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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

When God closes a silver door, He opens a gold one.

This is the Armenian version of the saying, "When God closes a door, he opens a window". Let me take you back in time a little:
When I was in pharmacy school, every teacher I had told me to do a residency and pursue clinical pharmacy. So, despite my ten years of retail pharmacy background, I applied for a residency (there was only one accredited pharmacy residency in the area, and since I'm married I didn't want to uproot us). I was surprised and disappointed when I didn't match with that program. I tried to understand how the program selected a student with no involvement, bad grades (she had actually failed a class), and a history of departmental discipline, but rejected me...the model student, hyper-involved, killer interview skills, and valedictorian. And not arrogant at all, LOL. Seriously, though, I'm just trying to explain how baffled I was. I simply could not understand. Worst of all, I was left without a job. All the retail pharmacy offers were already sent out for that graduating class, and my back-up plan - a local hospital - went on a hiring freeze the day I took my final licensing exam ( I could not receive an offer until I had results back from that exam, which I received just 4 days later). I was frantic with worry and I found it very difficult to trust that God had a plan. My darling husband was very supportive through this, and he kept telling me, "I think God has something bigger for you." But it was so hard for me to believe - what's bigger than a residency, after all? In pharmacy, they're rare and special, and although it means 1 or 2 years of very low pay and a salary after completion of below-average for pharmacists, it also means a lower stress environment and a great 9-5 schedule. I was doubting I'd get any job, let alone a nice one!
Well, after a few weeks, I was lucky enough to get a call from the district manager of a chain pharmacy. He'd received my resume from a pharmacist I had worked for in the past and wanted to meet me. We interviewed, he thought he saw talent, and he hired me. I was incredibly thankful just to have a job, any job, and I poured myself into it. The results have been amazing. I've been blessed to be selected to head up a new regional HIV initiative, which brought me special training and leadership opportunities. But best of all my management team selected me to interview for an on-site clinic, a specialized pharmacy inside a hospital. The job is amazing: clinical plus retail, so I get to use my whole skill-set; interesting disease states; brand new pharmacy; incredible hours - 9-5, no weekends! - and you know what? I was supposed to take over as the pharmacy manager, but I would actually be in charge of the store manager position, too. There is a job that encompasses both positions, but I wasn't eligible for that job title: you have to be a manager for two years to be considered for this "combination" position. However, today I interviewed with corporate and at the conclusion of the interview the director of the project offered me the combination position, and I accepted. This means I get my super sweet job plus ... well, a super sweet raise. Let's just say it's actually double the starting salary at the hospital that I had planned to work for.
This is a lesson to me. Who am I to think I know God's plan? There is so much more to the big picture. It may not be apparent for years later, but there's always, always a plan. The residency might have been the silver door, but this job is a gold door for sure.
You know what, darling hubby? You were right.

18 comments:

  1. This post makes me happy. Yay for your new job. And double-yay for the hubs being right ;)

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  2. Yay! No weekends = lots of racing time. Sweet! Seriously, congrats! Sounds like your brains and hard work, etc., has paid off.

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  3. Oh yay! I love when things work out like this. It is a reminder to trust in God. I wen through a horrible experience last year around this time and left my job. I took a MASSIVE pay cut (like nearly 1/2) and wondered how it would all work out. Then this January, I got a new job, which is the perfect fit. And my boss is awesome. And I am back at the pay I was at before. So in the span of a year, things have totally turned around... SO I know the feeling of saying - wow God, you really ARE taking care of me. :)

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  4. It's so easy to forget sometimes that it isn't *our* plan the we're following. Thanks for the great reminder :) I'm really glad that it worked out well for you!

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  5. Congrats on all the exciting news! You deserved it, funny how things work out!

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  6. Congrats on the job. God works that way, he will test our faith sometimes. Great working hours!

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  7. All of my teachers told me to do a residency as well. I ignored them and I have regretted it since. So excited for you and your new career.

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  8. This resonates with me in a big way! I'm learning more and more to trust in God's plan and know that something wonderful is in store for me. Giving up my teaching job (something I'm so very passionate about) was sooo hard for me but I can already see other doors opening and my dreams of being a professional writer or possibly pursuing my doctorate being a professor of education starting to open up for me. I'm so glad I trusted and took the risk of giving up my job. Plus I get this time with my kids!! I'm so glad you took the chance and waited to see what God had planned.

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  9. So awesome!! It's hard to trust and imagine bigger/better things waiting out there, but the faithful are always rewarded.

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  10. PS: I think you could afford to splurge on a new pair of shoes now ;)

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  11. Thanks for this post. I am preparing to finish nursing school and the job market for new grads (even with nursing related experience who have good grades and have had plenty of work experience before starting school) is very bleak. I am hoping I am walking through that silver door now and there is a golden one around the corner.

    Thanks again!

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  12. WAHOO! That is so awesome! Congrats to you on all your hard work (and patience). Those men are right. And sometimes that kills me.

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  13. i bow to you m'lady. awesome news all the way around!

    xo

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  14. Wow...oddly I feel better after reading this. I just followed you 10 minutes ago after Googling: "what to do after you didn't get matched the first time applying for a pharmacy residency." Somehow your blog came up as one of the first twenty hits....hmmm. I am a very new practitioner waiting to make the official transition from grad intern to pharmacist. I am trying to find a job in crazy California. I am sure God will find something for me. Thanks for a lovely inspiring blog!

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