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Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

gavinray97.github.io

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Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#21

Post by gavinray »

himata4113 wrote: post #16

I feel happiness reading stories like this. You proved to the world that you can become something great even when all the cards are stacked against you. I often feel despair when I think about where our society is heading, but there will always be people like you who are there to push back against all the wrongs in the world and make the best out of it.

I'm glad! It sounds really corny, but someone once told me "The only thing you can choose in life is your attitude."

Sometimes it felt like I'd never get a break, things wouldn't get better. But I tried to tell myself "Every occurrence in life is a numbers game. Against tiny odds, eventually enough attempts statistically OUGHT to pay off."

And the alternative is bleak, sort of sulking in this pit of despair without hope for tomorrow.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#22

Post by gavinray »

ProllyInfamous wrote: post #20

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

That's horrible but also a stark reminder for how quickly life can change for any one of us...

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#23

Post by zuzululu »

vijucat wrote: post #2

I love such stories. Right now, a lot of folks I know are struggling to find jobs, so I read the part about how he got a job the first day he was out of jail with some astonishment and nostalgia for the simpler days, when showing interest was often enough to land the job! Now, hoop number 1, the AI resume filter, is a strange obstacle that one has to jump through first.

[flagged]

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#24

Post by madrox »

Shoutout to the author. I don't think I've met you, but I'm proud of you. What you've done is not easy. Neither is talking about it.

I've not had nearly the adversity of the author, but I do know a little bit about what it's like to have an alternative background that makes companies not want to take a chance on you. It motivates you to take advantage of the chances you're given. The first time someone gave me a job, I felt so utterly grateful that I worked twice as hard as most and complained half as much. You could cynically call that exploitation, but I didn't see it that way.

When I came into a position to make my own hiring calls, I tried paying that forward, and I got some great employees from it. Arguably a couple duds as well, but I never regretted giving the chance.

Shout out to Hasura as well, btw. I've encountered their leadership team a couple times and everything about them has screamed integrity. It did not surprise me to hear that they are part of this story.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#26

Post by sergiotapia »

gavinray wrote: post #22
ProllyInfamous wrote: post #20

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

That's horrible but also a stark reminder for how quickly life can change for any one of us...

True but a motorcycle is basically 100% given that you will crash and have bad injuries.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#27

Post by tux3 »

himata4113 wrote: post #18
celdon25 wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My lived experience doesn’t care what the downvotes say (many here are privileged, after all), and it is only a matter of time imo unless something is done about the industry to change course.

I see karma as form of a currency to afford getting downvoted. I actually don't mind the downvotes especially when it's followed by a comment on why. Helps me see parts I've missed.

I wouldn't internalize that idea too much. In a lot of countries traffic fines are a fixed amount, so some people feel like they don't have to respect traffic rules since they can afford to just pay the fine.

It's one way to process the negative feeling of being fined. But it doesn't really make the roads safer.

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#29

Post by hollerith »

ProllyInfamous wrote: post #20

Please don't get a motorcycle: A good felon buddy of mine has been out now for 4 years. He slowly built a car repair business, with steady clientele, and got his life back on track – including reasonable sobriety and a steady relationship. He and his girl would cruise around often, enjoying their newfound happiness . Last week he totaled his Harley and his body (destroyed bike, multiple broken bones). Total reset. He…

It's only been a week; right?

Re: Building from zero after addiction, prison, and a felony

#30

Post by gavinray »

vijucat wrote: post #2

I love such stories. Right now, a lot of folks I know are struggling to find jobs, so I read the part about how he got a job the first day he was out of jail with some astonishment and nostalgia for the simpler days, when showing interest was often enough to land the job! Now, hoop number 1, the AI resume filter, is a strange obstacle that one has to jump through first.

The job market is rough. My wife went back to school for audio/sound design, finished the program + got a bunch of certifications.

She's been trying to get anything, even an unpaid internship, doing sound design, going to local meetups, online conferences, and hasn't had much luck.

But I told her: it's just a matter of persistence and time. If you're agreeable to be around, passionate about something, and just show up everyday, eventually something is likely to happen.

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