I still remember the desperation I felt back in 2018 when I was seeking a job. I took a leap of faith and applied as an Operations Compliance Associate even if it was not really my field, since my former experience was being an HR Support.

It has been almost three years and a lot of things have changed. I am now working as a Policy Compliance Associate, still under the Operations Department. My work involves ensuring the tutors’ compliance with RareJob’s standard operating procedures.

Before the pandemic happened, I allot around 30 minutes to 1.5 hours for commuting to and from work. Since our family tends to eat together whenever possible, I used to miss out on our family dinners whenever I got stuck in traffic. Other times, they wait for me or my sisters to arrive before we start eating. My mom and dad usually prepare the food, and I can definitely brag about their skills in cooking! One of the things that I treasure the most are the conversations we share during our family dinner. In those precious moments, we talk about good news, life advice, and anything under the sun.

It feels good to have someone to talk to about random things after a long day at work and to learn from their experience and apply their wisdom whenever I am undecided on my decisions in life.

When we started working from home last March 2020, it saved me a lot of time from traveling and also helped me save money by not spending on random things I see on my way home or buying pasalubong. On the flip side, what I miss about being in the office, aside from working comfortably because of the air conditioning, is the company of my colleagues who are just a few feet away from my workstation. I got to learn from them while I bonded with them. When I had a question or if a random thought popped into my mind, I could share it with them quickly. Nonetheless, as the circumstance forced me to stay at home, I managed to enjoy the little things in life, like the coolness the rain brings after enduring hot and humid weather, the company of my supportive family, and the opportunity of being employed during a pandemic.

It’s been more than a year since the work-from-home arrangement started, and I learned to appreciate my family more. The simple gestures my dad does whenever he calls us for merienda, the spontaneous food deliveries we have when we get stressed out or when the day got too busy and we don’t have time to cook food, and the nights we spend watching our favorite series are moments that I cherish. I also appreciate that they let me spend time alone after a long day, especially when my day was full of meetings. The late-night conversations with my sisters are also something I am thankful for.

I also noticed that I get to bond more with my dad lately. I long for his unforgettable childhood stories and the lessons he learned about work and life in general. He is also a good listener, a very supportive father, and a dad that you can talk to whenever you have something in your mind.

My advice to all the people who are reading this blog is to work smart and spend your time wisely so you can have time for your family. With the nature of my work, there are days when we are required to work overtime, which may mean missing out on a few family dinners or an episode of our favorite series. But that’s alright because we can always catch up whenever we want to since almost everything can be accessed online. What we cannot catch up on is the time that has gone by.