Things I've learned

I am now a Biostatistician.

Well, I have been, actually, since May of this year. After a year of corporate slavery where all I did was growl at people and wish I could leave, I finally got the opportunity to do a job that I have a passion for and am skilled at. It's still a corporate job, but at least I no longer feel like a slave. But that is not actually the whole point of this post. I just want to share what I have learned in the past 16 months or so...



1. The money alone will not make you satisfied
Well duh, says the reader. But before you judge me, please note that money wasn't the only basis for accepting my previous role. It formed part of the decision, but I also genuinely believed that the job was interesting, challenging and provided a good avenue for learning. Apparently, I was wrong. When the mask comes off, and you discover that this amazing job isn't so amazing after all but will actually be the source of unnecessary stress, there will come a point where you realize that the salary will not compensate for the bad vibes it's bringing into your life. In my usual lament, "Hindi sapat 'yang perang 'yan para mapagamot ako sa mga sakit na dinudulot ng sama ng loob". Add to that the expensive cost of living in the area where I worked, plus the fact that I needed to stock up on corporate clothing since my previous job allowed casual dress, and in the end, I felt like I practically wasn't earning anything anymore. 
Funny, as teachers the salary we earned was a pittance in comparison, but I can't actually recall a time where I  heard any of my colleagues saying that they have financial problems. Whereas in the corporate world, "Wala na akong pera!" is an oft-repeating chorus.

2. The dog eat dog world mentality does exist
Maybe I'm naive, but even though politics existed in all of my jobs prior to the last one (3 jobs, to be exact), it was very mild, and I still believe that people are innately good, that they're willing to work together and support one another and that all the bitchy back-stabbing and kiss-ass campaigning only occurred in movies (or in TV series like Suits). I thought that people who would throw you under the bus and run over anyone in their path just to climb up the ladder were the far negative exception. Until I met about a dozen of them, all in the same place, and the prospects aren't good when they're the ones in positions of power. I'm not saying my attitude in the office is correct, maybe I'm overly sensitive, or maybe you really have to do that to get ahead. I just know that I can't survive with that culture all around me. I couldn't stand the heat, so I got out of that kitchen.

3. People leave managers, not companies
I don't really want to explain this because it brings very unpleasant reminders, but this article hashes it out very well.

4. Friends in the office can make a big difference
The only thing that helped me survive my last few months in the office was the presence of friends. They provided a welcome respite and comic relief from the stress and carbon dioxide poisoning (inside joke, sorry) that I had been going through. Knowing that there are people who are going through a similar experience, who understand your worries and rants and that you'll get through it together is priceless. In the end though, losing them in a 'you will not see them everyday anymore' way is a sacrifice you'll have to make. The good thing about friendship though, is that it transcends the bounds of time and distance, and that no matter where you go, they'll still be your friends.

I learned a lot, and though it wasn't very pleasant, the experience wasn't wasted. I gained new friends, I got an idea of how statistics is used in that industry, I received insight regarding the realities of the corporate world, and most of all, I now appreciate what I have all the more.