Did you ever have a job you didn’t want?

Perhaps you had to be there because you couldn’t find anything better.

Or perhaps you were there temporarily until you could get the job you really wanted.

That was my experience when I was working as a dental assistant while I waited for my “real job” to open.

At the time, I was fresh out of high school. Before the ink had time to dry on my high school diploma, my mother insisted I had to find a job.

I was promised the job of my dreams working on our hometown newspaper but I had to wait for the opening to materialize, I was told.

My mother didn’t put much stock in promises. “You can’t pay a bill with a promise,” she insisted.

So, three days after graduation I found myself sitting in a dentist’s office waiting along with several others to be interviewed. I was only there as a buddy for my girlfriend who was applying — and to placate my mother.

I didn’t want the job.

I got it anyway.

I thought it would be a wasted experience to stand there handing the demanding dentist the instruments he needed. I also had to take bitewing X-rays and then do the accounting books — at night on my own time.

The surprise was that I gained so much during my brief stint there. Working for a demanding boss was a positive experience because it taught me to try to live up to someone’s expectations. I learned a lot, too.

When you think about it, no experience is ever wasted. We learn from every situation.

Well, my job as a journalist did materialize. But it’s erroneous to say I worked there. It was more like an ongoing adventure, and I loved every minute of it. I relished everything about the job.

I got one promotion after another and thought I would be at the paper forever.

“Forever” lasted only until I got married and was pregnant with my first child. When I told my boss the happy news he told me I had to leave immediately because he didn’t believe in pregnant women working on his paper.

Hard to believe that could happen, right? But things were different back then.

It seemed incredible that the same week I lost that job I had a phone call offering me another one. I was to be a temporary replacement at a social service agency for a woman recovering from surgery.

I liked that job and appreciated the way the supervisor allowed me to interview clients after she discovered I could do it.

I learned so much there, too. And to this day I am a big supporter of Catholic Charities because I saw firsthand how much good they do.

When I was hired as a feature writer for a daily newspaper I was thrilled. No matter how many hours I put in it never felt like “work.”

After I was promoted to management I loved that part of the job, too.

Unfortunately, something that had nothing to do with me led to my undoing. The new editor had an argument with my father-in-law that ended up in court as a property dispute.

When the editor lost the case he called me into his office and said I was no longer part of management. He didn’t want anyone with my last name on his team.

So I lost my title. What I gained was $90 each paycheck. Management wasn’t entitled to overtime, but it was mandatory for reporters.

When I saw my paycheck with extra money, I when into the editor’s office and hugged him.

He had the last laugh, because he did everything to make me leave. When I was ordered to work Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and couldn’t be with my family, I threw in the towel.

The editor got what he wanted — my resignation.

I didn’t think there was a job that could compare to that of a journalist.

I was wrong.

I was quickly hired by the Intermediate Unit as a teacher for the gifted program. Part of the job also involved helping students struggling to pass.

Finding ways to help students achieve academic success was rewarding beyond my wildest expectations.

I cried when my family moved and I had to leave that teaching job.

I think the angel in charge of jobs must always be at my side.

When we moved to Palmerton I found yet another perfect job at the Times News. I absolutely thrived on community journalism and also loved the company. Again I found myself having so much fun that I thought I should be paying them.

I was so happy to never leave that company until retirement beckoned like an enticing siren.

Readers no doubt know I still write a weekly column for the Times News and for East Penn Publishing papers.

I love the constant feedback I get from readers and relish the opportunity to keep on writing.

The message of this column: Never think any job is a waste of time.

Only a bad attitude can do that.

We can learn from every job and every opportunity.

All we have to do is to stay positive and remain open to all that comes our way.

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net.