We Win

I never wanted to be a statistic in my life. At least not a negative statistic. My whole life I tried avoiding it. When I was in high school I strove to graduate for that reason--I didn't want to be another Hispanic female who did not graduate high school. I avoided by ALL means to be another Hispanic female who became a victim of underage pregnancy or even a high school drop out. I strove to be better. I studied long and hard and I graduated high school. I held the same belief in college. I didn't want to be another college drop out or a slacker. I studied hard. So much so that I was invited to join the National Society of Collegiate Scholars which is an "honor society that recognizes outstanding academic achievement among first-and second-year college students. Membership is based on gpa and class standing, and is by invitation only." What an honor!

College had its ups but it also had its downs. I was hit with a curve ball when my mom passed away my junior year of college. She passed away the Saturday before the beginning of the fall semester. I was devastated. And I was crushed. Before me stood the decision of taking a break to mourn for my mother, or keep at it. I decided to keep at it. I was actually in denial about it and school helped me cope with that denial. (I guess I put myself in a statistical bracket right there, huh? "Denial.") But I got through college. It wasn't easy because of my personal situation, but nevertheless I strove to be better. I strove for greatness.

My last year in college I stared applying for full time jobs and internships to get my foot in the door to "Corporate America." I landed an awesome job my last semester in college and got promoted within two months of being there. And then again two-three months later. That last promotion is what brought me to Portland. The sky was the limit, or so I thought. The economy took a major downturn and people in my company were getting laid off right and left. It was only a matter of time until it got to me. Guess what? It didn't! I left that job for another job. My then supervisor was one of the people that got laid off and he got a job where he managed to pull me in too. Awesome! (A side note: the Portland branch of the office that brought me up here is no more. It closed its doors November 2009. The company itself is still in business, however.)

Needless to say, I narrowly escaped the grasps of unemployment. I worked at this new company and took on a hybrid role which was awesome! I learned so much. All the while, I'm still striving for success by taking on different projects, working with different clients, and helping where ever I could. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worst when we lost a major account. Seniority won, and I was laid off on May 17, 2010. Yep. Then and there I became a statistic. My worst nightmare.

The CEO said "It's not personal. It's not that we don't like you..." Stop right there. You didn't like me enough to keep me. You didn't think I was a valuable enough asset to keep me in your company. For goodness sakes! I wasn't even working on that account! I was on a different account that paid my salary. I couldn't help but to feel like such a failure. Remember, my whole life--even today--all I strive for is to be successful because I grew up in the poorest condition (low income housing) and because I wanted to make my parents proud. I owed it to them to strive to be nothing but successful because they sacrificed so much for me--it's only fair. My parents instilled that in me. My mom always told me "Everything you do, do it with excellence."

And there I sat in that conference room feeling like such a failure. All I could think about is how I was letting my mom down. I didn't know how to face my fiancé. Just thinking about the fact that we were going to have to dig in to our wedding savings absolutely killed me. How were we going to make ends meet? We have a mortgage (yes, another success story here--my fiancé and I purchased a house at 24 years old), bills, groceries, gas, you name it! I went home that day and sobbed the whole drive home. Then my fiancé came out to meet me (I texted him the news earlier) as I pulled into the garage and I wept at the sight of him. I wept inconsolably. He held me and was, and still is, very supportive. The next day I got up early, jumped on my computer, and started searching and applying for jobs. I had a job interview the very next week! That really gave me the push that I needed to stop feeling so depressed about the situation.

I, Liz, became an unemployed female statistic on May 17, 2010. Yet I cannot help but to feel so overcome with joy. I feel like I'm bursting with gladness and love and worship. Yes worship!! Though I didn't get that job and I am still unemployed, I cannot help but to be so thankful to God for sustaining me. I know that this is only temporary. God has ALWAYS made a way out of no way. There is not one thing in our lives that isn’t pre-planned. God has already paved the way. If he got me through death itself (I was also involved in that car accident that killed my mom), he can get me through something so minor as this. I don't know why these things happen, but I do know that through it all I get stronger and my faith gets stretched. I have not stopped worshiping God. If anything I am drawing closer to him. I am more jubilant in my worship to him. Because we win! Don't you know that the battle is fixed? We're already victorious! I know that there is a great job lined up out there just for me.

And if ever I feel down, all I have to do is listen to this song and my faith is restored.




People, take comfort in the fact that WE WIN!! This is not the end. This is only temporary. There is a great job out there just for you!