Rina Parrocha

“Life begins at 40.” As that old adage went.

Two months from when I stepped on that milestone, in March of 2022, I got accepted to this company, formerly known as Sitel Philippines. Eventually, the company merged with Sykes Asia, which was also a former employer, with whom I had worked for a total of 8 years prior. Merging the times I had worked with them, we are now collectively known as Foundever.

Some say the company name is a play on “finding forever.” And indeed, with my employment history merging as one and now that I’m in my 40s, it did feel like I have found my “forever home” in a sense. Let’s face it. As we age, it’s only a limited number of companies who may accept employees around our age and older.

Life happens every day, and from the time I was accepted to this company, my personal life was in such a mess. I cannot say that I have been a good employee honestly, as dealing with personal grievances on top of dealing with strangers over the phone while keeping your emotions and thinking patterns in check is already an internal struggle.

A year later, I had to take matters into my own hands and confided this dilemma with our Operations Manager and Team Leads, aka Coaches, and requested for at least a full month off work. I had to, as it was already affecting my job due to anxiety. Additionally, I had to take a leave to help address a sudden death in the family and help arrange the funeral at the time.

I am a widow. Married for 11 years before our fall-out. Though estranged due to an affair, at the end of the day, it’s the legal wife that had to attend to everything that was left. Not to mention the fact of addressing the other woman and her child with the husband. To have the support beyond what was called for by our management was something that I was and am still truly grateful for to this day. In my 13 years in this BPO industry, they are a rare set of species for me. So long as your documentations are set, they give you the time and even check in from time to time like a good parent to their children.

It’s been two years now since then.

Presently, I could say, I’m stable. Personal matters now at least managed. Though of course, therapy is continuous. And yes, struggles are still afoot. I don’t have many friends, but as they say, quality vs quantity is what it is. I appreciated the fact that I have colleagues ready to lend a helping hand if need be, especially now that I am a solo parent to my two kids—one in senior high and the other in college.

I also appreciate the fact that the company has created a platform catering to mental health and not just our physical health. It is very rare for any company to cater to this, as for most, especially in our country, mental health has been a taboo. It’s only recently that it has been addressed in general, and yes, we still have a long way to go. And again, the ease of access for the app either through mobile or on your workstation is, I consider a blessing.

I keep to myself most of the time. And when anxiety hits, writing it out is one of my outlets. During the one-month-long leave, I managed to write a follow-up to my self-published book back in 2021. I am now working on having it published again, but as to when? I am working on it.

To even share this with our community is a first for me, and again, as I write on this canvas, I am smiling to myself because this is yet a first in my 40-some years of existence, that I, a mere employee, is now sharing my journey. It’s now been a total of 3 years that I’ve been with Foundever.

You know how Carl Jung has said that a human psyche is made up of three personas? Well, I have been with Sitel, Sykes, and now, Foundever. Pure coincidence? Maybe. But here is where I seem to have finally merged my three personas as an employee, a mother, and as a human being.

Here’s to hoping and praying that the person I am today may give back the blessings and opportunities this company has provided my life so far.

To God be the glory.