(Or what you normally sing when you’re writing your goodbye to your job for the second time in a year)
We finally did it. We decided our friends are far more important than our careers, so we dropped if off officially on Tuesday morning, December 19th for the December 18th shift.
At least it was a good excuse to present to Tina, whom we met the night after for a pizza in Greenhills. Of course she knew that was bull, but it was fun to think about it for some time. Or maybe not, because we spent our time avoiding it and just talking about our favorite psychology topics, some conversations we have craved for for a long time due to the scarcity of sensible people. Yes, we quit our job for people like Tina, whom we value more and would like to spend quality time with over Christmas. So yes, for bookings till January, you may start your reservations now.
Admittedly, while the hype was being passed around the office, it was exciting to think about. We were brave enough to face the consumerist month jobless, without any promise of a next company that offers the same pay. Our tenurity with GE would not offer comfort, as 4 months isn’t exactly much for some companies. It may be a valiant excuse to say we want to just rest.
Or maybe it’s just foolish.
Today, we finished our clearance just for the back pay to process earlier. We bid everyone goodbye, promised to show up on Christmas parties, gave our word to keep in touch. We intend to. GE people are as much lovable as APAC-Medco people, and we will cherish them both. We were cheeky with them Medco guys, in fact, when we dropped by APAC to pick up our W2 forms. And if there’s a few regrets of leaving both APAC and GE, it’s losing such great people as constant company every time another company presents better pastures.
So why leave, if they were great people then? Honestly, up to this point, we’re not exactly sure either. We wanted to think that we needed rest, but after the hype of going around the office and declaring your choice, you find yourself in a state of emptiness when your body hits the bed when you get home. Ger and I would look at each other silently; our eyes would say, “This is it,” but we couldn’t bear to really voice out loud the big question of “what now?” Is it really the company? In all honesty, GE may have a few flaws, but maybe—just maybe—they can be bearable if the proper motivation is found. Is it the pay? We know better than to question that. Is it the nature of the job? Maybe. But haven’t we braced ourselves for that? That we’d stick around taking calls for some time up until we finally earn enough to maybe support ourselves while trying out for the field we really want? Or maybe stick around long enough to apply for a position where we could finally retire taking in calls?
We tried buying some time to figure that out. A few hours, then a day, two days, four…finally, a week. We can’t stay that way. We may be getting a little sick, and that might be enough to merit the required medical certificate we’re supposed to present to excuse ourselves from skipping work. But we’re being unfair too. To our teammates struggling hard to raise the team statistics, to our Team Leaders trying to manage with our absences, to GE and their value of integrity, and mostly for our integrity, us who can’t bear having to pull ourselves off the bed to go to work. It may be a depressive state, but we needed to do this. For everyone and for ourselves as well.
As we walked the halls for possibly the last time this week, I thought of everyone else we’ll miss. People in our wave who’d make a name for themselves sooner than everybody expects. People like Ayessa and Kenzo. Ayessa, our QA, is just a charming, righteous and positive person. I would definitely love to hear better news about her in a few months. Kenzo’s hardworking and slick. They’ll definitely shine from our batch. Good guys from Team Ryan who stick together. Wavz, Brian, Jeff, Shiela, She Mia, Gay, Wes, Abe, Nico. You’re great as a team, keep it up. Other people like Dean and Xavvy. New acquaintances like KC and others. And my team—they’re just powerhouse. Brian and Jeff, I do wish I became more comfortable with you guys sooner. I hope you keep making everyone lively. You made the best seat mates, believe me. Gertz, too bad I lost a month knowing you, but you were so nice. Adel, man, if I were constantly smoking again I would have loved to pick your brain while sitting in the smoking areas. Ayang, I’m hoping to bump into you again one day around the village. Mommy Jo, what can I say, I’ve known you since Medco days. You’re still the same lovable Mommy Jo. Marky—I’m expecting him to become a csm soon. You stand up and manage better than anyone when Cielo’s not around. Jamie—I should have gotten into a drinking session with you earlier had I known. Too bad you didn’t get to see me come to work after that session in Nak’s. Jay and Dana—make up for me. Hehe. To the others—Tonie, Alex, Emily and others I may have not mentioned, I just wish I was able to know you guys better. Everyone has given me a great time while I was taking in calls in your bay for the past few weeks. And of course, Cielo. If there’s anything I would like to tell her, it would be that I am so sorry for not being the agent she probably hoped for. I wasn’t the agent I hoped I would be as well, but I would like to thank her for the small time I was with her. I would like you to know that I’m already disappointed in myself, so no need to get upset over me na. He he. I almost believed I would be able to give you the same good statistics I gave Medco before I left, but I guess I hoped too much. But you were one of the best managers I have come across with. You would have been so proud to have me under your wing as much as I m that you’re my csm had I given you the best I could. But nonetheless, I wish you all the best. You WILL be great. That’s a fact. And when I hear about that after a few months, I wouldn’t be surprised at the news, maybe just on the fact that they didn’t recognize it sooner.
Thank you for everything. We’ll miss you.
(post originally dated December 20th.)