You can spot a
fresh grad from a mile away. Their spirit is brimming with excitement, and
often you find them in a “deer caught in headlights” trance. They’re overly
eager about everything, and yet you can tell, they’re constantly asking
themselves, “What have I gotten myself into?”
I recall being
that fresh graduate eager to live the dream and thinking I was fully equipped
to handle the stresses of the daily “grind” simply because I worked hard and
managed to keep afloat in my college classes. However, a month into my first
job, I grew restless of doing the tasks no one wanted: making coffee, running
errands (as in doing the grocery), and even moving furniture (don’t ask!). I
had that college pride thing going, I did well in school why must I be asked to
do such meaningless tasks.
I could only
laugh (and smack!) at my 19 year old self. In the true essence of Throwback
Thursday, here are a few things I would gladly share with my fresh out of
school, sometimes prideful, self.
1)
Drake Was
Right: You Start At The Bottom
I
could recall in an instant the lowest point of my young career. It was in 2009
and my boss told me to put up billboards somewhere in Muntinlupa. We were in a
rush so we weren’t able to secure permits and I spent the afternoon with the
boys while putting up billboards and hiding from the security in the area. I
could have chosen to sulk, but instead, I enjoyed it and have now become one of
my favorite stories to share with my younger officemates. Drake was right
though, to earn your spot, you start from the bottom. Being at the bottom
pushes you to work hard, and keeps you grounded. That incident has also made me
more compassionate towards those who are still starting because I could vividly
recall what it was like.
2)
Grind Even If
No One Is Watching
We’ve
all had that suck up officemate. The one who does nothing but play games all
day and yet when the boss comes in, he/she steals the credit to get the
spotlight. When I was younger and more temperamental, this often caused me
anger. However, my dad often reminded me that if you work hard even when no
one’s watching, God will reward you in the light. And so far, so good.
3)
Respect Your
Bosses (Yes, Even The Grinch)
I’ve
had a boss call me “colorblind” during a meeting, among other insults. Again,
my young, angry self often found the need to fight back. However, I’ve come to
realize that they’re in authority for a reason, so might as well respect them
because even from the most evil ones, you can learn something.
4)
Learn and Pay
It Forward
We
live in an age where knowledge can be gained in an instant. Take advantage of
this and soak in the world. Learn as much as you can, in whatever form you can,
and don’t forget to share what you’ve learned with those who are just starting
out. We’re all in the struggle together, so might as well lend a helping hand.
5)
Be Patient and
Take Risks.
Sometimes,
waiting for things to change can be frustrating. And while it’s important to be
patient in waiting for your time to come (like what my brother is patiently
doing right now), you must also be brave enough to take risks. This is the only
time you can try everything you’ve wanted to do. Just trust the process, and
believe that things will fall into place as it should.
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