There comes a time in life when you have to choose between comfort and growth. Between staying in the familiar and stepping into the unknown. This is my story — not one with a perfect arc or a fairy tale ending, but one filled with real emotions, quiet resilience, and silent battles.
At the age of 18, while most were navigating classrooms and carefree days, I was juggling the role of a student and a full-time employee. Mornings belonged to college, afternoons to work. My work became my routine, my escape, my time. For 6 years and 5 months, I worked tirelessly — setting up labs, organizing books in a library, quietly moving through life with little fanfare.
I am someone who has always been very private — not necessarily out of fear, but that is just who I have always been. Private. Reserved. Well, I rarely shared my internal world whether it is in college or in the office. I would sprint to the office as soon as I can once class is over. That was my life. That was my world.
Choosing to leap into the unknown can lead to unexpected opportunities and growth. Through every challenge, I learned to embrace stepping into the unknown. Being private was comfortable, but I knew I had to venture into the unknown.
I think anyone else in my place when it came time to trade the first job with something else would have also felt a certain way. When it was time to leave that first job, a wave of emotions hit me. I wasn’t just leaving a job — I was leaving a piece of my identity. I had grown up there.
Embracing the Journey: Leaping into the Unknown
It was a big leap into the unknown that I had to embrace.
I realized that to grow, I must step into the unknown.
As I faced my fears, I took steps into the unknown.
Soon after, I stepped into a new role as an admin and accounting staff — a big change. New people, a bigger space, and expectations that felt overwhelming. Coming from a close-knit workplace and an equally tight-knit family, opening up was hard. I was naive, unsure, and scared. But with time, I adapted.
I had to trust myself to navigate into the unknown.
Then came the lockdown — two years of Master’s turned into four. My thesis sat untouched. I procrastinated, I got stuck. But I also learned. I poured myself into work and slowly picked up accounting skills. Yet, something was missing.
Conversations were always hard. Networking didn’t come naturally. I showed up every day with a strong face, but inside I carried doubts, insecurities, and fears. Over time, the environment started to feel limiting — unchallenging. When you’re not growing, you start to shrink.
As I reflect, I realize that this journey is about leaping into the unknown.
Criticism became personal. Every minor mistake was magnified. I was called “too emotional.” Slowly, my confidence began to fade. And then one day — without a plan, without backup — I decided to resign from my most secure and stable job.
People assumed I had bigger plans. I didn’t. I had struggles, I had questions, and I had a voice in my head that said: “It’s time to go.”
My sister once told me — “Either fight for change or stop complaining.” I chose neither. I chose peace.
Yes, I was earning well. Yes, it was secure. But sometimes your gut screams louder than logic. The universe has its own way of nudging you when it’s time to move on. And I listened.
Now, I feel lost. Uncertain. But not defeated.
I believe this is just a pause — a moment to breathe, reflect, and figure out what’s next. You don’t owe explanations to anyone. It’s your life, your choice. People will always have opinions. Let them.
Maybe I played the victim for too long. Maybe I tolerated what I shouldn’t have. But I know now — I don’t want to work in fear. I want to work where I’m valued, respected, and allowed to grow.
Every job, every person, every season teaches you something. And I carry those lessons with me. I’m not ungrateful — just ready for something more.
So here I am — leaping into the unknown. Afraid, yes. But also free.
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