Back in June 2023, I joined RareJob as a part-time support associate—a decision that has significantly shaped my journey as a college student. College comes with a lot of responsibilities, including the need to manage expenses for academic requirements. When a friend shared an online job posting for RareJob, I was intrigued by the idea of a part-time work-from-home setup and immediately seized the opportunity. Fast forward to the present, it’s been one year and six months since I became part of the Operations Support Team, where we primarily address inquiries related to tutors’ schedules, lessons, and other concerns. Being in this role has not only supported my studies but also taught me the value of balancing responsibilities and seizing opportunities.

Working from home is often described as convenient, but it comes with its own set of challenges—especially for students like me. The ability to attend virtual classes in the morning and seamlessly transition to my part-time shift later in the day is undeniably a privilege. However, juggling both responsibilities can be overwhelming. To stay on top of things, I’ve learned to rely heavily on simple yet effective tools, like sticky notes and notepads. Creating daily to-do lists helps me prioritize tasks, stay organized, and experience the small but satisfying joy of crossing items off as I complete them. Beyond that, sharing a digital calendar with friends has been a game-changer. It allows us to coordinate hangouts, ensuring we carve out time to recharge amidst our hectic schedules.

What makes the entire experience even more fulfilling is working with a team that values collaboration and support. Being part of a group where everyone genuinely has each other’s back has been instrumental in navigating busy periods. As support associates, we handle a volume of inquiries, but knowing I can count on my teammates to share the load or offer encouragement makes all the difference. Together, we not only meet our targets but also grow individually, thanks to the supportive and goal-oriented environment. To add to this, working from home eliminates the need to rush out of the office to be with our loved ones because we’re already in it. While it can sometimes feel a bit too comfortable, I love how RareJob keeps everyone connected and engaged through face-to-face events like team buildings, team lunches and dinners, and the much-anticipated Year-End Party. These gatherings are great opportunities to build relationships and foster community within and beyond the team.

Among these gatherings, the Year-End Party is the event where everybody gets to meet everybody. Aside from being able to meet those who you can only see in mails and Google sheets, what makes the Year-End Party more exciting are the foods, drinks, photobooths, performances, and a little tradition of gift-giving our team has. During the first RJPH Year-End Party I attended, I only came in with myself but left the party being full-handed. It’s one of the lessons I carry to the 2024 Year-End Party—to bring in a bag enough to carry the gifts. It is not at all required to bring one but it is extremely rewarding to be able to give a piece of memory of you no matter how big or small. Aside from the raffles and gift-giving here and there, one of the highlights of the party is the awarding of winners for the Employee of the Year.

Every day, I keep learning and I know I still have so much to learn, so when I was nominated for the Employee of the Year – Part-Time Category, I did not know what to say. I didn’t even realize I was qualified for such recognition! What truly inspires me are the dedicated staff members who’ve been with the company for years. Their passion and hard work make me want to strive for growth—not for accolades, but to be a better contributor to the team and to learn from their experience. Initially, aside from feeling excited, I also felt an unnecessary pressure to perform perfectly. I found myself overthinking every task, but over time, I realized that this nomination wasn’t about perfection. It was about consistency, effort, and staying true to the values that guide my work. With that in mind, I went back to focusing on my responsibilities as usual. However, as the Year-End Party approached, my nerves got the better of me! What me and my friends would always say in such situation is “Ignorance is bliss.” For some moments, I kind of wished I hadn’t known I was nominated but then I wouldn’t have been prepared.

My schedule was incredibly tight during the past months before the Year-End Party because I was completing my internship and the days leading up to the party were a whirlwind. A not so fun fact is I only bought my filipiniana outfit just a day before the event! Adding to the mix of emotions, my mom had to leave for an important trip shortly before the party, and it was bittersweet because I rely on her so much. In those moments, I truly had to embrace the independent woman in me and conquer my crisis. When the day of the event finally arrived, I was overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude. My emotions were diverted to how well put-off the Modern Filipiniana theme of the event was, which showcased the company’s appreciation for Filipino culture. And as expected the food and drinks were great, and the most awaited raffles made the evening even more special. One of the highlights for me was seeing the Japanese guests perform Filipino folk dance—not just any folk dance, but Tiklos! They must’ve prepared long before D-day because as a Filipino myself, I would have not done that in a week!

When the time came for the awarding, I was still nervous and cold and I remembered being among the crowds, cheering for the nominees, so stepping on stage as a nominee felt surreal. Hearing my name called as the winner was a moment of pure joy and disbelief. I am proud of myself that I came in with a little speech I prepared on my way to the venue, which by the way is also a lesson I’ve learned from the past Year-End Party and for watching too many Oscars & Emmys, because without it I would have just stood there and froze. To this day, I am really still in awe of what a productive year it has been for me what makes it extra productive is I’m just a few steps away from turning the tassel. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you do not have to do it for yourself. You can get your motivation from other people or from things—and that’s okay. What’s important is you find something that will keep you going. Staying consistent and focusing on the small wins along the way can make a big difference. Also, don’t be too hard on yourself.

Kyla's acceptance of the award, with RJPH CEO Yasushi Nishijo-san