Janitor to Office Assistant

I walked into the office every day for 6 months to clean and wondered how the computer works. It was a mandatory skill for every staff but for the janitors; we didn't need that skill to keep the office clean. We had 17 staff on the floor and they all had their computers and printers. So many times, I walked into the floor unit and wished I could operate the computer like them. One day, I decided to stop wishing and do something about it.

Fast forward three months later, I got to the office gate and saw a sign "Office Assistant needed. Must be computer literate". With joy and excitement I ran in and asked the lady on the desk by the door if I could apply for the position. The way she laughed scarred me till today. I looked at her and she said ''You can't do this job, it's for those who are computer literate". I smiled and replied "I am". She laughed yet again and then asked, with surprise, "Can you turn on the computer?''. I bent down and turn on the UPS and started the desktop. She was shocked and asked “What else can you do?”. I smiled again and said "I can type on Microsoft word and work on PowerPoint, Excel is a little complicated."  At this point, she was in utter shock. She went over to another colleague and they both gave me something to type on the computer. I typed slowly with fear they will laugh at me again. But this time, they both gave me a high five. Curious to know how I knew what to do they asked me if I had been to a computer school. I told them I hadn't. Thing is, every evening after they all leave for home, I stayed behind and maneuvered the computers. I did so for weeks until I got a hang of it. In three months, I knew the basics of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

The other lady, walked back to her desk, typed something on her laptop and handed to me with a tape and said, put that on the gate outside. I looked at the paper and it read "Cleaner needed, apply within". Well-done Raquel, she said patting me on the back.

After living on the street for over a year without any hope of a better life, I found a job as a janitor which eventually led to a better job. I walked into the office that day in 2006 a janitor and went home an Office Assistant because I could operate the computer. On my way home I told myself, If could do this, I can do anything.