Olive Boulevard

At what point does one earn the right to autonomy at work? How many years, how much commitment, how many quiet sacrifices? jo urney. These questions have been circling my mind as I reflect on my current For a while, I accepted things as they were — steady,  unchallenging, manageable. Two incidents in particular stood out — not because they were explosive, but because they quietly made me rethink everything. Incident One: When Doing My Job Wasn’t Enough In February, I raised a concern about an incompetent hire — I reported it both to my supervisor and to the person we both report to. I explained that I was carrying out most of the tasks that this employee was supposed to be handling, leaving me with less time to focus on my own responsibilities. But when that employee turned around and said I was "making things difficult for her," I was spoken to. In fact, I was told I was bullying her. I was told I should not take any decisions or call anyone out — just report, and that’...

My heart is so heavy with sorrow. How can people be so shallow, showing no regard or compassion? They talk about well-being, but when their own actions contradict the very well-being they preach, it feels so hollow. Sir has been here for more than four years. He was given less than ten days' notice to vacate and relocate. He wasn’t even given the chance to say goodbye to his students. The decision was communicated only after the school had closed for vacations. The students will not see him when they return. A life that was almost settled here is now being asked to leave — with less than seven days at hand. His to-and-fro tickets were booked, but now he cannot return. Not for those final visits, not for those farewell chats, not even for a well-deserved farewell from the school and the students he gave his heart to. They talk about being a family — I call the bluff. He passionately taught. He humbly served. A wise and kind man, who gave more than he was asked for — and yet...