10 years, it is!

“Yes, I made it! Thank you, God!  I’m graduating from college!”  These were the words of a student who finally finishes a college degree.  I wouldn’t forget the day when names of the graduating batch were posted in the campus’ announcement board and collected my pink cards for that very last semester. In the university, only those who are expecting to graduate for that year will be issued pink cards on their last college semester, one will become a halfway graduate then.  The pink cards will have the final mark for all the last remaining subjects that will complete the entire college course. And obviously, all my pink cards have a passing mark. Hahaha! That was the best birthday gift ever!

Thinking that I already received my pre-birthday gift from God, I expected nothing after that.  It was April of 2004, that important and unforgettable call from a huge international IT company started it all.  Days before and after graduation, I’ve been applying for a job, not so much of a high pay but more of an experience in the IT field.  Because of that, I’m traveling back and forth, Bataan to Manila for a time and then back to Bataan after series of interviews.  One fine day, I’m about to get back to Bataan, my college friends told me that we go together and visit our school the next day as a massive hiring from a certain company will be conducted; we’ll just need to bring along a resume, take the exam, and dress up for a job interview.  I was hesitant at first, because I do not have anything prepared! Hahaha!  Anyway, I grabbed the chance. “Nothing  to lose,” I said.  After series of exams and interviews that day, among our college friends, three of us got to the final selection, what a surprise! It doesn’t end there. I never thought I’d be getting a call back after that due to a high volume of successful applicants.  They’ve previously gone to all exclusive schools already to do the same before us, Ateneo, La Salle, and Mapua, to name a few.   It took a while before the job offer finally came. Through prayers, I know I’m highly favored and I thank God for it.  I left my first job to work overseas.  It was not easy, those who knew me well can attest to that.  I accepted two more jobs before landing to my current job, which I consider a big and unexpected blessing in my career life.

In total, it has been ten great working years!  I still can’t believe that information technology will have a big impact in my life, just as so a new electronic gadget does to over a million people on earth. Looking back, my career bloomed and the profession I’ve chosen changed me in so many ways. I learned to love it more and appreciate the college course I had more than before. Professionally speaking, I know there are still so much more to learn and to overcome.  But there is nothing more peaceful than knowing  that God would still stand beside me as He did a decade ago, my faith brought me a career planned and prospered by God’s grace.

So there, happy 10^th year work anniversary to me! A decade is a decade.  And I will say it again, “Yes, I made it! Thank you, God!”