Keep calm and drink Milo.

That’s what I heard from someone I know upon finding out that one of our closest friend who took up nursing, is working as a call center agent. Our friend who is supposed to be taking care of patients in a hospital, is now spending at least 8 hours a day in front of a computer while responding to the customer’s queries. Working as a call center representative is very far from his chosen career.

Few days from now, I will also be working in that centralized office to take calls and give some information that a customer needs. Many people are telling me that I shouldn’t be working as an agent because of my degree. I should be working as a writer for a magazine or as an employee in GMA or ABS-CBN and not just waste the four years I spent in college to be a call center representative.

You might be curious why I applied for this job despite the degree that I earned. Honestly, working in a BPO was not really on my list. What I wanted to do was to follow my mentor’s advice to pursue a career as a writer for a magazine or film. To see my work in the next issue of a Summit Media publication or be invited to a launching of a movie that I wrote is how I see myself even when I was still a college freshman. But due to certain circumstances, I decided to somehow set aside my dream and sacrifice my happiness.

Unlike some of my classmates who were able to rest and enjoy their vacation, I already applied to several companies a week after my graduation. Wearing my best corporate attire and clutching a folder that contains my resume and other documents in hand, I would travel to Makati all the way from Cavite just to attend every exam and interview I was called to. Sometimes, there would be a confirmation for another interview but most of the time, there is none. Sometimes, I cannot help but think that I am not capable for my dream job or my skills is not enough for my chosen field.

I would always ask for 300 pesos from my dad to cover transportation and food expenses. Because of this, even the budget for the family’s meals gets sacrificed. My dad could not even avail a shirt that he wants or buy a new pair of shoes for himself. It breaks my heart everytime I ask money from my dad and only a hundred pesos would be left in his wallet.

So I decided to set aside my dream for a while in order to help my family. My dream of becoming a writer can wait, but seeing my dad being too occupied with how we can pay all the bills and expenses that we have is something that I cannot take. I might be working for my dream job and be able to use my degree but how about my family? They might be suffering financially while I am living my dream. It will not be fair and that would be too selfish on my part. I am willing to sacrifice my own happiness for my family, and give back to all the sacrifices that they did for me just to make me happy.

 I don’t care about people’s comments about my degree being put to waste or how having a job that requires you to answer calls while sitting in the office all day (or sometimes night) will not bring success and growth to me as an individual. I will prove to everyone that being an agent will take me to places and make me successful someday. To everyone who thinks that being a call center agent is a mediocre job, well, just give me enough time and I’ll prove you wrong.

Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and think of what or who matters most. In my case, it’s my family. Seeing them happy and free from any worry is what would make me happy.