I have many days where I’m exhausted, but I must put on my game face – 3 hours in commute every day, being conscious of how I show up at work and going the extra mile to ensure I’m a team player.
I’m at a career high and I attribute this career high to motherhood. When I was expecting the second time around, I found out I was having twins. I went through a very difficult pregnancy and post pregnancy was even rougher, but I learned resilience. Guess what… I brought this resilient attitude to my job search when I was ready to rejoin the workforce again!
Prior to going back to work, I felt like a teenager again there were so many physical and mental changes happening at the same time. I felt lost, and I had to rediscover who I was and then recreate my identity. I had to reassess my value system and what’s important to me so that I could trust myself.
During my job search, I was asked how many kids I had in the interview process (I know this is illegal to ask). I received many rejections as the hiring managers were doubtful about my commitment, and the list goes on with their reasons for rejection, but through it all I was resilient. I knew what I could offer, I knew I had to create an opportunity where I could showcase my skills and potential. There are two ways to lead – create a path and have others follow you; or you see the direction the crowd is gravitating towards, get in front of the line, and help them achieve that goal. I chose the path of creating opportunities for myself and have others follow me. I attribute my confidence to the self-discovery I had to go through.
Thanks to the journey I’ve been on I bring my best self to work every day. What does my best self-look like? vulnerable enough to admit that I’m tired if I had a rough night with the kids, resilient to the on-going changing environment around me, and humble enough to acknowledge I’m still evolving and learning.
