Johan Huizingalaan (New-West)
door Marie Anne Remmelink
Stuck in a pandemic
“I was fourteen when I had my first job as a dishwasher. A few years later, I got promoted to waitress. After graduating high school, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to pursue a career in hospitality, and I went to study Hotel Management. I graduated last year in February and I was super excited to start my professional life. I found a job at a nice hotel. I packed my bags and moved to Amsterdam. Everything seemed to go according to my plan, but then the pandemic broke out, and I got that dreadful phone call from my employer. She explained that due to the situation, they had to let me go. I’m someone who loves to work hard, and all of a sudden, I was sitting at home. I gathered all my energy, and I started to apply for jobs. Since there were no tourists coming to the city, hotels didn’t hire anyone. I kept trying for months. At the beginning of the summer, I finally found a job in a small hotel. Things were looking a bit better, but in mid-December, we went back in lockdown, and the hotel had to close down. Luckily this time, I wasn’t fired. I’m glad I still have an income. I know I’m lucky but I miss the work. The hardest part is that there isn’t much perspective at the moment. I never thought I would start my career this way. It’s been the most challenging year of my life, but I hold on to the thought that better days will come. Everything will be alright. I strongly believe so, I have no other choice”
by Debra Barraud
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