constant, and i can only imagine how exhausting that must be, but setbacks don’t mean failure. they’re frustrating, yes, but they don’t stop you from moving forward. the fact that you’re already thinking about next steps, whether staying there, volunteering elsewhere, or moving toward paid work, shows that you’re not giving up, even when it’s hard. that determination will take you far.
i really believe that you’ll find the right opportunity. it might not always happen in the way you expect, but your persistence will pay off. you’re doing everything you can, and even though it might not feel like it right now, that effort will lead to something better. no matter what happens, we’ll always be here to support you, and we know you’ve got what it takes to push through this and get to where you want to be!
so so proud of you
Hey @shannon_164 I honestly appreciate your message so much, it really means a lot, especially your PMs, telling me you're proud of me, and all the encouragement and positivity you bring. You're such a genuinely lovely person and a really, really nice young lady, and I can't tell you how much that means. I didn’t even think I needed to ask if I could carry on, I just got on with other stuff, but I guess if I was that bad, they would’ve just turned me away. Still, hearing that from you really helps, and I appreciate it a lot. Thanks for always being so kind and supportive, it definitely doesn’t go unnoticed, and I just want you to know how much I appreciate you ❤️