Vendor Writing

LOOKING FOR A CAREER CHANGE

BY VANESSA I., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

I have worked at a lot of places, taking care of the elderly in nursing homes and the hospital. I’ve also worked with the metro school board in dietary. I did work for The Tennessean distributing papers.

I’m disabled. I’ve always had a job all my life, until I got sick. I had stopped breathing and almost died. For some years, I was sick. I recovered in a nursing home up in Indiana and I came back to Nashville hoping to restart and to find me another place to live in hopes of having a career change. I’ve been online looking for jobs for handicap people. I just recently lost my phone so people don’t have a way to contact me. I was planning on getting back into school also. I had three options: business, communications and psychology. I had some schools reaching out for me.

It’s just been rough. I can’t live on the income that I have. When I was a CNT I didn’t meet my social security points because I lacked clocking in and clocking out. I

kinda gave away work. I’m just trying to make it, make a difference and change.

I’m looking to get into business, my own or an entry position. I’m very educated in science and math. I went to junior college but I didn’t finish because I failed two courses because of my ADD. It was an accounting degree.

I want people to know that I’m a hard worker. I’m a dependable person. I work and strive hard. I like analyzing problems and making decisions. I want to develop to leadership.

The Contributor gives me a way of keeping myself moving and not just sitting at home, breaking down, and giving up. A lot of people don’t understand, everybody is not out there for the same reasons. Sometimes I cry because I don’t want to be out there. It’s just something to get by and to help support me and keep going, because I have a daughter. I have a daughter that I have to think of.

I have decided to keep going.

GOOD TIMES WITH THE CATS

BY JAMIE W., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Well Pressley and Lucy are the oldest but they are sweet and good cats. Our new additions are Riley and Emma. They are seven months old. Lucy and Pressley are showing Riley and Emma the ropes and everything they need to know. These cats are my babies. Riley and Emma were stray cats but they all fit in. They love to run up and down the hallway. Lucy will be two on December 16, Pressley will be four on April 6, and Riley and Emma will be one on March 15.

They love their treats and toys. They love everything. Riley is a white calico and Emma is a tortoise shell, Pressley is a tuxedo cat. They are good cars and they are my babies. They are good babies. Lucy loves catnip. Pressley loves anything dangly and Riley and Emma will play with anything. They love everything and anything. Lucy and Riley like laser lights, they are good cats.

FELONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO VOTE

BY PAUL A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Tennessee should go with a law similar to what Florida’s got to allow felons to vote. Yes, felons should pay their restitution before they are allowed to vote. Then they can register. I agree with that. I think I only owe like $150. It might be a little bit more than that.

I have never been notified of what my status is. You need to know what your status is and where you stand, and see what you owe after you did your probation or parole. You need to know where you stand so you should be able to register to vote.

It’s been a challenge for me to do the paperwork because of my vision. I have to have someone fill out the paperwork for me. I have to depend on people.

I shouldn’t have to depend on people. The judge or probation office or parole officer should be able to help you fill out the paperwork and clear it if you have any form of a disability. They should be aware of it and suggest what to do.

I think felons should register, I think they should be asked to register. This would help them get their lives straightened back out. But if you’ve been paroled on a murder charge, I don’t think you should have a right to vote.

I’d like to start a campaign to get this added as a referendum on the midterm elections, which would be in two years.