Having a job is one of the main markers of transitioning from childhood to adulthood—from being a dependent to an independent. However, most people long to settle themselves in a career rather than a mere job. They want a career that they like, that they’re good at, and that can make a difference in the world so that they can feel they are needed. Our modern society and civilization has many job offerings that will fit the bill for various people. The problem comes along when there are jobs and careers that seem under appreciated or even overlooked in our world. People in these careers are faced with the knowledge that civilization as we know it would crumble without them but the rest of society tends to shrug them off or at the least undermine their work. They must continue with their jobs even though others may treat them as stereotypes or scoff at them because even if society does not know of their extremely important roles they understand the necessity of their dedication.
1.
Teacher
Passing on the collective knowledge of past generations to future generations is one of the noblest callings in the world. Without someone to teach young people basic facts, skills, and ultimately the ideas and concepts that will allow them to be the best they can be in the world at large. Teachers do not make as much money as stockbrokers. They do not have the prestige of doctors. They do not have the power of lawyers. However, they are the reason that we have those other occupations at all. Most of the time people blow them off by saying they only work nine to ten months out of the year and merely sit around babysitting all day, but the fact remains the same that they are absolutely necessary for all other jobs, careers, and professions to manifest. Also, do you recall how some students treated their teachers? Imagine putting up with that all day long and see if you do not absolutely require a month or two respite just to make sure you don’t end up having a total mental meltdown. They have to plan lessons, make tests, compose lectures, grade homework, create rubrics, and a million other things that they cannot do during the school day because they are constantly in the classroom teaching their students. They bring work home with them every night without fail just to do the bare minimum requirements of their jobs—not including duties of extracurricular activities, field trips, or chaperone responsibilities.
2.
Sanitation Worker
Most people are constantly overlooking sanitation workers. They are like real life versions of the tooth fairy. You leave your trash out on the curb or in specially marked bins then as if by magic the full bags and loaded bins disappear with hardly anyone being the wiser as the only sign of it happening is perhaps a low rumbling noise of a large truck in the early morning hours with a few beeps and perhaps a couple glowing lights and then the special emptiness of having your household’s personal refuse carried away. What if sanitation workers weren’t around? Most people have seen what can happen as occasionally around the world certain groups of sanitation workers have gone on strike, leaving piles and piles of garbage along the streets which creates dirty, ugly, smelly, and even hazardous health conditions. When people think of another who is a sanitation worker though they tend to think of them as garbage themselves for some unfathomable reason. Without these dedicated men and women, our world would be a much dirtier, unhealthy place.
3.
Librarian
The kind, old lady who sits behind an imposing counter with giant evil stamps is a librarian stereotype that does not even begin to cover the duties of these professionals. These library career men and women are expertly trained. In fact, to officially become a librarian a person needs to achieve a graduate degree from an accredited university. A Master’s of Library Science (MLS) degree is a specialty program that teaches students about classification of media, database building, cataloguing techniques, library programing, and countless other aspects of running a library. There are only about fifty ALA (American Library Association) accredited MLS university programs throughout the United States and Canada. They help all people to further their education (whether general or specialized) and aid in the finding of answers to all types of questions that you could possibly think up. Their jobs are far more than “shushing” people in the library.
4.
IRS Agent
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is a government agency that inspires a reflex shudder in every American citizen. The picture of a middle-aged man in dark, black framed glasses with a dress shirt pocket full of pens holding a large clipboard that clasps numerous papers instills fear in the mind of taxpayers every April. However, agents at the IRS are the people who toil over countless forms that are filled with random numbers so that money can be allocated to government services like education and basic infrastructure like roads by making sure that everyone pays their share and gets back any money they overpaid. IRS agents give kind customer service to even the most disgruntled and angry taxpayers even though they never get credit for all that they do to make sure funds feed public institutions.
