To New Beginnings 🍻

I am thrilled to share that I successfully secured a job in the first week of September. But before moving forward, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to @pennsif, @stef1, @o1eh, @weisser-rabe @kiwiscanfly, and a few others who encouraged and motivated me when I made the difficult decision to leave the toxic workplace where I had been stuck for the past 7-8 months. I don't forget people who're kind to me when I'm at a low point in my life.

Although I hadn't been paid since May, I managed to recover my salary up until June. Unfortunately, they refused to pay me for July and August. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t do anything more, so I decided to move on and focus on better opportunities.

In a previous post where I discussed my resignation, I mentioned that I had been actively job-hunting before resigning, as I knew my departure was inevitable due to the ongoing injustices and the toxic work environment—except for one supervisor who consistently tried to help me whenever possible.

Anyway, I officially quit that job in August 2024. On the advice of someone here on Steemit, I had ensured that I kept all the necessary documentation and proof of my tenure at that institute.

My job search was continuous, as I was in desperate need of a new position, but I made sure not to stress too much, knowing that anxiety wouldn’t change anything.

Now, I am pleased to announce that I have secured a position since September 2024. While I wouldn’t call it a traditional job, it’s a paid internship at my alma mater, where I graduated. They have offered me a role... well, as a dentist, what do you think they might offer for an 8 AM - 4 PM job, 6 days a week?

They’ve offered me $140 per month, which some might see as too little for a dentist. However, I believe it’s something better than nothing, and the most rewarding aspect of this opportunity is the hands-on patient experience I’ll gain. This, in my view, is the most crucial element in my growth as a young dentist.

In this picture, you can see me visibly happy, and that’s because I truly am. Not everyone gets these kinds of opportunities as a fresh graduate, and I consider myself fortunate to be one of the few who has. I’m genuinely grateful for this chance.

I have already started working with full dedication, giving my best effort while maintaining integrity and commitment. The patient flow in this public hospital can be overwhelming, but I’m embracing it and enjoying the experience while it lasts.

At the moment, I’m working in the Prosthodontics department, where we focus on bringing smiles to older patients. How do we do that? By crafting dentures for them, giving them back their ability to smile and improving their quality of life.

Although my long-term goal is to settle in a place where my skills as a dentist are truly valued and where I am paid enough to comfortably support my household, the reality in Pakistan is quite different. Here, we are severely underpaid as healthcare professionals. How can we be expected to run our homes on just a few hundred dollars? It’s a challenging and often frustrating path as a dentist trying to work abroad, ideally in the Middle East or Western countries, where the profession is better compensated.

_{trimming a denture for better retention in my patient's oral cavity}

However, as long as I am here in my home country, I intend to make the best of whatever opportunities I have. I plan to adapt and continue working diligently, despite the financial limitations.

I’m sure you've heard the saying, “stay where you are until you find something better.” That’s precisely the mindset I’m trying to adopt. Until I find a better opportunity abroad, I will give my absolute best to the job I currently hold. By doing so, I can at least rest easy at night, knowing that I’ve done everything within my power to contribute meaningfully and responsibly.

The journey may be long and uncertain, but I’m committed to taking it step by step, without losing sight of my ultimate goals.

Regards,
Dr Huzaifa Naveed