“…I asked for advice on what my options were. I expanded my network. I dealt with my fears. I gave people a chance to shape me, I gave myself a chance to be shaped.”
margaret ochieng
After about 8 years in this cycle, part of which was also complicated by motherhood and trying to find roles that gave me flexibility for my young children. I reached a point where I genuinely felt that I did not want a career anymore. I felt that I was never going to realise my full potential. The odds were to many. Then I started researching career experiences of Black women. I suddenly came across a whole body of literature in this area that gave me the language that I needed to describe how I was feeling. I suddenly had an urge and a need to see that as many Black women as possible would not be dealing with their experiences on their own, and that this language and experience would be shared.
I moved on to start researching career options that would help me carry out this work and bumped into organisational/career psychology. I was lucky to get a scholarship in 2017 to study my MSc in Occupational/Business Psychology. I researched the various career paths. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy changing careers in my thirties with two young children.
I knew the barriers that had floored me in the charitable sector would follow me to wherever I went. So this time, I decided to prepare.
I sought help. From other psychologists, white women, white men, Women of Color. I asked for advice on what my options were. I expanded my network. I dealt with my fears. I gave people a chance to shape me, I gave myself a chance to be shaped. Some of these people harmed me so bad in the process. I took it all as stepping stones on my journey. Some of these people have supported and helped along the way to get me here and I am grateful.
I see many people trapped in careers or job that just don’t make them happy anymore I see people sad, stuck and miserable. I just would say if it reaches a point where you can’t stand it, know you can change it doesn’t matter how old you are – just take the first step to asking that big question; what do I really want to do with my life right now?
Get professional help and support to give you clarity, surrounding yourself with support systems and structures that can help you, calling on families and friends to take up additional childcare duties and responsibilities to give you the space you need to deal with whatever you need to deal with and think about what you need to think about.