I recently left the military after eight years of service, which I started at 18. It was a respected career and I often received praise for my commitment. Now, I'm back in school, taking online classes and preparing to start clinicals soon. Although I don’t need a job right now, I decided to apply for a part-time position at a coffee shop to combat the loneliness I've been feeling. I got hired as a barista, but I've started to notice a shift in how people perceive me. At 26, I feel judged for taking this job; friends and family seem to look down on it, almost pitying me. My parents have asked if I’m struggling financially because I’m working as a barista, and I can sense their disappointment. It’s strange because when I was unemployed, I didn’t receive any negative comments, but now that I have a job that some consider 'low,' it feels like I’m being viewed as someone who hasn’t succeeded since leaving the military. I know I left the military for my mental health, as it was draining my spirit, but now I feel like I’m proving the naysayers right by taking this job. I genuinely enjoy being a barista, but I find it embarrassing to share this with others because of the pity I sense from them. I’m struggling with how to overcome this feeling of embarrassment and the need to prove to others that I’m in a good place.