I walked into my first formal interview at The Bank. 8 years later, Im starting over again.
I recently learned that I will not be retained during my companies new transition. This has given me the opportunity to reflect on all that has occurred while I worked at The Bank.
At 18, I was highly driven to find a career. A way to support myself. So without any body’s help, I applied to The Bank. I remember shopping for my first professional interview outfit and the feeling I got when I heard “we would love to hire you on”.
At 20, I worked through a global pandemic at The Bank. I would work long hours, drive into office, wear a mask, and tell them that I was symptom free. Every. Single Day. I learned the ins and outs of mortgages during this time. I valued the human interaction I was still getting while knowing others were not as fortunate.
I turned 21 while working for The Bank. Coworkers who have since left but still remain on my mind were there, celebrating me. I felt so lucky to have a group on colleagues who were excited to send me off to my first legal drink.
I found love at The Bank. As cliche as it sounds, I did. He was shy, timid and closed off. I was not. A smile turned into an IM. An IM turned into a text message. A text message turned into a phone call. A phone call turned into a date. And a Date turned into forever.
I moved states and still stayed with The Bank. I was ready to start fresh and do something new but wasn’t ready to let go of my job. I loved my job, I loved my company. An exception was made and I was able to do my job in a new state.
I became a manager at The Bank. I learned that I love detailed, creative work, and hate coaching people. I also learned I was doing the job of 3 people and no job is worth your mental health.
I met my best friends at The Bank. My girls. I’ve always struggled with making friends, but as time went on our group started growing. We all have become so close. I was a bridesmaid for one of them. A couple who also met at The Bank.
As you can see, I grew up with The Bank.
You can imagine the shock I was in at 5:30 a.m. learning that the company who has raised me will no longer exist.
I am told today that I’m in a position that will not be retained once we merge with a new company.
I have so many thoughts and emotions about this. Slowly I have decided that this time to shift my career. I worked so hard for so long just to prove my worth, and to who? And for what? Now I want to do something I enjoy. Something that excites me and is creative. Something I can grow with.
But what will that be… ?
I’ll forever be thankful to The Bank for all the lessons it taught me and for raising me into the young professional women I am today.
If you’re going through something similar, I want you to know that you are not alone. And it’s never too late to start again.
~Abby
The “junk journal” I made of the my time at the Bank.
Leave a Reply