I remember first hearing about the PwC cadetship when I was in year 11. The opportunity to work and study at the same time at a large reputable firm. At that time, to me working in corporate was only reserved for the very “successful”. Very few of my relatives were involved in the corporate world. Didn’t you know, back then you got to Australia by working in Chinese restaurants? Then the dreaming started, at 16 I declared to myself I was going to get that cadetship, climb that ladder, work internationally and get to the top, no matter what.
Present day me. Here in London, by myself on a Sunday evening dreading work tomorrow. This can’t be my life. I don’t want to dread Monday-Friday, living only for the weekends, the next holiday, the next time I can get drunk/high to numb me from how terrible Monday-Friday is. Yes, I know, my life isn’t terrible, on the scale of starving kids in Africa without basic amenities I am so fortunate. I don’t want to sound ungrateful for all that I have, but it’s still missing.
Purpose.
With every second of my life ticking away, I can’t keep suppressing the urge for something greater. To contribute in a way that makes a positive impact. In my profession, and any profession I can’t side step to, we are 99% of the time only helping the rich get richer. Perhaps, you say, I should focus instead on the fact that the rich then donate to charities/assist with keeping millions of people employed for the greater good? That link is not enough.
