To Pursue A Public Service Career, If It's Meant For Me.

We all have a dream career that we want to pursue in our lives. It varies depending on our passion, from the influence of the people that surround us, if it's beyond our capabilities, may it just be on the level of our financial capacity, or we are forced by our family to pursue it. Whatever your reasons may be, it's surely the one who leads you to choose that path that will guide you to have job security.

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In my case, my passion aside from writing is also around public service. Maybe I was influenced by the people I know when growing up but that made me realize that dream inside me. I know a lot of Teachers, Police Officer, Military Officers, Politicians, and Nurses in the family, which are all in the path of public service. I'm not going to deny that, initially, I thought being like them is cool when I was a kid. However, as I grow up, a lot of things came up and a series of events happened that made me more realize that my passion belongs to that path.

You know, that feeling when you can help your fellow citizens, when you can assure their safety and see the relief in their eyes, when you can see them survive from dangerous situations, when you have thought them something that can change their lives, and when you can bring hope to people or bring a positive change in the community. I don't know why and I can't really explain it in detail but every time I can contribute something to the people around me, it just sparks joy and satisfaction within. Every time I see peace in their eyes, I feel like my efforts are paid off or rewarded.

Unfortunately, of all the years that passed, I can't bring myself to be hired in some Public Service Institutions. I once tried to take up an entrance examination at Philippine Military Academy but I have no luck passing the exams. I also tried to take up the Armed Forces of the Philippines Service Aptitude Test, but still, I have no luck. After I graduated from Senior High School, I gave up on that dream since most of my family members are telling me that maybe it wasn't just for me. Looking back at it now, I realized the factor which I lack and affects my determination to pursue it. It was because I was not that prepared when I took up those examinations and I didn't even review that time. How foolish of me, right?

Writing a fictional fluff romance story about a Firefighter these previous days, if you are my regular reader you know this "Help, I'm on Fire!; Help, I'm on Fire | Pt. 2", it made me look back to that dream that I left off. It made me question myself again, "Why did I pursue a public service career in the first place?" Seriously, why though? I can't totally recall that deep reason I had in me back then. I felt that it is so shallow now.

I have a lot of friends from high school that is also pursuing the same kind of dream that I had. I sent help to them by asking the same question. I want to know their reasons for that, so I ask them for some brief answers.

Here's what I found;

• Voluntarism

This is from a friend of mine which is an Air Force of the Philippine Reservist and a Rescue Volunteer at a Non-Government Organization. He was an Aircraft Mechanic but now an Admin of the AFP Reservists' Quarters in Bacolod City.

• To make a positive difference

This is from a point of view of two people taking up a Bachelor of Science in Criminology course. One of them wants to be a Lawyer and the other one wants to be a Police Officer.

• To save people and inspire them to help others in times of need.

This is from a perspective of a nursing student who is a classmate of mine way back in high school.

• Economic opportunity

This is from a classmate back then who is now a working student that is taking up an Education course and majored in Social Studies. I witnessed what life this person have when we were in high school, so I understand why this person has this reason. This course is the most affordable one.

• Good retirement benefits

This reason is from @Eunoia when I asked about this on our Telegram group. That idea is also an indisputable fact. You can assure yourself that you can have good retirement benefits when you have a job in public services. You can also have an early retirement depending on what job you have.

• Being forced

There's no need to ask the person I know about this one. I think some of you there have the same case. One of the new writers here, @lian_99, was forced by her family to take up an Education course and majored in English for that was the best career they thought that suits her, though it was not the one she wanted.

Knowing their reasons have awakened the dream that has slept within me for a long time. For all the wrong actions that I have done in the past which caused a major delay to achieve that dream, I know that I am a little late to start again. But well, as what has my mother often says to me,

"As long as we are living, we still have hope."

Well said, but it's still pandemic for now, so I can't really make a step towards that most desired dream I wanted. Even so, I can still make some preparations while I'm stuck at home. I have to carefully plan the steps I have to make and the exact path that I have to take. I'm hoping to be a part of the rescue unit of the Bureau of Fire Protection someday. Please, wish me more luck this time.

Thanks for reading!

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