From Adversity to Achievement

How I turned a series of setbacks into career success

2016–2017 was a year of transformative change for me.

It was an emotional rollercoaster that tested my resolve like never before.

I wanted a fresh start away from the memories of my divorce and the only place I’d ever lived. With my sights set on Northern Virginia, particularly the DC area, I began to plan my move. With a car, a new graduate degree, and a viable career path — I had all the necessary elements to start over.

I accepted a job with the Department of Transportation in Arlington. I realized on the first day that I couldn’t afford the daily parking fees. I had limited funds due to months of unemployment. Four days into the role, I spent the last few dollars I had to go to work.

To my surprise, day four was a holiday.

The agency representative was there, too. We both talked about how we overlooked the holiday. I shared my financial constraints with her. I wouldn’t be able to return to work because I didn’t have the gas or cash to pay for parking. In an attempt to help, the agency representative wrote me a check. Given that it was a holiday, it didn’t solve the problem until the banks reopened. This caused complications when I had to inform my employer that I couldn’t make it to a mandatory team meeting at 8 am the next morning since the banks didn’t open until 9 am.

The agency manager, angered by the email that explained my absence, called me. He criticized my commitment, accusing me of not making enough effort to get to work. I decided to educate him on the sacrifices I made for the job, including pawning items for gas money. I passed up other job offers because they were “almost” done with my clearance which ended up lasting three months. Not to mention, I had to deal with my son’s four-day hospitalization due to an asthma attack my first week in a new city. He continued to make dismissive and disrespectful comments, which were the last straw for me.

For the first time ever, I stood up for myself, refusing to be belittled.

I asserted that despite my best efforts, some circumstances are beyond one’s control. Not everyone has access to credit and wealthy family members to help them in times of need. I also pointed out that his lack of empathy was unprofessional and unacceptable. I was unwilling to work for anyone who would disrespect its staff in that manner.

His response was, “Wait, let’s not overreact.”

I ended the call with my self-respect intact and no regrets about walking away from that job. I returned the check and resumed searching for a new job.

That experience was a defining moment.

It was a testament to my growth and newfound confidence in my worth. After 3–4 months, my job search was fruitful. A staffing agency hiring for an eLearning Developer invited me to interview. Our initial meeting was in a Starbucks (my favorite place on earth). It was a success, setting the stage for a second interview in DC.

The morning of the interview, I was confident and excited. I had my resume and work samples, but I forgot to check the weather before leaving the house. This was a huge oversight. To get to the interview, I had to take a bus to the metro station which would take me into the city. As I was standing at the bus, I started feeling droplets of water.

“No, no, no! I thought. My freshly straightened hair is going to be ruined!”

The droplets escalated to a downpour. In a frantic attempt to preserve my professional appearance, I ran across the street into a CVS. I only had enough money to buy a hair tie to restrain the frizzing locks. Then I had to race back across the street to catch the bus, leaving me drenched and discouraged, but I chose to press on.

I arrived in D.C. The metro station I got off at was four blocks away from the office. I walked in the rain, further soaking myself and putting my hair at risk. When I arrived at the interview site, I greeted the agency representative. I asked for directions to the restroom before going into the interview.

I went into the bathroom to fight back my tears. I didn’t ruin what’s left of my make-up. I frantically tried to fix my hair to make it look as neat as possible. It was a moment of vulnerability, teetering on the brink of defeat, I refused to give in.

I took a few deep breaths and left the restroom.

Entering the interview, I chose to forget about everything that happened before that moment. I chose to only exude confidence. Discussing my work helped ignite my passion, overshadowing my insecurity about my appearance. The interview felt natural, like a conversation. We even had a few laughs. Once it ended, the agency representative walked me to the lobby.

She said,

“You were great in there. You’ll be hearing from me soon.”

I thanked her for the kind words, but, I couldn’t process the compliments she gave me. In that moment, I was so relieved that the interview was over. Exhausted by all energy it took to keep it together, I walked to the metro station, comforted by the fact that the rain camouflaged my tears. Soaked from the rain, I boarded the train to go home from my interview, feeling drained. As the train clattered, I was consumed with thoughts of disappointment.

I was mentally preparing to dive back into my job search, bracing myself for another rejection. My phone rang, interrupting the sound of the train and my own despondent thoughts. It was the agency representative delivering news that changed everything.
I was not only offered the position, but at a salary that exceeded anything I had ever earned.

Tears streamed down my face, unnoticed by the other passengers. It felt as though a higher power was assuring me that I had crossed over a threshold, and would never go back.

This job was a symbol of the end of a long period of struggle.

At the agency, I found a place where I could thrive. My colleagues were supportive, the work was engaging, and having my own office was icing on the cake. Every day was a reminder of how far I’d come: from a struggling mom to a respected professional in a significant role that changed the trajectory of my career.