Earned, and well deserved

I poked my nose where it didn’t belong. Six years into my first corporate gig, the nonchalance, and presumed job security, gave me a skewed sense of comfort. As a growing organization, the company I worked for, in 2023, announced a DEI initiative - a gender transitioning awareness workshop - and I voiced my public dissent.

The aftermath, was destruction of company property (work laptop and phone), immediately following a cold, virtual termination. I worked there with a team of engineers, supporting the Internet of Things infrastructure which monitored vehicle location, and analyzed the engine data of fleets worldwide, via a little plug and play device inserted into an automobile’s diagnostic port.

Years of monitoring cellular connectivity of those travelling modems, and resolving Internet outages, had pigeon-holed me into a niche position, in which I could kick my legs up, and wait for the next incident. The spare time was abundant, and I was a little too relaxed in my role.

When I heard the announcement that the company was hosting a workshop for trans awareness, I immediately questioned the appropriateness of the initiative for the workplace, in a public forum. I was promptly fired, and given a healthy severance package; my entitled self was in disbelief - and anger. I believed I had the right to work, and was unfairly dismissed.

Within a matter of days, I was in Santorini, Greece, swimming in the calm, sulphuric ocean, beside an inactive volcano, meters from the catamaran that I booked from my luxury, cliffside resort, with probably the most gorgeous view of the sea I’d ever laid eyes on.

The next seven months would be tumultuous, as I questioned my existence, delving into philosophy, desperately trying to navigate the uncharted territory of my future career. The blissful, sudden escape, to swim in the Grecian sea, turned into a feeling of being lost at sea, with no sense of direction, and a feeling of impeding doom.

Somehow, I mustered up the resolve to apply to - and interview with - a start-up payment processor company based in San Francisco, for another support position as an engineer. This lifted me from despair and uncertainty, as I worked among bright, hungry minds, chasing after market share and building a lasting product - with connections to card brands, like Mastercard and Visa - moving money across those networks.

Nearly two years into my tenure, I became exhausted and jaded from the hustle culture. My addiction to cannabis stripped me of my motivation, and I was let go for performance issues. This time, I knew how to handle a termination gracefully, and didn’t burn any bridges.

The next three months - in 2025 - I spent enjoyably, embracing the freedom from work. I knew I’d found my calling as a support engineer, so some of the pressure was off, knowing exactly the role I’d find myself in again. The plan was - after my dismissal in August - to begin applying for work the following March of 2026, after an extended hiatus.

In what could only be considered as divine intervention, I was graced with my next opportunity. As though the stars had aligned, a recruiter from a bill payments platform reached out to me over LinkedIn, encouraging me to consider a position as a customer success engineer.

Now, in my fourth week on the job, with invaluable experience behind me, I am truly grateful that things worked out for me, in the end. I do not take anything for granted, and understand that - in this economy - job security is hardly ever guaranteed. And so, I value every moment in the office, having sustained employment, doing work I am good at, and find fun.