When I first
knew that we were going to be deployed to branches for an early exposure right
after our four-day orientation, you can imagine the anxiety. I didn’t know
anything about banking operations. I didn’t even know how to properly do debit
and credit balancing. I was practically a noob, and it literally felt like I
was pushed to go to a full pledged war with a waterless water gun as a weapon.
Now, imagine
how the nervousness doubled when I learned I was assigned at North
Caloocan. That’s basically in Fairview, a freaking five rides of FX, bus and
jeepney (more than 2 hours, travel time) from my home. I was trembling trying
to even figure out how to get to the branch without getting lost or held up.
Eventually, my dad accompanied me on the first day; and then, never again.
Because the
next day, I was immediately transferred to Caloocan. It’s in Monumento, just
across Padi’s Point. It’s a good 45-minute jeep ride away from our house and
the place was extremely familiar to me, of course, having studied at the University
of the East. It was comfort at its best!
But it’s
different when I finally got inside the branch that Wednesday morning.
Naturally, it
was awkward. I was alone No one in my batch was assigned there so I basically
had to face everything on my own. Extremely challenging, because I didn’t know
how to divulge the fact that I know nothing at all and yet I was there. I don’t
want to announce my doom on my first day. I don’t want to be looked down on,
definitely, but I had to learn.
It was the
branch operating head, Sir Allan Borja, who first welcomed me. It was brief,
uneventful, but not that formal. I was told that everyone in the branch were
young and I don’t know why it was a surprise to me. Maybe, I’m just not used to
being an ‘ate’. In my previous jobs, after all, I’m always the youngest and thus
treated special all the time. Haha.
So it was a
whole new world to me. No one in the bank knows about who I’m connected with (and
I intend to keep it that way!) so it’s just me, myself, and I. Sir Allan then
introduced me to Renelyn and Mary Rose, the loan specialists, who turned out to
be years younger than I am. Instantly, I felt so little. But then again, I had
to learn.
So questions
were asked, despite paranoia bothering my thoughts. I was afraid they’ll get
annoyed with my questions. So I just quietly watched and try to figure out
everything on my own.
But even as I
do, I couldn’t take all in by myself. Good thing, God heard my prayers and that’s
when Sheng approached me and taught me everything
I initially wanted to know. If it wasn’t for her, my branch exposure would not
be this fruitful.
Sheng
accommodated me and treated me like we’ve known each other for so long. She
even lent me her manuals and taught me the computations so I can have even the
slightest inkling about what I’m supposed to do. She taught me the system
procedures and that’s how I managed to be of help to the branch during my
five-day stay.
Yep, I held a
station. I was in-charge of encoding the information and printing the advices.
During vacant times, I’ll drag my chair to Renelyn’s station and watch her do
stuff at Finacle while discussing it to me. Rose does the same.
Also, there’s
Yuji (my 24-year-old Branch Service Head) who keeps on injecting good tips and
techniques (of survival, haha). His constant ‘pangangamusta’ was like a breather too. Although most times, it
would just lead to him bullying me. But no harm done, I know he’s just bringing
in some good laugh into the conversation to probably make me feel more
comfortable. And to that, I’m extremely grateful.
Today, I
spent my last day with them. According to Sir Roland Recamara, the Regional
Head for NCR, I wouldn’t be going back to their branch anymore. As my actual
branch in Valenzuela is opening on the 13th, he said we’ll be reporting from
there during our branch trainings and apprenticeship.
As it sank
in, I felt a little sad.
In the past
five days, the people in Caloocan managed to make me feel like it’s okay to be
a beginner at this age. They convinced me that even though I know nothing,
there are people in this world who would be willing to teach those who wish to
start anew. That’s something I don’t usually feel in the field I came from,
after all, so it touches my heart in all ways possible.
It’s 10PM and
the separation anxiety is still intense. If only I can, I would spend my
training with them; but Valenzuela’s still a priority so I’ll just have to
depend on phone to communicate with them. Plus, it’s not like Valenzuela and
Monumento are so far away from each other. LOL.
Fuck. I’m
being too emotional about this when I shouldn’t. HAHAHAHA. Nah, I’m just afraid
they’ll forget me after a while. I liked them all. I want to be their friend. I
hope I can pay a visit from time to time, or meet them somewhere? LOL
Well, I
promised Yuji that I’ll be cooking something for them if I feel like it. How
about next week? HAHAHAHA.
