I'll be the first one to tell you that I believe everything happens for a reason. However, back in late 2015, I would not have believed you. I was an emotional mess after I was fired from a job that I absolutely loved.
Being fired was through no fault of my own, it was a "last hired, first fired" situation. The company was downsizing and being that I was the last one hired, I was the first to see the door. I was so upset because I thought this company was the one I was destined to be at for my career. I was let go at 5:00 on a Friday night, just as I was leaving the office.
During that weekend, I was lost. I questioned if journalism was the right path for me. I remember vividly thinking that I needed to reevaluate my career choices and find a new path in life. I went on a few interviews for the following weeks but nobody was biting at my resume.
I remember asking myself these questions...
-Is my resume not good enough?
-Was that masters degree a waste of money?
-Am I that terrible of a writer that nobody wants me on their team?
-Why am I the only one who seems to be struggling when it comes to finding a job?
-What is wrong with me?
Being fired is something that I took extremely personally. While it was no fault of my own, I couldn't help but think it was all my fault. After leaving one particular interview, I finally had a major meltdown. I had been passed over for an editor job and I finally had enough that the tears came pouring down my face.
I picked up the phone and sent a message to one of my close friends. Her advice stuck with me and to this day, it's something I always remind myself during a rough spell. "Staying stuck is the worst thing you can do to yourself."
My close friend shared her wisdom about how I needed to do something for myself, to get my mind off of things.
After talking with my friend, and discussing her failures, I started to see the sunshine again. Life is an uphill battle and there will be moments where you slide down the hill 10 feet, but you rise and climb another 20 the next day. I hung up the phone, took the weekend to myself to formulate a plan, and then got to work on Monday morning.
I applied to every little job I could think of. I ended up scoring an interview at a grocery store to stock shelves, which was no where near my dream, but it was a start and would give me some money. I also got an interview at a local radio station that was looking for a part time news reporter. I jumped on both.
Things always have a way of working themselves out, but we're humans and have complex emotions so the breakdowns and the battles are necessary. Even though I so desperately wanted that editor job, getting what I wanted was not in the cards. However, if I had gotten that job, I would have never met the people I have in my life now.
My job working in the radio industry was short lived, the station closed within just a year of me being there. I was fortunate to come across many people who still act as sources for me today. Thankfully when the station closed, I was already writing as a freelance reporter for a regional publication so I was okay job-wise.
While I thought that being fired was the worst thing to happen to me, it really opened so many doors for me. I'm sure glad I have someone looking out from me from above and I've put my faith in my hard work and talents. My path has already been decided for me, I just need to walk it and battle whatever may come my way.
If you've ever been fired unexpectedly, know that there are many of us who are with you. It's the worst feeling in the world and you'll be left with questions that you likely won't ever get the answers to. However, know that it's okay to be upset, it's okay to be frustrated, but don't ever stop working hard to achieve your goals and dreams. You were put on this planet for a reason and you are going to excel.
In 2018, I was contacted by a publication I had just started working for a few months earlier. The editor had left and the company wanted to put me in charge of the entire editorial department. I took a giant leap and accepted the offer. I'm still working for the same company as I write this blog post. While I was terrified to take the job, in the end, I am so glad I believed in myself and did it.
The mind is a powerful thing. When you shift your focus from negative to positive thoughts, your whole life will change. If you've been let go from your job, go out and prove to yourself why you still deserve to be in the field. It paid dividends for me, and I know it will do the same for you.
Signing off,
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