In the Philippines, having a corporate job is already something many people dream of. Before, I was working as a Loan Associate Officer in a private company. The work was tiring but I was thankful to have a stable job. My salary Is just enough to pay bills and food. Like many Filipinos, I learned how to budget carefully so that even if the salary was not big, we could still survive every month.
But life gave me another challenge. My husband became very busy in the farm, handling rice fields and doing machine work like tractors and harvester. Since farming is not easy and he needed help yo manage both time and responsibilities. I decide to resign from my job. It was not an easy decision because I know that losing a monthly salary means a big adjustment. But I told myself, family comes first.
At the same time, we also made another big decision as a family. We stayed here in the farm where my husband does farm and our main house in the city which I was able to build from my loan during corporate time, we decided to rent it out. This way. The rent can help add to our monthly income while we focus on farming and family life here in the farm.
When I stayed at hoe with my daughter. I realized I still wanted to help financially. I could not just depend on my husband’s income from farming, because we know in the Philippines, farming is seasonal and sometimes the profit is not enough. So, I started to search online for jobs that I could do from home. That is when I learned about becoming a Virtual Assistant.
To prepare myself, I enrolled in a Virtual Assistant Masterclass training. At first, I was nervous because I had no idea about online tools or SEO. But the coaches were very kind and supportive. They guided me step by step and they also inspired us with their own success stories. During the training, I met many classmates, some had jobs but wanted a change, while others, like me were searching for first online work. Our goal was the same to work from home and be closer to our families.
One unforgettable moment was during the awarding day at the end of training. I was blessed to recive Early bird Award, Best in SEO and Best in bookkeeping. Honestly. I felt very nervous because on the same day I also had a client interview. I could hardly enjoy the awarding moment because my and was flying with worries, but in the end, it becomes one of my proudest days.
After one month, I was finally hired. For me, it was truly a dream come true. The salary as a beginner was not very high compared to some others, but I already felt blessed. The most important thing was that I could stay at home, take care of my daughter, support my husband and family. Unlike corporate work where I was always tired from travel and overtime, no I have Flexibility and freedom.
Becoming a Virtual Assistant is not easy. You need patience, willingness to learn, and discipline to manage your time. But the reward is worth it. Until now, I still keep in touch with my classmates and sometimes we meet for bonding.
Looking back, I cam say resigning from corporate job was not a loss, it was a new beginning. I gained something priceless, time with mu family, peace of mind and a career that fits my life.
This is my owned picture, captured with my Vivo phone, edited in Canva.
Thank you for reading my story. I hope it inspires those who are also looking for a better balance between work and family. God bless us all. ❤️