A year ago, I quit my job
***CW: mention of assault/violence
A year ago, I quit my job to move to the Philippines. Nothing long term - I’ve been back in the US since last September. If you read my previous post also almost a year ago (lmao shade…), you’ll know that I was there for an internship. Overall, it was a great experience! I learned a lot and it was my first experience working in public health and global mental health research.
Not only did I experience professional milestones, but personal ones as well. I backpacked in Europe for the first (and because I hated it, last!) time, achieved and exceeded my goal of “30 countries under 30” (s/o to Forbes), and even entered a serious long distance relationship (Mx. Worldwide ooh la la!).
But I just have to say that, currently, I am not where I imagined I would be a year ago.
As I published my last (or, I guess, my first) blog and boarded my flight to Manila in Riyadh last April, I thought I would be out of the US for a long while. Before leaving for the Philippines, I applied for a visa to live and work in Australia for a year. I was looking forward to it, too, because I had been SO OVER these so-called United States - and I still am, to be honest.
Terrible health systems of which I was learning the ins and outs in grad school classes. Political polarization and extremism. Rampant gun violence back on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic already only four years ago, in March 2020.
Three years ago - March 2021, I submitted my two weeks notice at a toxic work environment that left me burnt out and depressed. I had to pack up my stuff and move back to the East coast, ashamed that things didn’t work out for me in Chicago. I felt like I had failed at being independent.
Two years ago - March 2022, I survived a physical assault while at a conference in Denver. I had to put in work to process a lot of emotions through therapy. For some time, I was even scared to leave my house and I wondered if I would feel safe to travel again.
And so I quit my job one year ago - March 2023, eager to be away for as long as possible, even permanently. I had finally pivoted my career to work in my desired field AND in another country six years after finishing undergrad. I did it! *snaps and claps for Carlo*
While abroad, though, I was presented with an opportunity that was too good to pass up: a job in public health and mental health with more pay than I had received before AND great benefits (including PTO because ya boi still gonna travel!). Since I was running on fumes financially, I decided to apply even if it meant I had to abandon my half-baked plans to gallivant (Filipinos get it) about in Australia. After all, my internship was unpaid and my minimal savings could only get me so far for so long.
Now it sounds that I’m forfeiting all of my previous claims that I go where the wind takes me. However, I will *still* stand by my previous declaration that stability is overrated. I’m still figuring things out and building the tracks as the train chugs along, always ready to change directions for the next opportunity that smells like adventure.
So what big city metropolis am I located in now!?
… Blacksburg, Virginia. THAT’S RIGHT FOLKS! Small town, southwest Virginia, and over two hours from a major international airport. I’m back at Virginia Tech, where I spent four years for university. Never in a hundred years did I think I’d end up here again long-term. Long story short, a recruiter reached out to me on LinkedIn and when I read through the job description, I knew I had to apply. I would gain solid experience in public mental health and have a lot of autonomy for the first time, ever, in a job career.
I’m working as a Mental Health Specialist for our campus wellness team. The team is *chef’s kiss* EXCELLENT to work with and I feel like I’m really engaging in meaningful work. I get to propose workshops that I’m excited to present, like how to set boundaries or find a therapist.
And I’m getting trained in so. many. things. mental health-related that I’m passionate about and will serve me well in this role and beyond. I even have my own whole @$$ office WITH WINDOWS (oooohh they fancyyyy!). And you KNOW I keep it stocked with tea, snacks, and aromatherapy LOL.
So here I am reflecting on the past year and years before. I’m not sure why this time of year is always so eventful. Is it just me? Maybe it’s Aries season… here’s to cycles! *clink* Time continues to be a tricky thing. Hopefully you’ll get another blog post from me again on here in less than a year.