THE LAST DAYS AS AN EMPLOYEE
Ah, my final days as an employee. Feels like yesterday when I sat nervously in the interview room with my freshly ironed shirt and polished shoes. And now, after more than three years of wrestling with deadlines and sometimes mind-numbing online meetings, it's time to bid farewell.
Whew, I still vividly remember my first day at the office. New laptop, ID card dangling from my neck, and warm smiles from colleagues who would become my new "family." Who would've thought these people, initially just co-workers, would become partners in laughter, sometimes tears, and of course... office gossip! (Shh, that's our little secret).
Those Monday morning meetings - sometimes sleep-inducing, sometimes invigorating. It all depended on who was presenting, heh. If it was Mr. Budi speaking, you'd be guaranteed to stay awake with his corny but entertaining jokes. But when Ms. Linda showed up with her 50-slide PowerPoint... well, you know how it goes.
The most unforgettable has to be my first project that nearly drove me nuts. Tight deadline, fussy client, plus a laptop that decided to crash at the worst possible moment. I wanted to scream "Help! Anyone?" from my cubicle. But thankfully, with team support and a cup (er, several cups) of coffee, everything was completed right on time.
Then there's the cafeteria - the silent witness to our stolen moments of chitchat during lunch breaks. From work issues to coworkers' love life drama. Favorite menu? Mr. Maman's spicy fried rice that made your tongue dance. I still wonder how he managed to cook that million-flavor fried rice with just a portable stove?
But as the saying goes, everything that has a beginning must have an end. The decision to resign wasn't easy. There's a certain weight in leaving your comfort zone, but sometimes we need to swim out of the "aquarium" into the wider "ocean."
On my last day, while clearing my desk, finding random sticky notes and team photos pinned to my cubicle wall, a wave of emotion swept over me. Three years isn't a short time to build memories.
"Don't forget to visit the office!"
"Let's meet up soon!"
"Stay in touch in the WhatsApp group!"
Cliché farewell phrases, but sincere ones. Carrying a box of personal belongings, I walked out of the building for the last time as an employee. Security guard Mr. Rahmat smiled and waved, "Take care, Sir!"
Yes, this is the end of one chapter, but also the beginning of a new adventure. And as Mario Teguh would say... oh wait, no. As my heart whispers: sometimes we need to let go to reach further.
(Writing this makes me miss Mr. Maman's fried rice. Sir, if you ever open your own restaurant, let me know!)
[Image generated with the help of Meta AI!]
