Serving In Florida

"Serving in Florida," by Barbara Ehrenreich was an intriguing read. So far I have really enjoyed the essays we have read that are written in a narrative style. I found this read to be a page turner, I was surprised how quickly I was done. Through the entire essay I was amazed how much Barbara had to go through. I felt so sorry for her, and all of those who she worked with. As I read I pictured myself working, what would feel like endless shifts, I could picture how it would make my body and muscles ache just liked she described. The way she wrote made everything easy to visualize. I imagined how working in those draining conditions would lower your spirits and your leash on life; constantly working like that day in and day out. How would you have any hope that your life could get better when you're working so long and hard and still are barely able to survive? After reading the essay I reread the information about Barbara, at the beginning, to understand better where she was at at this time in her life. Understanding that Barbara took herself out of her own world in order to get a better feel for the working class made the essay feel even more impressive. I would think it would be that much harder to go through daily life of constant work when in reality your much better life was just waiting for you. I also came away from this essay feeling a lot of gratitude that I am able to go to school and get an education in order for the lives of my children and myself not to be like that.