Every generation in my family has worked for the railroad dating back to the 1890s in Northern Lower Michigan. My relatives at that time came to America from Sweden and got jobs with the railroad. Since then, every generation were railroad employees until me. I applied numerous times between 2003 (the year I graduated college), and 2015. In 2015 I got FOUR (4) in-person interviews at CN in Chicago. I was so happy, I finally thought this was my big break. Those interviews came and went and I was left with nothing. They chose other people. I even called the CN HR person I interviewed with and left a respectful message telling him that he would find no other person in this world that would actually get up every morning, love going go to work, and would make a difference everday. I told him about my family, I told him about my dream...and in the end it all didn't matter. I'm not bitter, just disappointed, even now, 5 years later.
I like what I do now. I am an Engineer for BAE Systems and make military vehicles for a living. I like it, but don't love it. Someday when I retire, one way or another I will work for a railroad, either making a small wage working for someone like the West Michigan Railroad, or will volunteer with the SRI or someone like that. One way or another, I will be a railroader someday, just as all my family did before me. My Grandfather died a few years ago and my Grandma who is still living gave me the family railroad pocket watches. Got to get them working again. Its in the blood and it will never leave. Probably will never work for the railroad as my career, but through volunteering someday, it will be as close as I will get.
Now as for you Mr. Prince, don't give up. Keep trying. I hope you will get there someday. I know I will.
David Lang
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