10 GROUNDCOVER NEWS COMMUNITY People in the neighborhood: John Jackson John Jackson is in his mid 30s and is an unhoused resident of the City of Ypsilanti. Currently homeless for reasons he did not want to discuss, he frequents the Daytime Warming Center and Weather Amnesty (a community-led overnight sheltering program) where he sleeps most nights. He also takes refuge in an outbuilding on a kindly neighbor's farm near town. Finding work while homeless is not an easy feat. Not knowing where you are going to sleep at night means not having a place to shower, not having a place to keep nice clothes, not having enough rest or breakfast to perform well in an interview and you may have additional troubles with transportation and communication. John is looking for a job so we decided to use this column for a mock interview. I began with the common question: “What would you like to tell me about yourself?” John describes himself as an anomaly. “I’m evidence of a code working properly; a code of perfection!” John and I both laugh. “Haha, really I am just somebody trying to leave the world a better place than I found it.” JC: What would you say is your greatest weakness? JJ: My greatest weakness is the need for perfection. This sounds cliche for a job interview, but John clarifies, “No, it isn’t the keeps private. We talked about how things are with his daughter now. “It’s been a hard road, but we’ve JIM CLARK Groundcover vendor No. 139 typical answer. I mean this need will really keep me from finishing something or even starting something. What makes that worse is that I also have a hard time asking for help.” John becomes even more vulnerable. By adding “... and people sometimes tell me I’m a little vain.” From this a pattern emerges which seems to be that John is expecting more from himself. The need for perfection says performance is important and finding it difficult to ask for help means he believes in autonomy and independence. Another way to say it is that John appreciates excellence and aspires to greater integrity. JC: What would you say has been your biggest life lesson so far? JJ: I learned what kind of man I am at 36. Unfortunately, I also learned what kind of father I’ve been to my kid. John has a 19-year-old daughter who has been estranged for reasons he made progress. We’re making plans to go out to dinner again soon. It’s just baby steps right now. She’s still pissed.” JC: But not too pissed to go out to dinner again. JJ: Right. JC: How do you handle stress? JJ: I have a few things that are not exactly healthy, but I am changing that. JC: How so? JJ: I started reading again. John produced a book titled “Lord of the Flies.” JC: Wow! What motivated that choice? JJ: This was my favorite book in high school, I’ve read it a million times. He spoke with affection. JC: What is the most stressful situation you’ve encountered at work? JJ: I was working for a hotel when a guest approached me making unreasonable demands. She got personal by calling me a name and referring to me as "you people." JC: What happened? JJ: I lost my cool, but I went right to the manager and let them handle it. JC: What would you have done differently? JJ: I was a little rude, so I would have said "I am so sorry this is happening to you ma’am, let me get my manager to assist you." JC: Good answer. JJ: I’m trying, man, I’m trying. It’s all a learning experience. JC: What’s keeping you homeless now? JJ: Myself. JC: Wow, that’s such an honest answer. JJ: Yeah, it’s just a lack of effort. I’m just kind of hanging out too much. JC: So what are you doing to change that? JJ: Well, here I am, giving an interview to try and find a job. JC: Oh good, so you’re being proactive now. What kind of work are you looking for? JJ: Honestly, I really like hospitality. Being a front desk clerk is a good fit and a good learning opportunity for me. JC: What would you do with a million dollars? JJ: I wouldn’t accept it. I am not always a character. I am sincerely working on living a humble and modest lifestyle. In other words — John is trying to leave the world in a better place than when he found it, as he said above. Given his self awareness, candidness and willingness to face his challenges head on, it seems the first corner of the world John Jackson is striving to make better is himself. FEBRUARY 21, 2025
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