The Job Interview

She sat in her chair fidgeting. She sized up the room and saw the men looking poised and confident. She wondered why she was there. She had done her research and knew that there had never been a woman hired for the position she was there to interview for. Thoughts of doubt flooded her mind. It was pointless. Its not that she wasn't qualified. Qualification was one thing that she wasn't lacking. Years of putting in her dues had paid off in that regard. This was a man's world. Although she had found her place, it was a place that those men were comfortable with. This was different. She was infringing on boundaries that had been long established. She felt their eyes on her. She saw the contempt. As she thought of getting up and leaving...going back to the comfort of the established position, again came that question. "What am I doing here?".

   As she sat there pondering that question, she thought back to earlier that morning. In her room she was painstakingly going through her clothes trying to pick out an outfit. She wanted something that would make her feel confident in her skin, but she was mindful about it being "too feminine". She didn't want to be considered for the position on the grounds of being a woman. She wanted to be seen for her hard work and dedication. She wanted them to see the impressive resume' that she had managed to acquire through that hard work. She tried on multiple outfits until she finally came across the right one. As she stood in the mirror putting on her makeup, her daughter walked up behind her and hugged her leg. "You're so pretty mommy. Where are you going?". She crouched down to meet her daughter eye to eye. "Mommy is going to the interview she told you about. Im trying to get a new job". Her daughter looked at her with an intuition well beyond her 6 years. "Dont be nervous mommy. You're really smart. You're gonna get the job. I hope I can be as pretty and smart as you some day." She hugged her daughter, kissed her on her forehead and told her "You already are and you can be anything you want to be. If you work hard, whatever you dream, you can achieve". Even as she said that she had hopes for her daughter. Hopes that this little girl would do better than she ever had. Her daughter's eyes lit up with a glow as she began to think of what dreams she may bring to reality.

Her name being called snapped her back to the moment. She panned the room and saw everyone looking at her. There was no hesitation. She rose up from her chair and walked past the men with a confidence and resolve that was borne from knowing exactly why she was there.