Work. Work. Work.

Should I call this work? or maybe I can call this a "regretful experience"?

I have a job which is not related, totally NOT RELATED, with the degree I have. I want to emphasize on "NOT RELATED" because usually this job is open to everybody holding any college degree so long as they reached the sophomore year.

I want to start telling stuff with my course first. I graduated in a fine school (De La Salle HSI) holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. I don't really want this course from the very start of my life. Even if I track my personal history, I can't remember any sign that I considered taking up this course in College. One thing that pushes me to hate this course is that, you are required to wear white clothes, and it is not possible for me to wear it the whole day maintaining it stain-free. This problem started when I got an application form for DLSU, there are actually three lines to be filled up labeled "Course applied for". My parents told me to fill up the second and third one first, and they keep on telling me that I must fill up the first one once Im fully decided on the course I really wanted to take. I followed their advice, I spent a month thinking about the courses, well actually the thought of filling up the form slipped away from my mind, which made me apply in college late and almost all of the courses and school already closed their doors for applicants. What I did was to rush myself to choose the course I would take in college, It was already April, and I only have two months left before the opening of classes. I sought for my parents' advice, and they told me that Nursing was a good (not just good but for them it was the best) course during that time. Being a man without my own decision, I go for it, and let an opportunity to take the course I really want (B.S. Architecture) to slip away. I also thought that it would be a good "pre-Med" course. To cut the story short, I passed the exams and interviews, so I enrolled at DLSU as a Nursing student. At first, I really considered shifting to other course but my parents won't let me and I even made some "stupid-stuff" for them to let me enroll on a new course. But none of the things I did worked, I was required to finish this course up to graduation. I don't really like this course until I learned to accept that this might be what is really meant for me. I learned to love this course because of my friends and professors, and a thousand character is not enough to cite everyone of them, but anyway thanks to them. Finally, in 2009, I graduated and passed the board exams, but I still haven't considered applying for a nursing job. Well, I think that it won't fit me. So I started looking for a job which I think best fits me.

One day, when I was looking for a job on the internet, my friends texted me and informed me that they would apply in a Call center the next day. I decided to go with them, but I got no time to make any requirements, so what I did was just to print the Resume project I have for 4th year, and passed it. We were 7 that time, and we all reached the 2nd interview. After that, 3 luckily passed and were subjected for 3rd interview, and unfortunately I was allegedly assigned to another account so I have to wait for my employer to call me and set the schedule for my interview. Due to my short spanned patience, I wasn't able to wait for their call and I went with the others to apply in another company. Luckily this time I was hired directly that day, but I was required to attend a language training in Shaw for two to three weeks. My other friend was required to attend the technical training in Alabang. My friend does not attend the training because she's alone, and I considered doing the same thing too due to the same reason and because Shaw is too far from my place. Then a day before the actual training day, an HR employee called me and informed me that there is a service for the trainees on the first day( and I remembered my interviewer that there is a chance that I would pass the first day assessment and with that I would advance on the next step which can be Job Offer), so I took the chance. Luckily I passed the first day assessment and I was now asked to attend a technical training that would run for a week which is now in Alabang. Now, I don't have any doubts in attending this training because: 1.) It's in Alabang, which is nearer my place; 2.) Its just for a week; 3.) I already have friends in training; and 4.) I really really get bored at home. Fortunately, I passed the whole training and I made it to the Floor (a jargon used by call center agent to refer to Operations). It was really fun at first, I can talk to people from the United States, do some computer stuff and the best of all, I have salary twice the amount of what I would get If I applied as a hospital nurse. It was really fun but then, I don't know why, but I always got an irate customer. It is not possible for a day to pass without recieving a call from an irate customer that would talk and talk and talk and shout at me over the phone. They would always tell me that this company sucks as well as their employees. Someone even told me that I don't know what I'm doing and that my employer was only wasting their money paying me for the services I am providing them. Of course I have to understand that they're only telling me those things because they were really frustrated that time and as the service provider, I have to understand that even though I don't really want to. I really believe that "Customers are always right" and I even applied that to myself whenever I am shopping or paying for some services like haircut, facial, etc. But I think There's something missing on that saying, it must be: "Customers are always right but they are not perfect/Gods", makes sense right?. There was also a time when I have to take a double shift for a day. I had my 1st shift from 4:30 AM to 1:20 PM and had my 2nd shift at 9:30 PM to 6:30 AM, and worst, I was not able to enjoy my OFF because our team is required to attend a seminar on Windows 7, it was 2 days without a sound sleep! After that, critical week was announced (Critical week is a status in our company wherein absentism is prohibited and also productivity is OBSERVED), and it really puts some pressures on our side. Another thing, my TL is transferred to another program (I'm not pretty sure of it, but one things for sure: she's not our TL anymore), and I haven't had an ample time to know her more and spend more time with her. Actually I got really affected by this because I have some sort of "separation-anxiety". Also there is this "critical week rumors" that they would be firing non-performing agents as a part of the transition and cost-cutting. There's also a rumor that a team might be disolved or fired, and I am really worried because our team is one of the bottom teams. With those experiences in work, I lost the enthusiasm I had before and also the enjoyment I am feeling towards work before.

Right now, I keep on asking myself is this really what happens on work. Or this might not be a work at all, but a bad experience. Or maybe this is how really life works!I don't know, but Im certain that I still need time to understand and to know everything in Life. I know that I am not yet fully equipped with the knowledge, attitude, and motivation. In short, I still need time to mature and grow.

As how I say it today; "Life is really dynamic, you must know how to play with it!"


(Sharing a picture I got on the net)


I know I must see things positively to enjoy what Im doing, and I know one day I'll get used to what Im doing and I'll enjoy this.!

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺RFDaponRN

Firsts...

Today, too many Firsts happen in my life. Those firsts moments are the ones that are worth remembering and are feel good events. ☺☺☺

Number one on those firsts is this blog, this is actually the first blog I made and publish over the net. I also got problems choosing the topic for my first ever blog. It took me almost a week before I can start over my first blog. I made this blogger account for already a week now, but then I had problems thinking for an interesting topic to discuss. Well, at the end, I've realized that the topic doesn't really matter at all. You don't need to impress others with those wharping scientific findings, or even get others' sympathies by making a dramatic and an award-winning piece script-like stories. I realized that everything you think about, can actually be the topic in a blog. No matter how boring it is, how shallow the meaning it has, or how useless the information a blog have, a blog is still a blog. What matters most is the enjoyment the blogger had.

The next "first thing" I had was placing a $200 sale for work. As a technical support representative under Dell company, a sales representative role is included due to the Total Solutions program in the company. I wasn't really expecting that I would have sale today, because for almost a week, I was not even able to open up even the sale spiels to my customers. Also I had my FIRST FILIPINA caller, and it's really fun talking to a Filipina over the phone after months of working in a call center company. This customer opens up an opportunity for a sale because she already had the confidence in my abilities and knowledge. She fully trusts the things I suggested, and offering a commodity was not really a challenge with this call. At first a sale for warranty extension is initiated by the customer, but the call ended up with me offering other product, specifically, the external hard drive. She was ready to purchase those commodities, but then, a problem actually stopped us. Her credit card was not available for the moment, but still I haven't lose hope. I offered a call back to own this case, I thought this attempt would actually fail but to my surprise, she was very eager and enthusiastic with my offer. The next call I have purchased an optical drive and an Expired Warranty Support that costs roughly about $200. I was really thankful to my Filipina customer, for without her, my sales talk abilities won't come out, and I wouldn't gain any confidence in this stuff. Selling is sometimes fun ☺

The next first I had, actually happened last weekend. My family [which includes my mom, my dad, my sister, and me] went out to watch movie and eat together, and take note, we're complete. This was a once-in-a-blue-moon event in my family, because my sister seldom comes with us during Sundays because she preferred to spend more time with her "friend". We went out to watch "In my Life" starring Vilma Santos, Luis Manzano, and John Lloyd Cruz. The movie was not really interesting, i don't know why, maybe because I preferred to watch an action, horror, comedy, or a feel-good movie instead. But the most important point here was that, we're complete. I was the one who treated my mom and my sister. For the snacks, I bought a BurgerKing extra long chicken burger with large fries and drinks. I was also the one who bought the movie tickets for them. Actually that was really fun, though I spent almost 4000 bucks for that day. The next plan we had is watching "Yaya and Angelina" next week, which is a movie suggested by my Dad. [I actually suggested Final Destination, but no one agreed...] I wish this plan would be pushed through.

The last "first thing moment" I had was actually a non-sense one. Last night, I was able to talk to someone I was really attracted to, I can consider myself addicted to. We just accidentally spoke [if nodding toward each other is already counted as a conversation] last night because that person was on a public table sitting next to my friend. I approached my friend, not noticing the presence of that person at first. I was just surprised and its as if my jaws fell off the ground when my friend introduced us to each other, and also to her other friends. It was the first time that person actually smiled at me straight and not in a vague or eerie manner. I also noticed that, that person is actually staring at my face while Im talking and telling some non-sense, silly, attention pulling stories. Also, that person butts in, in some parts of my story which made me feel that, that person is really listening and paying attention to what I am telling. I'm still wondring if that person is also interested in me, or its just that, that person is courteous enough that looking at the one talking is already a manner.

Well, this first really made my Day [or week]. I just wish that these firsts is only the beginning of a more happy and challenging days to come. How I wish that the last "first stuff" would be the start of something new. And how I wish that every Sunday would be the same for my Family.

☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺RFDaponRN