Picture it, March 7, 2017. It’s another clear, smog filled day at the insurance company where I worked for almost 27 years. I arrive just after 7 AM, which was typical since my shift begins at 7:30. I’m not in the best of moods. The company was not what it used to be. When I started there in 1990, I really felt like I became a member of a family. Pure midwestern values; the company took care of its employees. When the CEO retired, it was all downhill from there. Instead of us watching out for each other, the atmosphere turned into “every man and woman for themselves.” That is, in my humble opinion, a recipe for disaster, and it was.
I had always enjoyed taking care of our customers. I pride myself in having the ability to work with people and engage in conversation. I can make folks feel like they’ve known me for years. I was very good at customer service. One thing I don’t enjoy, is micromanagement. Now don’t get me wrong, there is a level of accountability that in which we must adhere. I had and still don’t have a problem with that. If I need a lecture to get me back on track, I accept that. However, coaching and micromanaging are two entirely different things. Coaching involves providing feedback on how you’re doing your job. Micromanaging, in my opinion, shows a lack of trust. I’m not a fan.
As the day goes on, I’m already thinking about what I’m going to do after work. I soon received an answer to that question after I was done with a phone call. I think it was around 1 or 1:30 PM. My boss comes to my desk telling me he needs to see me when I’m done completing the notes for the call. I finish and he says, “I need you to come downstairs with me and bring your keys.” I automatically knew what that meant. I gave him the “you’ve got to be kidding me look,” grabbed what I could and followed him down to HR. Dead man walking, I take the walk of shame. A 27 year career is done in seconds.
Being fired is humiliating. I didn’t harass anyone, nor did I steal anything. It was an honest mistake with their phone system. Tenure, accolades, and being great at what I did for this company did not matter in the end. It was over. I still feel to this day I was wrongly terminated and I did speak to an attorney about litigation but I didn’t pursue it which I regret.
I remember leaving the building on my own power. They wanted security to escort me out but I flat out said you’re not going to treat me like a criminal, I’m walking out the door I came in through this morning. They relented and let me go. As disappointed as I was walking out of that building one last time, there was a sense of relief that came over me. Yes I needed that job, but I realized I have a chance to do something else that will make me happy. The Sunday nights sitting on the couch dreading Monday morning were over.
It’s been 5 years since that fateful day, which is the reason I decided to write about this “anniversary” because I am in a much better position now then I was then. I never saw myself as an English teacher, especially at my age, but here I am. I am now an intern and have adopted 67 kids. I love them all, most of the time. I still have some work to do to become an official teacher, but I’m getting quite a bit of on the job training with the three classes I currently have. When I do accomplish my credential goal, you will all know soon enough.
So what’s the moral of this somewhat sad story. It’s this, you can start over again at any age. No it’s not easy. I’m not saying it’s been a cake walk to get to where I am because it wasn’t. When I applied for jobs at In-n-Out Burger and Dunkin’ Donuts I thought for sure I’d end up a janitor at one of those places. Neither of those businesses wanted me but I knew that’s not where I belonged. It took a vision from my best friend to make me realize what my calling was, and it’s what I’m doing now. I plan on doing this for as long as I can.
I’ll end with this, find something that makes you happy. It could be charitable work, it could be finding a new career. Whatever it may be, first find the joy in your life. Don’t dwell on the negative. That will certainly bring you down. If I could find my joy in my second career, I’m sure you can too.
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Quote - “Failure is not the end, but the start of a new beginning.” - Author Unknown
I also started a second career at age 41. I went to college to become a medical technologist (now known as a clinical laboratory scientist). After I graduated, I had children instead of going into a year-long training program. Later, I took other jobs since I didn't have a clinical laboratory scientist license. I had a lab job in the Quality Assurance Department in the defense industry for about 12 years before being laid off. At that time, I decided to pursue a clinical laboratory science career. I was required to take certain colleges courses - 17 years after graduating - in order to apply for training as a CLS (clinical laboratory scientist). I barely was able to get the classes that I needed. Then came time to apply for the training programs - only about dozen at the time in the state of California. I was accepted and trained at St. Joseph's in Orange. After obtaining my license, I worked for about 2 years at the VA in Loma Linda for the Loma Linda University Mineral Metabolism and Osteoporosis research lab. When we moved to Orange County, I applied for work at Quest. My first position at Quest was a CLS in the Biochemical Genetics, a department formed only one year prior. I became the first QA Coordinator in the department. After 10 years, I became a QA Coordinator in Hematology Oncology, and 7 years later I returned to Biochemical Genetics. Follow-up testing done in Biochemical Genetics for newborn screening is important for improving the quality of life for babies born with genetic disorders. I personally have relied on the results of biochemical genetics testing. In 2022, I retired from a job I had for almost 25 years.