Today marks one year since I embarked on a journey into finance, a journey filled with unexpected challenges, resilience, and personal growth. But it wasn't just my career that had transformed; it was my entire life.
Six months before joining the finance sector, my world had been turned upside down when I went through a separation from my partner. The wounds from that chapter of my life were still fresh as I moved to a new country to start a new job. I was no amateur in picking up my life and moving to a new country, but this remained a daunting task that tested me on multiple levels. Three months before I began my career in finance, another tragedy struck. I received the heart-wrenching news of my mother's passing. She had been my pillar of strength throughout my life and instrumental to the separation, and losing her felt like a piece of my soul had been torn away. My heart ached, and the grief threatened to consume me.
Although arriving in the new country was a welcome fresh start, grief and pain were ever-present companions. I questioned my decision so many times to start this new chapter of my life amidst such grief - I wondered why I didn't just spend the year with my dad and brothers to grieve, albeit unemployed or on long-term compassionate leave. The unfamiliar city, the foreign faces, and the daunting challenges at work seemed insurmountable.
However, I was determined to honor my mother's memory by persevering and building a successful career in finance - she was so proud of the job offer and encouraged me to pursue it before she passed. I threw myself into my work, immersing myself in the intricacies of the industry and the interesting field of Human Resources and Psychology. It was demanding, but the long hours and steep learning curve served as a welcome distraction from the pain and grief.
I began to connect with my friends who had also moved to London, and colleagues in the bank. Their support and guidance helped me navigate the complexities of the finance world, and I began to experience joy daily again. Slowly, the isolation I felt began to fade, and the wounds of my grief began to heal.
Through the one-year journey filled with personal challenges, resilience, grief, loss, and adaptability in the finance sector, there are several valuable lessons I learned:
Resilience is a powerful trait: Facing personal crises while starting a demanding career in a new country is not easy. This journey taught me the importance of resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity and persevere despite problems. It's a reminder that setbacks don't define us, but our ability to overcome them does.
Adaptability is key: Life often throws unexpected curveballs. Adapting to change and being flexible in your approach are essential skills. In a new country and industry, adapting to different cultures, work environments, and colleagues became crucial for success.
Support is essential: During challenging times, leaning on friends, colleagues, and mentors can provide emotional and professional support. Building a support network helped me navigate difficult situations and learn from others' experiences.
Grief is a process: Losing a loved one is a profound and unique experience for everyone. Grief doesn't have a set timeline, and it's okay to seek professional help or confide in friends when needed. The journey taught me the importance of allowing myself to grieve and heal at my own pace. I took my time to grieve on my own in 2023, and have now started grief counselling and therapy this new year.
Purpose and motivation are driving forces: Having a clear sense of purpose and motivation can fuel your determination to succeed. The desire to honor my mother's memory and build a successful career provided a powerful driving force throughout the journey.
Self-growth is continuous: Personal growth is an ongoing process. Every experience, even the most challenging ones, contributes to your personal and professional development. I embraced the lessons learned and used them as building blocks for the future.
Time is a healer: As the days turn into months, wounds can gradually heal. While the pain of loss and separation may never fully fade, time helps me find a way to carry those experiences with me, allowing them to shape me positively rather than hold me back.
Celebrating achievements is important: It's essential to acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. Every milestone, like my first anniversary in my finance career, is a testament to my strength and resilience.
Setting goals is a driving force: Establishing both short-term and long-term goals can provide a sense of direction and purpose. Whether in my career or personal life, having clear objectives helped me stay focused and motivated.
Life is unpredictable: This journey emphasized that life can be unpredictable and full of challenges. While we can't control everything that happens, we can control how we respond to these challenges. Developing resilience and adaptability will serve us well in any endeavor.
One year into my finance career, I looked back at the person I had become—a stronger, more resilient version of myself. The pain of loss still lingered, but it no longer defined me. Instead, it had become a part of my story, a story of how I had faced adversity head-on and emerged victorious.
On my first anniversary in the finance sector, I am taking a moment to reflect on the journey that has brought me here. I know my mother would be proud of the person I have become, and I know that the challenges I have overcome have made me more resilient and adaptable than I have ever imagined. With each passing day, I am determined to honor her memory and build a future filled with success, strength, and resilience.
In the next blog post, I'll share the points of growth and leadership experienced professionally in the past year, because it has indeed been an amazing year of professional growth working in Finance.
xoxo.
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