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I was lucky to land a job immediately after college as an IT support intern, which later transitioned into full-time employment. For three years, I followed the path most expected of me. Eventually, I felt trapped and chose to resign.
That one decision set many things in motion, including a complete shift in how I viewed work.
My mother was the first to voice her concern. She had always pictured a traditional life for me: a stable job, a marriage, and a family. But I wanted something different.
"Samedi, where are you going?" she asked when she heard the news. I shared an outline of my plans but kept the finer details to myself.
In Africa, where I live, stable employment is seen as the cornerstone of success. My decision to freelance was culturally dissonant.
The pressure mounted as relatives mobilized to "help." A cousin offered a position at a leading telco. Family members called with job suggestions, each well-meaning but missing the point; I wasn't looking for another traditional role.
I sought something they couldn't understand: the freedom to build a borderless career.
No one in my family had taken this path before, so I had no role model. I had to do this mostly on my own.
Freelancing wasn't easy. When I left my job, I had no savings and struggled for months. It was a humbling experience.
A year later, I decided to move countries and needed a soft landing to acclimate to a new culture. That's when I decided to go back to a full-time job. I landed a junior web developer position at a media company. It felt like a fresh start, but the role wasn't what I thought it would be. The demands were relentless — late nights, weekend shifts, and tight deadlines. The long hours drained me, and I became burned out and increasingly frustrated.
Eventually, the job that once seemed like an opportunity had become a burden, and it was time to move on.
When I tendered my resignation, my managing director asked me, "Where are you going?"
It's a simple question in traditional work culture, where careers follow linear paths. But in the gig economy, the answer isn't always neat. I gave a vague response about joining another company, though truthfully, I was stepping back into the unknown to take another shot at freelancing. I'd tasted the freedom of freelancing and wanted to do it again. Thankfully, this time, I had more clients to work with.
My second shot at freelancing has been much more successful. I've worn many hats: web designer, content marketer, copyeditor, and technical writer. Currently, I work as a content marketer and digital career coach.
This variety is simply the nature of modern tech work. Each role has added to my skill set, allowing me to serve clients across time zones.
While it hasn't been easy, the career I built outside a traditional role has been rewarding and freeing. All the opportunities have helped me grow my skill sets. I've built a stable career in my own way.
Still, my mom's skepticism comes from a place of care and experience. Her preference for traditional employment is understandable in Africa, where economic stability is precarious. Even though I have made a successful career out of freelance, she and my family are still confused about what I do for a living.
But the nature of work is evolving. When companies downsize or restructure, freelancers with diverse clients can adjust more quickly than those tied to one employer. I feel more stable in my career now more than ever, and I hope my family realizes that one day.
I've now realized that the future is borderless. Younger generations like me are becoming global citizens, working across time zones and cultures in ways our parents never imagined.
The question is no longer, "Where are you going?" but "How far can you reach?"
