A Parting of Ways Essay Example

seemed to be nervous and tense. There was a buzz in the rumor mill. The company was in trouble and jobs were going to be cut. Nobody knew where the axe was going to fall, just that it would fall. I set down my things and began preparing for an honest day's work.

Drowning out the gossip was hard to do though and it affected my whole outlook for the day. Then, the boss arrived and asked not to be disturbed for the rest of the day. He looked haggard and sad that morning. It was then that everyone finally confirmed that the rumors were true. Before lunch, an announcement was made that everyone who would receive an email from the office of the supervisor was to report to his office after lunch. I froze in my seat. Call it a sixth sense but I somehow knew I would be receiving an email. It came in at 15 minutes to noon.

I found that I had lost my appetite for lunch and not even the smell of freshly baked apple pie for dessert could entice my palate to taste it. An interoffice note popped up while I was working at my computer terminal. I headed to my boss's office expecting the worst news. As I sat in the waiting area, I heard the reaction of my officemates leaving the office. The men were loudly cussing angrily while some of the women cried as they left the office. I suddenly felt a strange sensation in my stomach. This was not going to be good news for me.

I felt like I was going to throw up when I finally

got my turn to sit in the visitor's chair in the boss' office. His explanation was expertly done. But the final words I heard sent me reeling to the pit of my stomach. "We have to retrench you. Your position is redundant. " I felt a cold wave come over my body that made me seem like I was molded into the seat. My mind raced. There must be something I can do to keep my job. Maybe test for a different position? Take a pay-cut? Anything to keep my job. But the answer was no.

I was expected to have cleared out my office by the end of the day. I felt like breaking down and crying, I wanted to get mad at somebody, anybody. Instead, I tried to ignore the fear of my unknown future that I was feeling now that I had lost my job. Although I had parted ways with this company, I had enough know how to try to break out on my own. Now was my chance and I was going to take it. After convincing myself that everything could only get better for me, I left the office with a sense of embarking on a new adventure deep within.