A Man of the People

 I spent the last week working in a job that I never thought I would attempt in my life and not only because they are probably the most annoying people on this planet but because I've always been a bit phone shy. That's right, in the chase for the almighty dollar (or pound in this case) I have started work in a call centre. I persistently dial people and read from a generic script to try and gather feedback on behalf of a bank who almost certainly won't change a single thing for it's customers unless it helps their cash flow. The job itself was as boring as anything I have ever undertaken and as a part time painter and decorator I can honestly say I prefer to watch paint dry. What did get me through the week however were the people that I worked with, my temporary colleagues.
 I have never had a problem socialising with people as I am much happier when I am around friends. At Uni i would happily sit in the front room playing the Xbox whilst my housemates buzzed around me doing their own thing. We may not even speak to each other in a couple of hours but the presence of a close friend around you makes everything seem that much more entertaining.
 I have friends from all walks of life, whether they went to Uni or they started work at a young age, whether they are barely out of their teens or middle aged I don't have a problem conversing with almost anyone. As long as you have good intentions I would like to think I would give you the time of day. What was a little surprising to me was when one of the other temporary employees I was working with confided to me that he was struggling to mingle with everyone apart from myself. He even admitted that he sounded a little arrogant but felt that as we were the only University graduates he could only really talk to me. I was a little taken aback by this as I presumed as I got on with him as well as I did the others that they would naturally get on as well. It wasn't so. From our conversations at work he seems like a genuine person who doesn't mean anyone any harm but I did find him a little harder to talk to after he admitted to feeling superior to some of the others. I am a little ashamed that I didn't stick up for the others. Granted I didn't agree with him but I wasn't vocal about their positive attributes either, I simple tried to let the comment slide by.
 I'd like to say that I've never purposely excluded anyone out of a feeling of being better than them but it would probably be a lie. I honestly don't think myself better than anyone, especially not for being a graduate. Some of the nicest and funniest people I have ever met were labourers, painters or other tradesman. These 'salt of the earth' people I actually find easier to talk to as they hold no reservations about offering their friendship. It doesn't matter to them what class of degree you achieved or how many accolades you can type onto your CV. As long as you are sincere I have found the people will respond to you. I know first hand how this perceived 'superiority complex' can damage a friendship. My two best friends have drifted apart since one of them went to Uni and the other stayed at home to work. I don't think any less of either of them for their choices but there has been a palpable tension between them ever since. Again I find myself perplexed at this as I have not encountered any such shift in the relationship with either so can't understand why there seems to be this gap between them. Social divides may not be as prominent as years past but I have found that there is a definite chasm between graduates and those who didn't attend higher education.
 For me this is a huge shame. They say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, personally I would prefer to walk into the fiery abyss with the genuine people than spend an eternity with pompous and conceited achievers. At the end of the day, it isn't what you achieve that defines you but how you are as a person.