THAT FIRST JOB!

Four years ago, when I started my first job as a "fresher" in the legal industry, I had big dreams, high aspirations, and, above all, an unshakable faith in myself. Faith that I would establish myself as a successful legal professional.

The domain I stepped into—real estate law—was completely new to me. Law school hadn’t prepared me for it, so I was determined to learn and grow. Whether that meant juggling books again or asking my respected seniors and mentors for clarity, I was ready to do whatever it took.

Little did I know, my desire to learn would soon be used against me. Instead of encouragement, I was mocked by senior colleagues, made to feel unworthy of my position. My efforts to grow were met with sarcastic remarks, and I was dragged into pointless conversations that distracted me from my work. The ridicule and hostility started to bleed into every aspect of my job, undermining my productivity and my sense of self.

I wanted to be recognized for my good work. But what people noticed instead was my attire, my behavior at office events, or my lighthearted nature. The emotional and mental toll was heavy. It reached a point where I was kept in the office long after others had gone home, burdened with incomplete files I wasn’t briefed on—expected to magically handle everything on my own. Even the office staff, who were supposed to provide me with necessary documents, offered little to no help.

I started to question everything—my choice of career, the decision to relocate, and most painfully, my own self-worth.

I remember going home after work, for a month straight, just thanking God for giving me the strength to survive another day.

My health began to deteriorate. I’ve always struggled with low blood pressure, but the severe stress, combined with sleepless nights, made it worse. The work atmosphere was suffocating.

Finally, I quit. And when I did, the happiest faces were those of my senior colleagues. It was as if they had been waiting for this moment all along. I returned to my hometown, determined to leave the legal industry altogether. To this day, I carry the scars of that experience. It remains one of the darkest chapters in my life.

A few days ago, I read about Anna, and it weighed heavily on my heart. She was talented, brilliant even—she passed one of the toughest exams in the country to earn that title. Yet, the people around her failed to understand her need for space and support when it mattered most.

I’ve seen people say, "It’s just a job. Prioritize your health over deadlines." But is it really that simple? It wasn’t for me. I could have succumbed to something much worse if I had stayed any longer. I didn’t want to quit, but I had no strength left to keep going either.

This is what "the first job" often looks like. You step into that dream role, eager to learn, grow, and push your boundaries. But who decides how far you should push? How much sacrifice is too much? At what point does respecting seniors start to erode your own self-respect?

I know that Anna, like so many of us, just wanted to come out stronger. She believed that she would rise beyond the late-night calls and tight deadlines. She believed that she would one day find that elusive work-life balance everyone talks about.

To my fellow corporate colleagues: Be the change. If there's a fresher sitting in the cubicle next to you, eager to learn, take a moment to listen. Help them settle in. Be a mentor, not just a senior employee. Lend them a shoulder—not as a cog in the corporate machine, but as a human being who once survived the struggles of their first job. Break the pattern. Don’t glorify overwork. Don’t humiliate someone for small mistakes that could easily be corrected with a little guidance. Start the change with you. Be a human first.

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