Levelling up to responsible adult
Feb. 26th, 2014 09:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
charloweenI started my first degree in Fall 2004, and I'm still a full-time student, so I occasionally feel like I'm not exactly a grown-up yet. (Other people have different reasons for feeling this way - perpetual studenthood is my reason.)
However, there've been a few things in the last two days that make me feel like a responsible adult.
1. Planning for the future! I worked enough hours last month to trigger a government-mandated auto-enrolment in a pension scheme. So now I'm paying into a retirement savings plan? This is weird for someone who is more used to saving to pay back student loans and/or budgeting every penny. My employer is supposed to match my contributions, meaning my total retirement savings is now like £15. Hooray?
2. Multitasking and emergency situations! I've gotten used to the idea that - for two years now - a few times/month I hold the keys for a reasonably busy multidisciplinary arts centre. (230K annual visitors! 500+ live performances per year! Two films/day, every day!) In that job, I'm responsible for day-to-day operations, including reporting maintenance issues.* Blocked toilets, blown lightbulbs, broken elevators, etc.
*And unlocking/locking anything/everything. And getting beer for touring comedians (that's the fun part).
Last night I was locking up the concert hall when I heard what sounded like a waterfall behind a door that I knew held an electrical distribution panel. I got a teeny shock off the lock when I opened the cupboard, and sure enough there was hot water gushing all over a breaker board. Excitement! Our backstage guys were finishing up a get-out, so I ran over to the stage, made nice with the departing tour manager (yes, great to have you, glad it went well, see you again) and waved my arms at our techs to heeeeeeelp meeeeeee.
They ran around looking for the source of the leak (and switched off the outgoing power from the panel, and found buckets to catch the water) as I radioed who I needed to radio, and we all quietly freaked out. Maintenance call-out achieved, I stuck my head into the student symphony orchestra rehearsal next door to ask them to please leave their music stands on that side of the hall and don't cross the puddle around the live electrics, thanks. (They didn't notice there was a problem or power cuts - thank you, wacky building!)
Then there was still a film and theatre show to finish, and the rest of the building to check and lock. I'm pretty sure I missed a few things, but I did get bits documented, left a summary for this morning's guy, and managed to not blow up the building. In the next crisis, I will be even better. Responsible adult +1!
(Okay, time for another dire screening. Hooray Actual Academic Job vs Distraction Theatre Job!)
However, there've been a few things in the last two days that make me feel like a responsible adult.
1. Planning for the future! I worked enough hours last month to trigger a government-mandated auto-enrolment in a pension scheme. So now I'm paying into a retirement savings plan? This is weird for someone who is more used to saving to pay back student loans and/or budgeting every penny. My employer is supposed to match my contributions, meaning my total retirement savings is now like £15. Hooray?
2. Multitasking and emergency situations! I've gotten used to the idea that - for two years now - a few times/month I hold the keys for a reasonably busy multidisciplinary arts centre. (230K annual visitors! 500+ live performances per year! Two films/day, every day!) In that job, I'm responsible for day-to-day operations, including reporting maintenance issues.* Blocked toilets, blown lightbulbs, broken elevators, etc.
*And unlocking/locking anything/everything. And getting beer for touring comedians (that's the fun part).
Last night I was locking up the concert hall when I heard what sounded like a waterfall behind a door that I knew held an electrical distribution panel. I got a teeny shock off the lock when I opened the cupboard, and sure enough there was hot water gushing all over a breaker board. Excitement! Our backstage guys were finishing up a get-out, so I ran over to the stage, made nice with the departing tour manager (yes, great to have you, glad it went well, see you again) and waved my arms at our techs to heeeeeeelp meeeeeee.
They ran around looking for the source of the leak (and switched off the outgoing power from the panel, and found buckets to catch the water) as I radioed who I needed to radio, and we all quietly freaked out. Maintenance call-out achieved, I stuck my head into the student symphony orchestra rehearsal next door to ask them to please leave their music stands on that side of the hall and don't cross the puddle around the live electrics, thanks. (They didn't notice there was a problem or power cuts - thank you, wacky building!)
Then there was still a film and theatre show to finish, and the rest of the building to check and lock. I'm pretty sure I missed a few things, but I did get bits documented, left a summary for this morning's guy, and managed to not blow up the building. In the next crisis, I will be even better. Responsible adult +1!
(Okay, time for another dire screening. Hooray Actual Academic Job vs Distraction Theatre Job!)
(no subject)
Date: 2014-02-26 11:37 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2014-03-06 12:30 pm (UTC)Some people's university memories are of long days in the library and long nights at house parties. I have different stories to tell.
(E.g. Russell Brand is doing a show tonight. Anything could happen. Especially as we're to 'remain flexible' [ew] as he may decide to do an 'informal signing' [okay?] or 'private meet and greet' [...no] after the show. Also they asked for 22 towels on the tech rider.)