“Good morning, Dr. Brenda," I greeted the only doctor working as a sonologist in my branch as she resumed on one cold Monday morning—she was late again, by the way.
“Good morning, Sarah,” she replied dryly. And that was it. She has been working here for less than a month, and I already have a permanent dislike for her. My job title then was Diagnostic Officer, and my duties were to assist in running ultrasound whenever the doctor needed a break or we were working at full capacity on busy days, and to type all ultrasound reports. However, I was also made to work not just as the diagnostic officer but also as the front desk officer, account manager, and store officer. Randomly, you could find me running the generator as well in the absence of the janitor.
Although, prior to Dr. Brenda’s resumption of my branch, I was working with a doctor as well, Dr. P., who made the juggling of all my duties easier. She would cover for me when I needed to deposit money in the bank or man the front desk while I was scanning a patient inside. She managed to be a boss, a friend, and a teacher all in one as we read and discussed work-related topics together. I was so comfortable with where I was at that time, and I believed that I would be working in that position for a really long time.
While I do not expect everyone to be the same, I expect some level of understanding from the person I work with. Dr. Brenda would sometimes resume work late and spend about four hours or more reading the Bible, praying in tongues, and eating afterwards. I mean, I would have worked until 12 p.m. before she would realise that she was supposed to be working. I did everything without a single complaint until I started falling ill and feeling tired all the time. I found her slow, lazy, and irritable.
After a few months, someone else was employed as the front desk officer, and so my duties were reduced. I was not happy working, but I was content. Meanwhile, we had an end-of-year party at work for all branches, and not a single word went out in appreciation for me. I didn’t even want an award, just a single statement: ‘Well done; you have worked hard, and your services have not gone unnoticed’. It was all I needed. It was sad that no one could report this lady, yet she was glorified as the head of the branch, and all the kudos went to her. I felt dissatisfied and pained, yet I could not do anything. And after that day, I stopped going the extra mile at work; I only did my job description. Still, I was unsatisfied.
Image credit is mine
Someday I was thinking, 'There must be more to my life'. I had always wanted to be a medical doctor, and I tried getting back into the university three times after I graduated from human physiology. I couldn’t keep earning less than $107 per month when I was doing the bulk of the job while the other person who was actually paid for that position worked less and earned $550 per month. I was restless and dissatisfied.
A random call to a new friend helped me put things into perspective early in January 2021. The guy couldn’t date me because I earned that little, plus he inquired about how I survived since my father was also late, and he told me, “Sarah, you need to get out of there, figure out your life, get a new job, and earn more, even if it means you would have to leave for a different location.”
I remember thinking immediately of my mother. She only had us, her three kids; we were all she had, and I was her first child. “How could I leave my mom?" I asked him.
“You spend half of your salary for your household anyway; how long can you continue living like that while earning peanuts? The more you earn, the more you can also support them with ease,” he replied.
"Hmm," I answered while lost in thought.
“You also have no business getting into a relationship now because relationships cost money unless you meet a rich and generous guy; otherwise, you would need to work hard."
“Okay.” I said while trying to convince myself mentally that I should look for another job.
“Yeah. So, start to apply for jobs, and I hope you don’t hate me for telling you that the reason I can’t date you is because you are broke.” He said.
I smiled and told him, “Why would I hate you? You told me the truth rather than string me along. Plus, there is some clarity in what we are doing.”
“Okay, take care, darling,” he said, ending the conversation, and I bid him goodnight.
Image credit is mine
How funny it was when an old friend of mine posted a job advertisement for the position of a sonographer in Oyo State that same week. I applied, travelled for the interview two weeks later, and got the job. I resigned in February and moved to Ibadan at the end of that same month. My new salary started at $274, and although I now lived in a bigger city, where I would expend more, I felt relieved that I had just made the next step in the right direction.
Here I am, three years later, with five years’ experience under my belt as an independent sonographer. I can boldly say that through experience, the grass is always greener on the other side, and I feel gratitude that I took that bold step to change a part of my life that I was dissatisfied with.