Photo by: Google
If you are searching for a perfect place,
I tell you, you’ll fail. But if you are creating one, be thrilled to experience
success. I could say this confidently because I consider this as the biggest learning
I acquired for the past 20 months that I've been working. This learning isn't a
big deal for some but for a neo-fight like me, it’s an oasis in the middle of a
scorching hot desert -- the idealistic thirst you've been experiencing after
graduation was alleviated by the iced water unexpectedly showered to your head.
Well this learning doesn't work just in
the workplace. Eventually, I see changes in different aspects of my life when I
applied this. Now, let me share them and I hope you don’t mind wandering inside
my story. Dissecting how this ‘perfect place’ learning has helped me in
different ways I know would benefit in appreciating God’s ways better. Before I
am looking for one perfect place but now, I've created different perfect places
more flawless than I imagined.
At
Work
The last semester in college was both a
cramming-to-pass and a job-hunting season for me. My goal then was to work here
in Manila using my college diploma -- in short I aimed to be a writer, a
documentarist, a researcher, or a broadcaster; anything inline with my degree.
Before graduation came, I received a lot of phone calls and job interview
schedules. And to cut the story short, I got my first job in less than 3 weeks
after ending my college life; as a Communication Research Associate in Agora
Business Intelligence in one of the most prestigious business districts in
Metro Manila, THE Makati City.
Precisely how I described it was how I
felt when I first grasp independence and adventure. I was more than thrilled to
leave home than to hold my diploma. I assumed I found the perfect workplace.
But after a month my heaven became hell. I realized (simultaneously) watching
six news channels everyday, reading five newspapers in the morning, and writing
less than 10 news articles before the day ends (not to mention the low
compensation) would make you stop when the traffic light is red and would make
you go when it’s green. Really, I experienced that kind of shattered
well-being. But obviously I’m still here and to clear things out I was not in
an accident.
So I just waited to get my supposed-to-be
regularization and left Agora after three months. Then I entered Children’s
Hour Philippines, Inc. as a Marketing Communications Associate slash
Friends-Raising Associate; in short as a social worker for marginalized
children. I know this is far from journalism but as I explained from my
previous articles, this is where my heart is. I was also a sponsored child
before and I want to give back and I really love kids.
I’m working with Children’s Hour for one
year & four months now and I shall say it’s not the perfect workplace
either. But here I learned to make one. Despite the difficult superior I had who
disclosed during his despedida (yes,
thanks God he’s not with us anymore) that he planned to not regularize me
because I did not grow and not yet ready, I’m still here confident that I’m
working only for God and for the children. I don’t know why he said that when my colleagues and boss said otherwise. May
be if I did not learn to turn around agony, I might be in my third employer or
may be fourth; continuing the unending search for perfection.
I am not saying that you take in all the
trash talks in your office or tolerate your inhumane boss just to put a big
amount in your accounts. If you’re not growing and everything in your job
contradicts your principles, then you’ll never create a perfect place (because
you need to mold a good employer first which will never happen). In my case, I
first considered my passion which I will discuss on the part three and
consulted God of course.
In my adjustment stage in my second job,
I first acknowledged all the imperfections of my employer, my colleagues, and
even the struggles I need to face everyday going to the office. And I didn't stop. I did my best to put them at my back and never in front of me and that’s
how I moved forward. If I will just focus on what my superior said during his despedida, I would have treated myself
as the tiniest piece in the office -- contributing less, making it hard for
everyone, and is just surviving because of my colleagues’ pity.
But I humbled myself. I did not think of
revenge because I know eventually that would make me loose. I taught of my
purpose and what God has told me. I worked hard to let my boss see again the
first thing that she saw in me when she decided to hire me. I focused on the
perfect smiles I see on the children’s faces; the most soothing ‘thanks’ you’ll
hear from different people; and the warmest hug you’ll feel from a cancer
survivor.
May be you’ll say you’re in a different
situation now. Fulfillment in an NGO world is different from the corporate. But
think of what made you decide to be in that place. I hope it’s out of passion
either to build establishments as an engineer, to heal patients as a doctor, or
even to make everyone smile as a clown. We are all different in terms of what
makes us happy. And where we found happiness there we can create perfection.
0 comments:
Post a Comment