In Support of Misty Baker
The Job Came, but the Bills Couldn’t Wait
My financial challenges stem from my company of 8 years closing and a promised job falling through. I had everything in place including my start date in November. I finally gave myself permission to slow down. To be still enough to ask the questions I’d spent years outrunning.
On September 30, I made myself a promise: no more settling.
A few weeks later, my sister and I took a 7-day cruise. October 25 being the anniversary of losing her son, my nephew, eight years earlier. “Love Like Mitchell.” Instead of letting that day belong only to grief, we choose to “Live for Mitchell.’ And that’s what we did. We created a loving memory there. No regrets. We came home with a fresh look on life, and I was looking forward to starting my new job.
November came. The job didn’t.
The company had unexpected setbacks and could no longer move forward with the position. And just like that, the job I had in place was gone. For the first time in 12 years, I needed a résumé.
All my years of working, I had never had to search for a job like this. I’m the girl who walked into a construction office with no experience and walked out with the beginning of a career. This time was different.
Finding a job became my full-time job, and I had to learn how to sell the one thing I’m not good at selling: myself. I can talk all day about something I believe in—a project, a company, an idea, anything I’m passionate about. But turning that same belief toward myself? That was new.
Finding a job became my full-time job, and I had to learn how to sell the one thing I’m not good at selling: myself. I can talk all day about something I believe in—a project, a company, an idea, anything I’m passionate about. But turning that same belief toward myself? That was new.
I dug through old projects, recommendation letters, emails, and accomplishments I had minimized because, to me, they were just things I had done. The hospitality version. The construction version. The daughter. The sister. The caretaker. The woman who survived hard things. Somewhere in that process, I started seeing myself differently. They weren’t separate versions of me. They were all me.
I had savings and unemployment to carry me for a while. By May, both were gone. I sold what I could. I cut my expenses. I used the food pantry at my church and stretched everything as far as I could.
One morning, I looked around my house: my porch full of plants, my animals, my sanctuary, my peace, and realized what I had built. I had spent so much of my life underselling myself that I lost myself along the way. But somewhere in all of this I found myself. Now, I’m ready to make waves!
I prayed. I let go of my setbacks; I put negative thoughts where they belong and kept applying. Kept networking, kept getting up!
I prayed. I let go of my setbacks; I put negative thoughts where they belong and kept applying. Kept networking, kept getting up!
The door finally opened, and a builder saw what I had spent months learning how to articulate, and just like that,
I got the job. Woo Hoo!! Now I have two.
I got the job. Woo Hoo!! Now I have two.
Yesterday, a pay-or-vacate notice came. Now despite securing two new jobs, I face urgent bills and deadlines before my full paycheck arrives. I’m asking for help bridging this short gap. Not to rebuild my life, I’ve done that.
The Bridge I Need
Rent — $3,550 Last month + this month + late fees
Car Payment — $950 Remaining past-due balance
Electricity — $330 shutoff notice received
Car Insurance — $190 Due August 22
Total: $5,020
If you’re able to help, I will be incredibly grateful. If you can’t give, please consider sharing my story. Sometimes, the right help at the right moment can make all the difference.
Thank you for reading my story and for any help you can offer.
Misty
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