At the Crossroads of Change, Resilience and Discovery.
Sandya’s story is one of resilience and rediscovery. What began as a career setback turned into a journey of learning, growth, new possibilities and opportunities. This piece is a reflection of finding courage in discomfort and choosing to grow in the face of uncertainty. In her narrative voice, this is her crossroad of finding passion through perseverance.
9/9/20251 min read
In my mid-30s, I went through a turning point in life. I had conflicts with my boss that affected my career, and I was transferred from the procurement department to finance. My world suddenly shifted, new people, new systems, and new personalities around me. Many of those personalities felt out of sync with me, which only added to my discomfort.
In that discomfort, I reached out to an old school friend. We talked, and from that conversation, I realized something important: I wanted to relearn English. My friend had mastered it and even built a career in Japan, so I thought, why not me? Maybe this could be the beginning of a new chapter.
I started English lessons again with a teacher recommended by my friend. It wasn’t easy even describing my daily activities in English felt overwhelming. My head ached, but I didn’t give up. I had already started, and I knew I had to finish.
By my second year of learning, I began to feel more confident. I even started applying for jobs with international companies. Rejections came again and again, but I kept trying, even when it was exhausting both mentally and physically.
Eventually, I landed my first overseas remote role as a volunteer virtual assistant for three months. At first, I felt so small there were many things I didn’t know, from organizing virtual meetings to presenting project updates in English to people from all over the world. But I kept learning.
In 2023, out of curiosity, I also took intensive French classes at the French Embassy for four months, passed the basic exam, and met people from diverse backgrounds who expanded my way of thinking.
Now, in 2025, I am still working hard and continuously striving to find a job that I truly love, one that aligns with my passion.