2 Years on the Job
Drie and I have come a long way since we met at the lobby of the WEST Employment office for our final panel interview.
It was March 2005. Only the two of us were sitting by the lobby sofa, at around 8:30 in the evening on that fateful Friday night. I was pretty perky after the required class demo, which I thought went just fine, so I started talking to this lady wearing what looks like a light pink skirt-shorts. I think they call that a skorts? For any lesser mortal attending a job interview, that outfit would have made them look like they were out in the park for a stroll. But not with Drie. She was stunningly beautiful in her simplicity, the only sign of her being a sosyalera was the obviously expensive bag she was holding. And a silk scarf tied around her neck.The scarf made her look like a knock out fashionista. And I must admit, the moment she started opening her mouth and dropping the name Exx Maramara I realized that she was a competition to be reckoned with. I mean we were trying to get into the Training Department,and we didn't really know how many trainers the company would hire.So I guess treating her as such was a natural emotion to feel. But as we went on talking I felt like I will get along very well with her, and wished we could both have a place in the team. Then Kaka appeared, calling me for the final panel interview. Drie said the customary "Goodluck!", I thanked her and said the same. I had a gut feeling back then we will meet each other again. Needless to say we both got the job. And we've turned out to be good friends and seatmates too.
And looking back now, 2 years after being hired, accepting that job offer was probably as life changing to me as losing my dad. Although in the opposite way. West has been good to us professionally. We both got promoted to a higher training position by sheer hardwork. Yes, we didn't have to kiss someone's ass just to move forward. It's a gratifying feeling knowing that you've achieved some success at work because of your talent, and dedication to your job. It's a rewarding feeling to know that people trust you can deliver because you've shown time and time again what you're capable of doing.It's a humbling feeling that people look at you with high regard because you've remained intact and uncompromising with your consistency and work ethics. It's a satisfying feeling knowing you're backed up by the most supportive set of colleagues one can ever wish for. And even if there were some bumps along the way, staying by virtue of following my heart was probably the wisest decision I've ever made.
So I guess this is what 2 years on the job has done for me, and I hope for Drie. When most people are too sick and tired of working, we've found ways to keep on coming back to the office for more. When other people will do everything to totally stay away from the stress, we found ways to embrace it altogether using nothing but coffee and small talk. But most importantly, when other people were left with no other choice but to leave, we stayed having the same idealistic view that everything will be better eventually. And they are. It will be so for many more working years to come.
Cheers to 2 years on the job!