Life, Death, and the Chinese Bamboo Tree
Posted August 3, 2018
Employment gaps deserve an explanation. But you don't need a full-time job to improve your hard — and especially your soft — skills.
Now that I'm actively looking for work after completing my KU full-stack certificate, potential employers are asking about my last job. That's a fair question. Watching the video I linked to above, the "Les Brown Chinese Bamboo Tree Story," made me realize there's a more compelling way to answer what I've been doing besides freelance writing:
I learned the true meaning of compassion
When my Grandmother came to live with me, I had no idea what a life-changing experience it would be. She'd always been my caretaker; now it was my turn. But nothing can prepare you for the journey of helping someone lose their independence, cope with failing health, and succumb to the memory-robbing effects of dementia.
In the final week of her life, when I was administering morphine and keeping Grandma as comfortable as possible, I leaned over and kissed her head. "I love you, Grandma." "You're a nice lady," she told me. She frustrated me a lot in her final years, but helping her finish her battle with dementia taught me a lot about patience, empathy and finding peace.
I stared down my darkest fears
Once I'd had time to grieve, handle Grandma's final business, and start my own next chapter, I found mortality staring me right in the face — this time my own. The good news is my cancer scare was a false alarm. But the temporary uncertainty and post-surgery recovery were not exactly part of my planned carefree, post-caregiver lifestyle. I found strength I didn't know I had, and more importantly, renewed determination to make the most of the time I have left on Earth.
I'm making the most of my second chance
When I was healthy and focused enough to return to full-time work, I wasn't inspired by a single job I applied for. Then I learned about KU's full-stack program, and everything fell into place. I knew I needed a bigger skill set to land the job I really wanted on the development side of the digital sphere. And I figured if I could survive everything else I'd just been through, this would be a piece of cake!
OK, so full-stack development is no cake. It's more like trifle, with lots of layers that together comprise one big, amazing tool. But now I have all those skills, as well as:
- Unswayable belief in my ability to rise to any challenge
- The knowledge that empathy and compassion make you stronger, not weaker
- The courage to achieve more than I ever thought I was capable of
Just like the Chinese Bamboo Tree, the combined power of these skills has taken a while to emerge. But I've been strengthening my own roots in anticipation of a new season of growth like you've never seen. So watch out world! I'm stronger, smarter, and more skilled thanks to three years on the semi-sideline. And I can't wait to see what's coming next.