I was a champion where I previously worked since I was the highest-ranking medical professional among them. Resuming to this new work environment was too distant a comparison, as though I was relegated to a lower rank, even though I knew I had asked for the transfer from the rural community to the urban. Everyone seemed to be in haste or busy, with nothing tangible I could point out. One thing I knew was that I needed to get myself adjusted and comfortable with my new busy life. I had been exposed to stressful occasions in the past as an undergraduate and while I worked in private facilities, so whatever was in stock was something I knew I could bear.
"You are all welcome to the department; here we work around the clock and expect nothing but the best from you. Mistakes can be costly; endeavor to tread on the path of caution as you discharge your duties." A moderate-sized woman in her early fifties said firmly but gently in her address note to five of us who had just joined the department. Eventually I discovered she was the head of department (HOD) and one who would not tolerate a lackadaisical attitude to work.
Little did I know that the next few months in that department were going to be tough, challenging, and exhausting. This was a complete irony to the peaceful and serene life I enjoyed prior then. In a certain month, I worked Monday through Sunday morning for three consecutive weeks, and I walked afterwards as though a gentle breeze would sweep me off my feet if balance was not secured.
My schedule at work was 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with at least two sleepovers within the facility, working round the clock. I was amazed at how I got to work the following day, usually after 7 a.m. or some minutes before the resumption of daily duties at 8 a.m., and this made the HOD have a liking for me, seeing that I complained less and was dedicated to my duties. What she did not know, however, was that the transition and burden were a false adaptation to the new working environment. Two months after I resumed at the department with a one-week break to write a professional examination, I surprised my department by passing the examination on my first attempt.
"How did you do it? Look at Femi and Kemi; they have been in this department before you and have yet to pass. You must be brilliant!" My HOD had said this to me during one of her reviews. I was not comfortable with the comparison, but I appreciated her admiration, which further motivated me to commit to my duties. It was at that stage of my life that I knew I could work under pressure, an attribute I always added to my curriculum vitae without knowing its worth until I got tested with work and a toxic environment.
Five months after I resumed the department, I tendered my letter of resignation, a shock to other staff and especially my HOD. I had just two reasons: I secured a better job offer, and the one I was resigning from had made me a shadow of myself, working tirelessly without adequate motivation. My new job offer had better pay and a less toxic working environment. I knew I needed to leave that job, which I thought would give me job satisfaction, and eventually settled for the new one. My HOD was kind enough to appreciate me during my last working review with the department by organizing a mini send-off party on my behalf, which made me realize my efforts were noticed, appreciated, and would be missed.