Relatively new...

Admittedly, I've been lacking a little in the blogging department. I'll use the same excuse as every other busy person out there and blame it on the holiday season.

Actually, all my spare time has been consumed with creating handmade masterpieces for my first marketplace sale. Ok, maybe not masterpieces, but various goods that have been labor-intensive and demanding of my attention.

The marketplace day is among several holiday traditions we take part in where I work. Since I have been at my current employer for under a year's time, it will be my first go-round with each festive event...something I'm reminded of often by self-proclaimed "office veterans."

I cannot count how many times I've been labeled as "new" in the past month, an occurrence which had died down up until recently. In the beginning, after just starting a job, you expect the "new" tag to be constantly linked to your name; it just comes with the territory.

I've held this position for seven months now, SEVEN MONTHS! Seven months is a long time to me; I mean, in seven months the seasons change three times, and you could be over two-thirds of the way through a pregnancy. Which brings me to my most recent nagging question...when will I no longer be a "new" person at work?!

While being "new" has its advantages, like more leniency for your mistakes, the "newness" of being "new" wears off quickly. Each time someone mentions my infancy at the company I feel invalidated, and I become frustrated with the classification. I would much rather be labeled the "trustworthy employee" or the "hard-working employee" instead of the "new employee." After seven months, I think I have paid my dues as the newbie.

I wouldn't dread being called out on my less-than-a-year status if the labeling came across positively. Each time someone mentions that I, or any other recent hire, is "new," it's almost used as an excuse, like "Don't mind her, she's new." To which I'd like to respond, "Do mind me, I've been here for SEVEN MONTHS, and I know a lot about what goes on in this place!"

I'd like to think that no one intentionally uses the "new" word negatively, but I still can't wait until antiquated office politics deem it less relevant in association with me.

Until then, I am still in my twenties, still trying...and apparently...still NEW.