Recurring dream about highschool job?

Question

I dream that for whatever reason, I have to go back to the retail job I worked in highschool. So I ask the manager if they will rehire me, and she says definitely, I can start straight away and they will put me on the schedule.

But then, for whatever reason, I don't show up for the shift. Usually something else comes up and I forget all about it, and I don't even think to call in and tell them I won't be there. I feel awful that I let them down. It's such a horrible feeling when it finally dons on me that they are expecting me to show up for work!

I have had this dream fairly often. I told my mother about it, and she says that she dreams the same thing sometimes about HER old high school job. I have been out of HS for many years now and am studying toward a professional degree (after doing undergrad) if that helps in the interpretation at all...Most of my summer jobs since then have been in my field and totally different from retail or shift work.

Thanks for any ideas!!!!!

Answer 1

The unconscious communicates through symbols that don't necessarily have a direct relation to the events portrayed.  You didn't mention your age but I think your unconscious is trying to remind you about your biological clock.  The job is your eventual pregnancy and you forgetting to show up for it relates to all your graduate studies causing you to forget/postpone your "biological imperative".