Life and Lessons from Unforgettable Job Experiences

Throughout my career journey, I have had the privilege to work at various places, each teaching me invaluable life lessons. Here, I will share three significant experiences and the morals they taught me.

First Experience: A Research Institute

After completing my engineering studies, I joined a research institute as a junior scientist. The job paid very little, but it was a step towards fulfilling my ethical standards. While working, we faced a situation where project volumes increased, requiring more people and better infrastructure, including new laptops. Two colleagues, K and N, were assigned to handle this procurement.

Upon returning, they proudly flaunted the profit they made from the deal. As a strict disciplinarian, I was shocked and confronted them only after a few days. K gave all the profit to N, who was the sole breadwinner of his family of 4. N's father died while working as a security guard, and N himself had taken on a campus cleaning role. After landing a decent-paying job, he was duped into joining the company by false promises of better salary and incentives, which instead provided funds for his sister's school fees.

Moral 1: Judging a person based on rules is easy, but needs do not arise from such rules.

Moral 2: Karma is real. Actions have consequences.

Second Experience: A Multinational Manufacturing Firm

My next journey took me into a sprawling multinational manufacturing company. Initially, it was a liberating change from the small office, filled with activities and people. However, it came with its challenges, including a team leader's inappropriate behavior. He was always on the lookout for opportunities to jeopardize my working environment, leading to conflict among colleagues.

When I gathered the evidence, I decided to take a stand, despite the fear. This experience taught me several invaluable lessons.

Moral 3: Tough times come but do not last.

Moral 4: Sometimes all it takes is a little push to lead change. The courage to break the mold might inspire others to follow suit.

Moral 5: Your approval is more important than that of others. Stand for what you believe in.

Moral 6: True friends are those who stand by you regardless of the circumstances.

Third Experience: Freelancing as a Media Journalist

My current role as a freelance media journalist is both exciting and challenging. It allows me to meet celebrities and watch many movies, but it also brings stress. A recent encounter with a leading composer at their studio opened my eyes to the human side of celebrities. The duo was passionate and revolutionary, yet only one of them spoke. When the topic shifted to hobbies, he admitted that a PlayStation was something he had denied himself.

Moral 7: Life is tough for everyone, and for some, it is even harder than we can imagine.

Moral 8: Celebrities, like anyone else, desire genuine respect and appreciation for their work, not just their fame.

Moral 9: I may not be rich or famous, but I am gifted and can be normal in public.

These experiences have shaped my perspective on life and my approach to professional ethics. They have taught me that sometimes, perspective-taking and empathy can lead to profound realizations and changes in behavior.