Growing up, have you ever thought of your purpose? Have you ever heard a call from anything deep inside that resonates and lingers for quite some time, but you don’t know what that was?
I was one of the many people who did not know what I wanted after high school. I was only copying the decisions of the few successful people I know, but I wanted an easier path. Although in my younger years, I was too determined to be a doctor or teacher because of the usual things I see on television where every kid wants to be a teacher, doctor, priest or soldier when they grow up. When I got old, it was way different. I was lost for a few years before I could finally redeem myself for the career I wanted to pursue.
I didn’t know who I wanted to be when I was younger. I couldn’t find my purpose in life. I do not have an answer to my whys. Not that I don’t have guidance from my parents, but even their suggestions were something I didn’t like. I couldn’t even find that ground where even to start living. As a naïve youth, I was so lost. I just wanted to get an “easy” program to finish college and, right after, move out and get a life of my own. I was so stubborn and careless.
Little did I know that who I wanted to be already manifested when I was still a kid – be a corporate woman, working in the office looking professional. But since I was distracted, thinking of many programs I would take for college, I didn’t know that. I took a different path and enrolled in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management instead when I should’ve taken Financial Management or any other Business program.
Before I knew what I wanted to be, I underwent many spiritual, mental and financial struggles. After graduation, I took the liberty to move out and tried jobs in the Hospitality industry, which I didn’t like. I resigned and shifted to BPO because of the higher salary and benefits that this industry offers. I was 22 years old at that time, and I felt like I was going nowhere. I was not too fond of it too.
I took the chance to apply for a job/internship abroad. I was forcing myself to like working overseas even when I felt the opposite. I tried my best to mature and love working abroad and having a higher income. I stayed faithful, looking for jobs overseas and even went to different churches to pray that, hopefully, divine intervention would help me land a job on a cruise or land-based in Dubai, Singapore or an internship in the US.
I had many interviews that I thought went well, but nothing happened. I have yet to get a follow-up call or an update about my application. I got tired of waiting. I returned to working in a BPO company because it’s the industry where you can find a job immediately as they have a one-day recruitment process.
I was so frustrated and felt like entering a quarter-life crisis since I was going 25 with nothing on my resume and credentials but only short job experiences from companies I never liked. I started questioning everything in my life, and that includes my Faith. I felt like the years were going too fast, and I couldn’t redeem myself. My life was a mess, and I did not have a path to follow until I experienced working in a bank. That’s when I found my calling as a banker and plan to spend my career in the same industry. Now, I already know who I want to be, what I want to be and where I want to be.
Working with the same company for four years, I still have no reason to leave. The culture is one of the finest I heard, coming from the experiences of my friends with other companies. I have never regretted choosing this industry. I got promoted to a supervisor level after 2.5 years of working here.
My experience was a lesson for me. It manifested the saying, “The best is yet to come.” It made me realize that the Lord will not put you somewhere He knows that is not your desire. He will make way for you to hear his calling. It would’ve been a disaster if I had fought and forced myself too much to go overseas, even if I didn’t like it. I know this is my vocation, the same company/industry that redeemed me, and I am taking my MBA to have a concrete education that I will soon use in my career progression.
The author is an MBA student at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business, DLSU. She can be reached at kathleen_balisi@dlsu.edu.ph.
The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of DLSU, its faculty and its administrators.
