Comparing Job Culture from My homeland to Here and from 20 years ago to now!

Chapter 2: Temps Agency, First Permanent Job, Boyfriends and Goodbye PR!

Here I am in Hawaii, and this has been a vacation for sure—a vacation with pay, no less. But now, the vacation was over. It was time to trade in the beaches and sunsets for something more challenging: a journey back to Puerto Rico, where real life awaited me. As I sat on the plane, the uncertainty weighed heavily on me. I kept asking myself, ‘What’s next?’ My mom had already left the island, and I had no idea what I was walking into. It felt like I was diving into the unknown with no clear plan, just the hope that something would work out.

As the plane took off, I couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible people who made my time in Hawaii so special. Alvin, Alex, Marie, Bree, Ruben, Lyli, and Cuba—you all left a mark on me that I’ll carry forever. Thank you for the good memories, the laughter, and the support that made those days some of the best of my life.

When I landed in Puerto Rico, it was a whirlwind of uncertainty. I didn’t know what my next move would be, so I stayed with a friend for a few days. But, as they say, after the third day, guests start to overstay their welcome. I knew I needed to figure something out quickly. I went back to working at Gallery, the hair salon, just to have some income coming in. It wasn’t much, but it was something. The party was over, and it was time to face reality. Eventually, my dad found out I was back in Puerto Rico, and let’s just say he wasn’t thrilled. I had been hiding out, and he wasn’t happy about it. But in typical dad fashion, he didn’t say much. At 21, I didn’t think much of it. I was just trying to live my best life.

That’s when I met Omar, introduced by one of my clients at the salon. We hit it off right away and started dating. But after a few weeks, Omar made it clear he wasn’t happy with me being a hairstylist. In his eyes, it wasn’t professional enough. So, without telling me, he took it upon himself to create a resume for me and submit it to Kelly Services. I didn’t even know about it until they called me! At first, I was shocked and a bit angry, but when I confronted Omar, he said, ‘No boyfriend of mine is going to be a hairstylist. You need to be a professional.’

Naive as I was, I went along with it and attended the interview. The irony? The job I was interviewing for was actually to replace Omar at Santander Bank, where he had just been promoted. I got the job, and he wasn’t too happy about that either. But I told him, ‘Well, you wanted your boyfriend to be a professional, so now he’s a professional—at your own job.’

My time at Santander Bank was short-lived, and part of that was due to a breakup with Omar. The emotional toll of that breakup made it hard to focus, and before I knew it, my job was gone. I found myself crying in the bathroom more than I care to admit—it was a tough time, at least that's what I thought at 22. But life moves on, and so did I. After Santander, I landed a job at MCS, and then moved on to Medicare Mucho Mas, where I worked as a receptionist. These jobs might not have seemed like much at the time as they were Temp Jobs through Kelly Services, Inc, but they were building the foundation for something bigger, the experience that my resume was building, I didn't realize how valuable that was and it led me to my first permanent position at Preferred Health, where everything started to come together. Well, not all together but at least a little. By this time, I had already met Jesus Bosque, who at the time was not only the boyfriend, but became the partner, and even though we had our ups and down through our 9-year relationship I will always be grateful that he stood by me and supported me through the beginning of my professional career and college days.

To continue, Preferred Health was a Puerto Rican healthcare plan company, family-owned, and deeply rooted in the community. They primarily offered plans to unions, and it was a well-known name for years. I joined the provider enrollment department, where I handled credentialing. It was there that I met some truly amazing people—Carla, Aixa, Yara, Magda, and Goris, our manager, who was always a source of humor and support. And then there was Don Quique Otero, the boss, the best I’ve ever had. Don Quique was a sweetheart of a man, and through him, I got to know his wonderful wife, Do?a Lily, and their family. The warmth and kindness they showed me left a lasting impression. I will always remember Don Quique, the stories he would tell, and his point view of things were just unique, may he rest in peace. Don Quique thank you for all your words of wisdom and all your kindness, I will never forget.

My two years at Preferred Health were filled with growth. I built a solid foundation of work experience, navigating the daily challenges of an 8-to-5 job, and taking on projects like the massive provider data task we worked on overnight to build the Medicare department. It was exhausting, but those were the moments that taught me the value of hard work and dedication. It was around this time that I realized I needed to enhance my experience with a degree. I had the job, the experience, and the exposure, but I needed something to back it up—a foundation to build upon. I wasn’t entirely sure what path to take, so I took a leap of faith and enrolled in a management degree program at "SUAGM Universidad Metropolitana" I figured I’d find my way as I went and sure I did.

But as time passed, I started to feel like something was missing. I wasn’t completely fulfilled at Preferred Health, so I began looking for new opportunities. That’s when FlexiTank appeared.

“Starting at FlexiTank was a major turning point in my career, not just because of the role but because of the connection I formed with Milka Dominguez, who would become a mentor and a guiding force in my professional life. The interview process itself was unusual, and Milka asked questions that seemed to go beyond the job requirements. It was clear she saw something in me, even though I lacked experience in the accounting department. She didn’t seem to care about that; instead, she was focused on getting to know me as a person. At the time, I was puzzled by her reaction and the way she looked at me during our first meeting.

It wasn’t until later, after I’d been working there for a while and we’d grown close, that Milka opened up to me. She told me that I reminded her of her late brother, who had passed away from HIV. When I walked into the interview, it was like she was seeing him again. This connection explained so much about our bond and why she was so invested in my success. Milka shared with me the story of how she took care of her brother during his illness, a story that deeply touched me and made me appreciate the depth of our connection even more. Knowing that I held a special place in her heart only strengthened my resolve to prove myself in this new role and to honor the trust she had placed in me.”

My time at FlexiTank wasn’t just about settling into a job; it was where I truly began to understand the world of accounting. Under Milka’s guidance, I started learning about accounts receivable, accounts payable, credit management, and more. Milka dedicated herself to teaching me everything she knew. She noticed early on that I had a knack for mastering tasks quickly, but I also got bored just as fast. To keep me engaged, she constantly shifted my duties, challenging me with new areas to explore within the department. But after five years, I started feeling a bit stuck. I was about to graduate college with a degree in accounting—a decision I made in my final semester, thanks to Milka’s influence. Switching my major meant adding an extra year of classes, but I graduated with a 3.95 GPA, two years on the honor roll, and a sense of accomplishment I hadn’t felt before.

Despite my success, both at work and in school, something was missing. I was working full-time at FlexiTank, going to school four nights a week, and doing hair on the weekends to bring in extra income. My schedule was packed, but I knew I needed to push myself to the next level.

When a position opened up in the pricing department, I went for it. I talked to the pricing manager and told them I wanted the job because I understood the operations, knew the vendors, and could handle the customers. But I didn’t get the exact role I wanted. At first, I was frustrated, but I realized this was my opportunity to grow beyond FlexiTank. I accepted a position as a pricing analyst, knowing that this would be the stepping-stone I needed to eventually move on to something bigger—something that wasn’t at FlexiTank.”

“When I was offered the choice between staying in my current role with the potential to become an AR supervisor or moving into the pricing analyst position under a new manager, I knew it wasn’t a decision to take lightly. Johnny, the president, encouraged me to take my time and think it over. I remember him saying, ‘Just think about it and come back to us with your answer tomorrow.’ That night, I thought deeply about where I wanted my career to go and what each path would mean for me.

The next morning, I went to see Milka. I’d reached a decision, but it wasn’t easy. Milka was confident that I would stay with her. After all, our bond was more than just professional. She was my mentor, my friend, and someone who had been there for me in ways that went beyond work. Knowing how much she meant to me made the decision all the more difficult. Getting to know Milka was the best thing that ever happened to me in my career, and on a personal level, too. She was truly a good friend, and this choice felt like it was about more than just a job.

When I told Milka my decision, she couldn’t understand. ‘Why are you leaving me?’ she asked, her voice filled with hurt. It was one of the hardest conversations I’ve ever had. I looked her in the eyes and said, ‘Milka, this isn’t just about leaving you. This is about my future, about finally breaking free from the limits I’ve outgrown. My future isn’t here at FlexiTank, and it isn’t in Puerto Rico. I’m meant for something bigger—something beyond this island, beyond everything I’ve known. I’ve made a plan to leave in six months, and I’m thinking about you as much as I’m thinking about myself. If I leave now for the pricing department, I can give you the time to train my replacements, to make sure my position in your department does not fall apart when I’m gone. Because make no mistake, I will be leaving.’

Her eyes softened as she realized what I was saying. It wasn’t just a job I was leaving—it was a chapter of my life. It took two people to replace me after I transitioned to the pricing department. I spent those six months not just preparing myself for the next stage but making sure I left FlexiTank and Milka in the best possible place.

efore wrapping up this segment, I want to give a heartfelt shout-out to all the professionals, friends, family, and even those I might not have been close with, who made my time at Flexitank truly unforgettable. My experience there set an incredibly high standard for organization, inclusion, and culture. Now, having been in the U.S. for about 11 years, I still haven’t found anything quite like what I had in Puerto Rico, and it makes me question, ‘Was it worth it?’ My drive for growth, a better quality of life, and financial stability often leaves me uncertain. But one thing I am sure of—Flexitank was by far my best work experience.

A special thanks, of course, goes to Milka, who saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself and placed her trust in me. I also want to acknowledge a few others who made a significant impact on my life: Grenda Hernandez, mamish, I love and miss you so much! Coraly Alfonso, my fashion diva; Editza Rivera, my Shih Tzu sister (our Shih Tzus were related); Marisela Fernandez, the supervisor; Yamir Elise, la brava; Jennie de la Mota; Rafael Rodriguez; Maria Colon; Myrna Rodriguez; and Kendra Maysonet, the AP team; Ingrid Burgos, my karaoke partner; Celines, Yary Valiente, Evelyn, Johnny, and Jorgito (RIP). And to the rest of the Flexitank team—thank you.

To this day, Flexitank continues to operate successfully in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

“As I prepared to leave Puerto Rico, a friend of mine, Yamilet Arroyo, encouraged me to apply for a position at her company, Pediatrics. It wasn’t the job I wanted—not by a long shot. It wasn’t aligned with my major, and it certainly wasn’t the career I’d envisioned for myself. But I knew it was a steppingstone, a way to get out of Puerto Rico with something in hand. The offer was modest, just $30,000 to $35,000 a year, but it wasn’t about the money. It was about Fort Lauderdale. It was about the adventure, about stepping into the unknown with my success in a bag and my hopes held high.

Leaving Puerto Rico wasn’t easy. I left behind my partner of 10 years, who supported me every step of the way, even though we both knew the move would change everything. Fort Lauderdale was the start of something new, something I couldn’t fully predict but was excited to embrace. I left the island that had been my home, carrying with me the accomplishments of my past, like graduating college with a 3.95 GPA, and the lessons learned from people like Milka. But more than anything, I left with a determination that nothing could stop me now. Nobody could, and nobody would.”