One Year Anniversary

The 10th of March 2014 was a Monday morning like every other one for most working people. You get up with a lot of effort, because you didn't sleep so well last night. You still suffer from the hangover called "the Sunday blues" and despise the fact that you have to face the traffic, yet again, with your fellow zombie-like travelers. You don't know them, but you share the same agony.

For me, that particular Monday morning was different. I was also going to work, but it was my first day at my first job. It was only ten minutes' drive from home, but I left a little earlier. I was excited, but also scared. Answering my first phone call at the reception desk was pretty frightening. But even though I was just a temp at the time, I still took the job seriously. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for, but I knew that I wanted to make a success out of this. Nothing newly learned ever goes to waste.

Today marks my one year anniversary as a working woman and I'm still where I started. When I look back at the past 12 months. I see how much I've learned about the advertising and marketing sector, how I've developed and improved many of my skills, and how I've grown above my job description. I learned things only experience and the marketing environment could teach me. The phone is not so scary anymore, but the relationship is still complicated. Oh yes, I also graduated during this time.

However, in the last six months, my excitement toned down, so far that I actually feel down. It all started when two co-workers left. Not only did they teach me most of what I know today, but they also became my friends. Their leaving shook me harder than I thought. Sure, you can replace someone with the same capabilities, but they're not them. It is never the same.

Just as I got used to this change, our office moved. Where it previously took me ten minutes to get to work, it now takes me a whole hour. It's my second week in the traffic brigade on a route that takes twice as long to complete thanks to my fellow zombie-like travelers. Unfortunately, you have to go where your work goes.

The reason for me being down, however, is mainly the feeling of being unfulfilled. Sure I am gaining experience, and I will always be grateful for that, but that doesn't stop my weekly identity crises, especially when you know there will never be an opportunity for you to climb the ladder. There are days when you feel good, there are days when you feel awesome (because you did something no-one else could figure out) and then there are days where you feel like you're just the receptionist and you're only good enough to make sure there's coffee in the office. Surely I'm not the only one who ever went through these emotions?

Sometimes I really have to remind myself that I may not be the most important person in the office, but to the office I am important. Today I'm not celebrating my one year working anniversary. Rather, I'm celebrating the fact that I do have a job, even if it's not my ideal job, that I've made it so far, and that I can look forward to more and better opportunities. Until then, I will look at this message I posted on my wall today, every day:

Don't have too much of a plan, don't be afraid of new experiences and use every job as an opportunity to learn.