What's so Good about My Current Job?

This English translation was generated with the assistance of AI.

Having worked for over a year now, I often catch myself complaining about this job—how it’s utterly unrelated to law, how it’s just the same repetitive tasks day in and day out. But complaining gets me nowhere. Only by seeing things clearly and playing to my strengths can progress begin.

I used to imagine my post-grad life would either involve burning the midnight oil at a law firm or battling it out with business departments as an in-house counsel. (´• ω •`)ﾉ Back then, my biggest dream was to dive deep into fields I cared about, to see firsthand how the law actually operates—especially with some international flavor sprinkled in. Law has this “atomic” quality: individual cases don’t directly affect each other, yet the rules they establish remain consistent. That balance of connection and separation just clicks with me—I wanted my work and life to be neatly compartmentalized yet logically cohesive. But reality had other plans. Now, everything at work feels tangled together, yet the logic is a mess… much like my life, or frankly, the world itself. (￣ω￣;)

Still, this job gave me something priceless: long-term placement abroad, a ticket to a life I’d never known, since studying abroad is beyond my family’s means. True perspective doesn’t come from sightseeing—it comes from immersion. For the first time, I saw the chasm between political campaign slogans and ground-level hardships, truly grasped how LDCs struggle to escape poverty. I finally made English part of my daily life—no more obsessing over grammar or vocabulary. Instead, it became the backdrop to real experiences, with language just adding color. (◠‿◠) I proved (to myself, mostly) that I could thrive independently, from cooking and chores to navigating complex relationships. That sense of control over my own rhythm, of not lamenting wasted time, is my bedrock confidence now.

Once, after grabbing pizza, a local stopped me, fascinated by my action camera. He asked me to teach him videography. As I explained its features and shared tips, it hit me: I could chat with strangers effortlessly—no incompetence, no social anxiety, no giddy inferiority. Just… ease. A mundane exchange, yet it felt like a quiet milestone in growing up. ٩(◕‿◕｡)۶

This “barren” posting unexpectedly gifted me near-perfect work-life balance. Honestly, I can only guess how my peers are faring back home—whether they’re drowning in entry-level grinding—but here, I’ve got decent pay and ample free time. Thank goodness for the internet, keeping me connected even in Zambia’s uneventful corners. I treat this period as an extension of college, pursuing ambitious personal projects online. This luxury of focused, deep learning? It’s the job’s rarest gift.

My year and a half abroad tested everything I built at UIBE. Curiosity kept my mind open, productivity tools kept my life on track, and fitness gave me courage for the unknown. Somehow, I’ve stumbled into a vitality I never had before—finding new footing faster than expected. (•̀ᴗ•́)و

Two years ago, inspired by corporate OKRs, I started doing weekly/monthly self-reviews. That practice trained me to assess myself calmly, spot fleeting opportunities. Now, constant reflection helps me shake off negativity. If I ever return to law, this poise might just turn risks into openings.