108. Taking Chances: Everyone takes a risk at some point in their life. Write about a time when you took a chance and what the result was.
To become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the 1980s-90s, (once upon a time it was called Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor) after you got your MS in an approved field (e.g. clinical psychology), you had to give 2000 hours of supervised therapy, pass a written exam and an oral exam. I was laser-focused, calculating each move to get me closer to my goal. I took less desirable jobs to accrue hours that had medical benefits and overworked myself with internships in a variety of fields. While I was studying for my written exam, I was exhausted and very close to burn out. I fantasized about sitting in the sun on a warm beach for a long time. I had no money so I couldn’t swing an actual long vacation so I began to scheme what could fulfill that wish and thought maybe I could work as a waitress at a beach shack so when I was off duty, I could enjoy the sun.
I remembered a friend who had gotten a job in Guam at a resort. Ooooh, that sounds good. Although I no longer was in touch with that friend, I recollected that he’s found the job at the college career center so I bopped in there and described the position my friend had but I didn’t know what company it was. The staff sleuthed the answer and I found myself looking at becoming a Clubmate for Pacific Islands Club. The 6-month position would give me the break I needed, I would have room/board, medical coverage, and transportation to and from the Marianas Islands. My ex-BF took action photos of me exercising since I was applying to be an aerobics instructor and dancer and sent off my application package. After a phone interview, I was offered the job as Clubmate. I said I couldn’t come until my oral exam was complete in April and they said fine. When I told my mom, she sighed and took it in stride. I guess she was used to me doing weird stuff which was strange to me because I thought I’d always done what was expected of me and more. My job manager was confused at my choice and said I could reapply for my vocational counselor position when I returned. Hard no.
I put all of my belongings into the cheapest (read crappiest) storage area in Gilroy, quit my job, gave my car to my sister, and broke up with various boyfriends. My plan was to do my 6 months and come home but when I got the results of my exams and found I’d passed, I lost all interest in returning home. I ended up taking an admin position with the resort and stayed a year and completed my time away with two months travel through Palau and Australia.
Uprooting my life, career, and relationships to live and work on an island I’d never heard of was taking a huge chance and it paid off with mental health and a renewed interest in life. Before Saipan, I was afraid of the water, small spaces, and the dark but my experiences on the island pushed my boundaries to the point that all of those fears dissolved. Cave diving encapsulated all of those fears and I realized I had to deal with it or I would literally die. Moving to an unknown island was a huge risk but also a huge reward.
