Finding Your Why: The Heart of Leaving the Bench.

In the last two posts, we explored how to know when it’s time to leave the bench, but today, let’s dig a little deeper. I want us to reflect on something essential—understanding your why. It’s one thing to feel ready to move on, but it’s another to truly understand why you’re leaving.

I’ll be honest: leaving the bench is a big decision, and it’s not one to take lightly. Medical Laboratory Science is a noble profession, and for many of us, when we first heard that phrase, “noble profession,” we didn’t really know what it meant. It’s more than just a job title—it’s a calling. It represents duty, service, and selflessness, values that transcend personal gain. And as you contemplate leaving the bench, it’s important to hold on to those values and ask yourself, Why do I really want to leave?

Search Your Heart: Be True to Yourself

We all have different reasons for wanting to pivot, but my advice is to be true to yourself in the process. Are you leaving because you feel unfulfilled? Are you hoping for better financial compensation? Or are you looking for a fresh challenge? Whatever your reason, take a moment to search your heart.

Let me tell you why this is so important. For example, in Nigeria, where age can be a significant factor when applying for jobs, the world of Life Sciences and biomedical sciences is often an exception. Your age may not limit your opportunities here, but the moment you step outside this space, it can become a major hurdle. That’s why I urge you to consider your motives carefully before making any moves.

If job satisfaction or lack of fulfillment is driving your decision, dig deeper. Yes, many of us feel underpaid—especially in Nigeria—but is that enough reason to leave the bench? If money is your sole motivator, perhaps the better move is to continue practicing in countries where Lab Scientists are better compensated. Because once you step out, you’ll face the standards of the new role you’ve chosen—standards you may not be familiar with or prepared for.

If you take a sales job, for instance, suddenly, you’re expected to have data analytics skills, understand sales funnels, customer acquisition, and a list of other things that may not have been part of your lab role.

My Story: A Time of Doubt

Let me share a personal story with you. When COVID-19 hit, I was doing my MBA at Lagos Business School. I had already worked in various roles, including Key Account Management, but it was a challenge for me, so I decided to pursue business school to improve my skills. Then the pandemic struck, and everything shifted. We went into lockdown, and I found myself studying from home. But despite my efforts in school, I felt this gnawing sense of guilt.

Every day, I thought about my colleagues still working in the labs, diagnosing COVID cases and contributing to the global effort. I kept asking myself, Why aren’t you there with them? Shouldn’t you be on the frontlines, doing your part for humanity? I reached out to friends who were still on the bench, encouraging them, monitoring the disease’s progression, but feeling so guilty that I wasn’t in the lab where I felt I was needed most.

It was a tough time for me. The decision I had made to leave the bench, which once felt so clear, now felt shaky and uncertain. I only started to feel a sense of peace again when the pandemic began to subside.

So, my point is this: check your heart. Be sure that you’re leaving for the right reasons. You don’t want to have regrets, especially if your reasons are purely financial. While fair remuneration is important (and, let’s be honest, it was in my top three reasons for leaving), it shouldn’t be the only reason.

Beyond the Bench: The Beauty of Benchwork

Once you step away from the bench, your life changes in ways you may not expect. Yes, you might earn more, but remember, as your income grows, so do your expenses. You’ll also be stepping away from things that may seem small now, but you’ll miss later—like the flexibility of shift work, the comfort of wearing scrubs and Crocs, or the quiet hum of automated analyzers during a night shift. That peaceful clarity you feel during those late-night shifts is something you may never quite experience again.

But that’s the beauty of life—it’s a journey of trade-offs. As you consider your next steps, think carefully about what you’ll gain and what you’ll leave behind.

What’s Your Why?

If you’ve read this far, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect. What are your reasons for wanting to leave the bench? What will you miss? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to share your reasons in the comments. And please, if you know someone who’s considering a career pivot, share this newsletter with them. It’s important we all take the time to make an honest evaluation before taking that step.

In my next letter to you, we’ll talk about the incredible opportunities in other roles that you won’t find on the bench. Until then, be intentional in your decisions and stay true to yourself.

Written with love,

Nancy