In my life,I have taken actions,both good and bad ones that either brought about something negative or positive. As humans,it is only a part of us. We act either in a good or bad way. Out of all the actions I have ever taken,one is spectacular - I mean it got stuck to my memory. And when I saw this question,it popped in my head.
I completed my NYSC(National Youth Service Corp) some few years back.For many who do not know, NYSC is a compulsory one-year scheme for all graduates in Nigeria. It is set up by the government to involve Nigerian graduates in nation-building. One can apply for a letter of exemption if only one has got good reasons.
I returned home after a year and started applying for jobs and going for interviews. In few months,I finally got a job as a cashier in a Drink Depot where assorted drinks were sold at wholesale prices. Like every young person who just completed NYSC,I was excited.Excited because finaaaaalllly,I had found something that will make me leave home early to return late,make my own money so I could save up some,cater for my needs and assist in the family as well. Of course my family members were happy for me too. And oh,this was my first job ever(well,aside that I did while serving).Hahahaha...sort of strange for a typical Nigerian.
My first day at work was hectic. I was like "okaaaay,things will get better". But it continued that way. Days passed, months too and it got even more draining. I held on despite the many challenges like deduction from my very little salary for things I never knew about.
Isn't it funny that you stay in your department section all day,only for your salary to be debited because drinks went missing? Hahahaha... Nooooo, I had to do something. Also there was so much pressure from my Boss especially where customers were queued and he'll expect you to work as fast as a robot,forgetting there were so many processes to be completed before a customer leaves. For me,I had always thought for there to be some sort of division of labour but my colleagues who long worked there before I did told me the idea won't be bought by my boss because my department concerns money, so he would rather have one person he could trust as two would be a crowd. I held on because I really wanted to have a job experience to boost my curriculum vitae and to gain exposure in the finance world. I held on because I thought "If I could hang on a little,just a little,everything will be okay". But I was wrong. Yes, I was learning and I kept trying so hard to stay focused but I noticed my Boss started finding faults in my reports. Where there were no mistakes,he will find one. So I arrived at a decision.
I took an action which was resigning. I resigned in such strange way. I showed up on a Monday to submit my immediate resignation letter. I knew what was right but I did know right things didn't look like they were much appreciated there,so I followed my heart. My Boss thought it to be a resignation with some days notice but he was wrong. I noticed he frowned after reading my letter. I handed over all financial reports,cash,keys etc and left peacefully. I knew he had never thought me to resign,at least not anytime soon. So I took him by surprise.
This was more about me. I do know my worth and there are limits to what I can take. I could push and push but a time comes where I will let it go not because I couldn't push but because it is not no need to. Yes I learnt so much that helped me in my next jobs. Many thought me to be crazy because I left a job on one hand,and had nothing to fall back to. But I got another job two months after.
It was far more better.Although it was a field job,it was also stressful but I knew peace in it. I took the action of resigning,despite being afraid at first .I just knew I was worth more. I knew deep down I had left a mark.
It is often said "you do not know the value of something until you have lost it" and that happened. My former Boss reached out to me to have a rethink and return to work. Funny enough, he started commending me on how much of a good cashier I was, placing me at the top of the list and telling me he never had money issues with me unlike the previous people in that position. I smiled because I knew those words won't make any difference. Some workers called too and surprisingly some customers and I kept saying "oh I got something else to do".
My actions of course brought about positive changes. I learnt to be more confident in myself and my abilities. I learnt not to ever doubt me.
I didn't achieve all I had set up to there but i learnt what it was like to relate with customers firsthand and that helped in the next job I did.
The whole experience changed my inner being,my thoughts as a whole and I am better now. I have no regrets that I took such action. Every time I remember,I just smile.
Thanks for engaging my blog. Hope you learn to not ever doubt yourself or be afraid to take steps you know would bring about positive changes.
